Ellen Mueller
Commercials for The System
Recently, I have focused on humans relating to each other through the shared experience of passing time. Noticeably, some individuals have a distinct struggle with the passage of time. Their struggle seems to stem from a resistance to change, and a grasping for control. These are two very human qualities to which most viewers can relate.
The narrative for this work follows a character named Valerie Hartman, who has developed The System, a new image-based approach to time traveling. Through public appearances and infomercials, Ms. Hartman is spreading the word about this new tool for controlling one’s life.
Video of commercials for The System are available at:
www.vimeo.com/3460635
Music Credits:
(Eternal Hope, Reign, and Revival) Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Hi Ellen,
Welcome, and thanks for posting. My slow internet access at home is thwarting my attempts to view your videos, so I will do so from work tomorrow. In the meanwhile, Could you say a bit more about your decision to adopt a persona. Is this a new strategy for you, or one that has been integral to your practice? Does Valerie assume a disguise in public?
best,
Susan
My decision to adopt a persona is driven by my experience as a theater artist. I have found some of my most profound artistic experiences as a viewer/audience member take place when I am allowed to develop a connection with a character. By adopting a persona, I allow the viewer to critically think about what I am presenting without necessarily feeling they are specifically or personally criticizing me.
This approach of adopting a character is relatively new in my work, starting roughly a year ago with a performance entitled, “Nor Any Drop to Drink.”
Valerie does not assume a disguise in public, but she does have a very specific costume that furthers the viewer’s sense of her effort to maintain a controlling grasp on all aspects of her life.