Typhoid Mary 911
Work
Typhoid Mary 911 is a performance work inspired by the life of Typhoid Mary, the infamous cook whose case provided new understanding of the concept of disease carriers, and "Rescue 911", the TV show in which viewers vicariously participate in disasters and rescues.
Thanks to TV we view disasters with the equanimity of non-participants and usually figure they only happen to someone else. This perception of being surrounded by tragedies while feeling immune is what the play is about. A disease carrier, a 911 operator, and a TV viewer all share the experience to the phenomenon of denial over AIDS, the poisoning of the environment, and other modern issues.
Typhoid Mary 911 fragments Typhoid Mary's story amid taped videos and closed-circuit live TV, providing an unsettling framework of visuals and sound. The original taped score is by Joshua Fried and uses multiple sound sources throughout the space. The intention is to draw the audience into the action by surprise, which serves as a metaphor for the unpredictable and arbitrary nature of disease.
press release
Thanks to TV we view disasters with the equanimity of non-participants and usually figure they only happen to someone else. This perception of being surrounded by tragedies while feeling immune is what the play is about. A disease carrier, a 911 operator, and a TV viewer all share the experience to the phenomenon of denial over AIDS, the poisoning of the environment, and other modern issues.
Typhoid Mary 911 fragments Typhoid Mary's story amid taped videos and closed-circuit live TV, providing an unsettling framework of visuals and sound. The original taped score is by Joshua Fried and uses multiple sound sources throughout the space. The intention is to draw the audience into the action by surprise, which serves as a metaphor for the unpredictable and arbitrary nature of disease.
press release
circa 1992
English
WORK.1992.0043
Loading...