THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND, THIS LAND IS MY LAND / 2012

HD Video, single channel, aspect ratio 16:9, color, sound, 22 min 43 sec, English, German subtitles

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THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND, THIS LAND IS MY LAND / 2012

“This Land Is Your Land, This Land Is My Land” takes up the issue of how political figures present themselves. In a casting recording studio in Hollywood, she makes actors give a political “election speech”. The texts are taken from songs which were used by presidential candidates in their election campaigns. The language of popular culture is contrasted with the language of politics. In some cases there is such a glaring discrepancy between the content of the song which was meant to represent the candidate and his actual political programme that one might wonder whether the potential head of state had ever taken the trouble to listen to the song beyond the chorus and rousing tune. Why else would Ronald Reagan, for example, have chosen the anti-war song “Born in the U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen for his 1984 election campaign?

Nadia Schneider, Kunsthaus Baselland, CH

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THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND, THIS LAND IS MY LAND / 2012

Die Videoarbeit “This Land Is Your Land, This Land Is My Land” nimmt auf den Aspekt der Selbstinszenierung als politische Person Bezug. In einem Casting-Aufnahmestudio in Hollywood lässt sie Schauspieler eine politische “Wahlrede” halten. Die Texte dazu stammen von Songs, die Präsidentschaftskandidaten im Wahlkampf für sich eingesetzt haben. Die Sprache der Popkultur wird der politischen Sprache gegenübergestellt. Dabei ist die Diskrepanz zwischen dem Inhalt des Liedes, das den Kandidaten repräsentieren soll, und seinem tatsächlichen politischen Programm in gewissen Fällen so eklatant, dass man sich fragen kann, ob das potenzielle Staatsoberhaupt sich überhaupt die Mühe gemacht hatte, sich den Song – über den Refrain und die mitreissende Melodie hinaus – anzuhören. Weshalb sonst hätte beispielsweise Ronald Reagan für seine Wahlkampagne 1984 den Antikriegssong “Born in the U.S.A.” von Bruce Springsteen wählen sollen?

Nadia Schneider, Kunsthaus Baselland, Switzerland

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With: Kevin Allen, Myles Cranford, Frederik Hamel, Stephen Keber, John Livingstone, Charlie Meany, Stephanie Pressman, Tara Price, Amad Russ, David Saucedo, Tetia Stroud, Andrea Young-Daly

Camera: Lena Maria Thüring
Editing: Lena Maria Thüring
Sound: Fred Herrmann
Mixing: Fred Herrmann

Thanks to:
Kevin Allen, Annette Amberg, Seline Baumgartner, Myles Cranford, Frederik Hamel, Fred Herrmann, Stephen Keber, John Livingstone, Charlie Meany, Stephanie Pressman, Tara Price, Amad Russ, David Saucedo, Tetia Stroud, Andrea Young-Daly

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Mit: Kevin Allen, Myles Cranford, Frederik Hamel, Stephen Keber, John Livingstone, Charlie Meany, Stephanie Pressman, Tara Price, Amad Russ, David Saucedo, Tetia Stroud, Andrea Young-Daly

Kamera: Lena Maria Thüring
Schnitt: Lena Maria Thüring
Ton: Fred Herrmann
Mixing: Fred Herrmann

Dank an:
Kevin Allen, Annette Amberg, Seline Baumgartner, Myles Cranford, Frederik Hamel, Fred Herrmann, Stephen Keber, John Livingstone, Charlie Meany, Stephanie Pressman, Tara Price, Amad Russ, David Saucedo, Sabine Schaschl, Nadia Schneider Willen, Tetia Stroud, Andrea Young-Daly