Car Culture (Extract)

Car Culture filmed a non-consenting driving public as Cotterrell covered over two thousand miles of UK motorways in his Volvo Estate. Recording tail-gaiters antics as he drove between 70 and 80 miles an hour in the passing lane, Cotterrell used suction cups to attach a video camera to the interior of his car windscreen. With the lens pointing to the rear window, he was able to start and stop filming while still driving. The rationale behind the editing of Car Culture dictated that if an approaching cars license plate were close enough to be read, the footage would qualify for inclusion in the work. All participating vehicles are credited, with their individual licence plate details appearing before they make their entrance onto a playfully malevolent stage.

Accompanied by Stravinskys The Rite of Spring, a composition frequently attributed with the birth of the Modern age, Cotterrells work can be read as a study of the current state of Modernism. Stravinskys atonal, rhythmically ambiguous and repetitive work enraged its Parisian audience at its premiere in 1913, where the cacophony of the orchestra was eventually drowned out by the abusive shrieks from the stalls.

The aggressive and occasionally violent behaviour Cotterrell encountered during his motorway filming is captured for a 21st century audience addled with Post-modern disconnection and dystopia. But within this potential misery, there is a sense of enchantment: as the car bounces along, the view from the rear window is oddly calm, despite the flashing lights and raised fists. We watch the world moving backwards, and, like children on a long journey home, become transfixed.The film and its appropriated score inform response to the work and the death throes of the orchestration are accompanied by the real-time death of the 1989 Volvo as its prop shaft shears in two just outside Glasgow. The car was subsequently towed 411 miles to an East London wrecking yard.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• David
• Cotterrell
• Cotterell
• Car
• Tailgating
• Motorway
• Driving

[MRmyke50]

Move the fuck over to the slower lane, what don't you understand about this?

[Hexxus245]

ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS!!! Saw this in lecture the other day, absolutely stunning and humerous!

[whitbyjet65]

@HantsCyclePatrol I agree. This moron with the camera is clearly hogging lane 3. Too many cars are tailgating him to suggest otherwise.

[HantsCyclePatrol]

The camera car in this instance is committing an offence within its own right. Lane 3 is for overtaking traffic in Lane 2 only. Lane 1 is the driving lane. Every vehicle shall be in Lane 1, except for when overtaking another vehicle, when approaching a junction and following appropriate lane markings, or as directed by VOSA,HATO or the Police, or when allowing traffic to filter from a sliproad. This video is an example of bad driving behaviour, caused by further bad driving behaviour.

[m341ehw]

First up they may have been speeding, there is no proof of this. Were you being towed during the filming? If so you to were speeding! If your towing, your not allowed into lane 3! And by remaining in lane three for as long as you did you could be charged with section 3 of the road traffic act 1988 (Careless, and inconsiderate, driving.) just a little pointer!

Read the highway code "Lane discipline"

[missadriaevans]

I don't get it, he isn't suppose to be in that lane, its for over taking, he could cause a serious accident, no wonder people are annoyed, the police could pull him over.

[janetcannon]

you are supposed to drive in the left lanes when going slower, move over...YOU areinthewrong here no one else

[axleruler]

slam the brakes

[leapoffaith20]

What do you expect? you have two almost completly clear lanes on the left and yet you insisted in holding up the entire carriageway for some conciderable distance, these people showed a lot of restraint by NOT ramming you into the centeral reservation

[GeminiAuntie]

I'd be brake checking big time