Citizen Dandy
Citizen Dandy (edited version 3:30)- 2006
Extended Version 19:52
Description:
Citizen Dandy uses as its raw material, the American Film Institute’s list of the 100 greatest American movies of all time. All the films included in the list were made in the first 100 years of American cinema (1896-1996).
Citizen Dandy is an attempt at a new, seemingly random narrative made by assembling segments from each of the 100 films on AFI’s list. The strategy used to construct this new narrative was to edit together segments in order as they appear on AFI’s list. The segment used from each film also relates to ranking on the list. For example, the opening segment comes from the #1 ranked film, Citizen Kane. The segment used includes the first edit that appears in the film, as well as the shots that this first edit ties together. The second segment comes from the #2 ranked film, Casablanca and includes the second edit that appears in the film, as well as the shots that this second edit ties together. This strategy is followed all the way through until the 100th edit from the 100th film on the list (Yankee Doodle Dandy) is reached.
Two versions of this work were made. One version uses one second of film on either side of each edit and is three and a half minutes long. The second version uses longer clips from almost all the films to allow for complete lines of dialogue, reaction shots, camera movements and smoother transitions between the film clips. This version is nineteen minutes and fifty-two seconds.
Citizen Dandy is both homage and critique of American Cinema. Although the various segments have been assembled in a seemingly random pattern, coincidences occur, narrative threads can be read and meaning can be interpreted.
Text:
Lee Rodney: “Michael Klein at Art Gallery of Windsor” Akimblog. December 23, 2008
Exhibitions & Screenings:
Here Now or Nowhere – Prairie Gallery. Grand Prairie, Alberta, 2009 (curated by Micah Lexier) (edit version)
Citizen Dandy – Art Gallery of Windsor. Windsor, Ontario, 2008/09. Solo exhibition (long version)
weewerk is 6 – Whipper Snapper Gallery. Toronto, 2008 (both versions)
+15 Project Space – Truck Contemporary Art. Calgary. Alberta, 2007. Solo exhibition (both versions)
Resolutions 07 – Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center. Buffalo, New York, 2007. (edit version)
