Patrick Holbrook, Deep Pop Songs
Patrick Holbrook, Deep Pop Songs, 2008, Videos,Soda pop, pump, vinyl
tubing, and buckets
I viewed many of Patrick's work and realized that it is very complex
appropriation before I finally thought that I could finally take a stab at
responding to Deep Pop Songs, 2008, Videos,Soda pop, pump, vinyl tubing,
and buckets. The site shows two videos, one on the fans of the band The
Smiths speaking of their fan-ship, and the other at a grocery store showing
two liter pop and the noises they would make if you beat them
consecutively. There is a photo of a bucket representing a deep lake water
cooling system, and another photo of video screen showing something I could
not make out. Also he includes about a page of explanation of the entire
work.
Even though he gives an explanation it is still difficult for me to
translate his ideas. I can tell that the different ideas all coming
together is a complex one, but also the the different ideas seem very
random to me. He does find a way to link the ideas together though, and I
come to the conclusion Patrick Halbrook may be some kind of genius for
even recognizing that these very random elements can come together and have
a connection.
I think the meaning of this work is to show the non mainstream ideas.
He mentions that pop was kind of a no-no while growing up, the Smiths are
and alternative band, even the pump system is an alternative type of
cooling system.
Watching the videos I also noticed that there was an alternative
element to the films themselves. In the store-pop video there is a hand
lightly smacking all the bottles down the shelf line. I think that would be
considered by the mainstream as a slight no-no. In the Smith's fan video I
noted that the fan's seemed to be not your average looking Smith fans. I
don't mean to start a stereotype, my point is that I think Patrick did this
on purpose. It's like hes showing another level, there is an alternative to
the alternative.