Ok, now that I authored my first video essay, I have to say that I enjoyed the experience and that it was fun (more fun than writing a traditional paper, in this case).
In framing my video essay, I thought it might be helpful to present the main trajectory of my argument:
It is a historical visual presentation that moves chronologically. I selected images that tell the history of art from the High Renaissance through the present, juxtaposing “high” culture with works produced by the avant-garde, with purposeful moments of pause, disrupting the sequence in order to link the video with the lyrics of “Picasso Baby.” Additionally, I selected images that tell the chronological, theoretical narrative that gave rise to visual culture and how visual culture co-exists with current theoretical discourse, ranging from post-colonialism, feminism, gender studies, diaspora studies and transnationalism. Also included was reference to the breakdown of hierarchies within art institutions (including gender roles and the distinction between fine art and craft). I selected “Picasso Baby,” not only because of the lyrics, but because Jay Z performed this song with Marina Abramović and others in August, 2013 at the Pace Gallery in Brooklyn, New York. With this performance, the historically objectified became the producer, breaking down not only historical and racial boundaries, but those between “high” and popular culture.
I found this task encouraging — I’m interested to discuss this process further with my peers and to see each others’ work in order to learn more through consensus of what works clearly and was does not, in conveying a complex argument visually and succinctly.
arthistoryvisualculturalstudies 
a superb integration! well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Surana: I think this is a very successful effort on a number of levels. I’m most interested in your montage work, how there are various arguments being made (the timeline/story of the images you selected, the “story” of the song which itself sometimes interrupts the timeline of your images so we see what Jay Z says (and sees), the ideas of the critics, the ideas of the artists). This kind of complexity through montage (more that one idea, sometimes complimenting, sometimes contradicting) is one of the great powers of cinema (and much harder to do with prose) that’s why Borroughs moves to the cut up, for instance. A black male artist speaks to a white female artist in a space highly commoditized, both are powerful and successful, this is a different logic than the linear one from white to multicultural, power moves in many ways and foremost in that both of these artists sell stuff which links them to the cultural industry by way of Warhol and Basquiat, as Jay Z (and you) explain. We do need more time for the quotes, I’d warrant, unless you want them to wash over us, and ultimately, it might be interesting to see your voice a little, just a little (other than the invisible hand of the editor), but of course your call on that!
LikeLiked by 2 people