Richard Serra

Serra continued to work with film in the first half of the 1970s, but also developed a focus on the specific features of video recording and editing (as in, respectively, Boomerang, 1974 and Anxious Automation, 1971). In Paul Revere (1971) and Surprise Attack (1973), as later in Prisoner’s Dilemma (1974), Serra focussed on information theory and game theory, as well as its military and disciplinary applications. Characterised by more openly political approaches, this period culminated in a veritable piece of agit-prop like Television Delivers People (1973), in which texts explicitly criticising the nature of television are broadcast, precisely, through this medium (notably WTTW in Chicago). 

Session introduced by Marie Muracciole, art critic, author and independent exhibition curator.   

Richard Serra [in collaboration with Joan Jonas], Paul Revere, 1971, 16 mm, black and white, sound, 9 min 

Richard Serra [in collaboration with Joan Jonas and Gerry Schum], Anxious Automation, 1971, video (on digital file), black and white, sound, 4 min 27 s 

Richard Serra [with Joan Jonas], Veil, 1971, 16 mm, black and white, silent, 6 min 

Richard Serra [camera: Babette Mangolte], Surprise Attack, 1973, video (on digital file), black and white, sound, 1 min 45 s 

Richard Serra [in collaboration with Carlotta Schoolman], Television Delivers People, 1973, video (on digital file), colour, sound, 6 min 27 s 

Richard Serra [avec Nancy Holt], Boomerang, 1974, video (digital file), colour, sound, 11 min 18 s 

Acknowledgements:  The Museum of Modern Art (New York), Gagosian (New York, Paris). Veil was restored in 2017 by Anthology Film Archives.