as i said, i saw that same cremaster video that we watched last week in class long ago, before i had ever seen the guggenheim, before i knew who richard serra was. nonetheless, i had a similar experience watching it this time as i did then. i have always been annoyed by hero stories, and i'm not sure why. i think because they're didactic. anyhow, matthew barney comes off as pompous to me, a sculpture jock. his costumes are really amazing and imaginative. the rag/vomit thing that's coming out of his mouth is really interesting, the woman on glass legs is great, and all those rockette girls dressed up as sheep are great. there is definitely a sumptuousness of set design and costume design as well as filming technology that is hard to deny. however, there is this macho element to it that really irks me. matthew barney using the guggenheim as his gym while those hard core bands battle it out is totally obnoxious.
(photo source: http://www.cremasterfanatic.com/ephemera/Misc/fuck_matthew_barney.jpg)
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