The American SUV | Composites | Get Info | Process

problem | idea | research | development | decisions  | testing

Problem:
Make art based on my seemingly conflicting interests of nature and technology.
 
Idea:

SUVs. They promise to connect us to the wilderness. They pollute the wilderness. Why have they become so ubiquitous? What does this say about our culture? What are we striving for when we drive an SUV?

Make a video about SUVs.
Research:

Advertising:

  • Car manufacturers
  • Magazine ads
  • TV commercials

Writings

  • My paper on Nature and Video Art
  • Where I put my notes. (Thoughts, web links, and ramblings.)
    (This is a 21+ page Word doc file.)
Developments:

Words:

  • Nature
  • Wilderness
  • Solitude
  • Reconnect
  • Powerful
  • Sublime
  • No Boundaries

 

  • 4runner
  • Expedition
  • Bronco
  • Explorer
  • Montero
  • Highlander
  • Navigator
Decisions:

1) Make a video about SUVs.

2) Make an SUV Video Object: Drive my 4Runner to Vermont and display video from it or on it.

3) Project images from within the truck to the windows.

4) Use televisions as image sources. The projectors are not bright enough for daytime use.

5) Accentuate the differences between everyday SUV life and the life of the advertized SUV.
Testing:
Photos of test run 1...
Photos of test run 2...