Talent Show, 2012

This video work is a distorted self-portrait. Talent Show takes the form of a choppy, awkward narrative and depicts a character learning a new hobby as well as the accompanying culture. This growth is done in online solitude. The piece compares the YouTube character with the genuine persona of the artist. In many scenes, costumes are worn to portray different forms of the character; however, these costumes are rarely complete and not convincing. I am interested in showing the edges of social camouflage and the awkward path to acceptance. These edges are also seen in the inclusion of the tutorials, which again reference the genuine process, and the failures, which are exaggerated by manipulation, silence, and oddities to again pull it farther from a genuine YouTube showcase of talent.