the gaze as a protest
(2024)
author(s): ujjwal utkarsh
connected to: Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
published in: Research Catalogue
My PhD project lies in the intersection of observational filmmaking and the act of protests. For me, the observational form is not really geared towards the goal of objectivity but rather with a sensorial experiential approach an intent to make the invisible, visible. The position of the auteur becomes critically important here. In this position it is important for me that I do NOT claim or seem to be claiming ‘their position’ or voice. And while being an outsider, it is an attempt to not just look ‘at them’. But rather an attempt to ‘be with’. Through this presentation, I would like to explore this position further and also explore as to if through such an approach can then various realities be acknowledged as realities without being reduced to singular notions of truth?
My PhD project lies in the intersection of observational filmmaking and the act of protests. For me, the observational form is not really geared towards the goal of objectivity but rather with a sensorial experiential approach an intent to make the invisible, visible. Through this presentation I would like to further eXplore the position of the observer or the auteur. The position of the observer becomes critical as it defines and is interconnected with what to look at, and how to look. While ‘observing’, for me it is important that I do NOT claim or seem to be claiming ‘their position’ or voice. And while being an outsider, it is an attempt to not just look ‘at them’. But rather an attempt to ‘be with’. Can such a position then help us acknowledge various realities as realities and not reduce them to singular notions of truth?
My PhD project lies in the intersection of observational filmmaking and the act of protest. For me, the observational form is not geared towards objectivity but rather as a sensorial experiential approach with an intent to make the invisible, visible. In this case, the position of the auteur or the observer becomes critical. For instance, it is important for me that I do NOT claim ‘their position’ or voice. And, while being an outsider, to not just look ‘at them’ but rather attempt to ‘be with’. In this presentation, I will further explore this position and see if in trying to be with and be adjacent to an ‘other’ while observing, can we evoke the possibility of a multiplicity of narratives? Can then various realities be acknowledged without being reduced to singular notions of truth?
