Return to the Real

  • Return to the Real

  • Artist: Annthea Whittaker
  • Year: 2002
  • Duration: 2:30
  • Country: Canada
  • Return to the Real, a short video of footage that blurs and manipulates the news images from September 11, 2001, the day the World Trade Center in New York City was brought down by two hijacked airliners. Whittaker composes a protest song and sings it acapella with the voice of news anchorman interrupting the images.
    The title “Return to the Real” is taken from an article by Baudrillard where he speaks of how the USA experienced the Loss of the Real as celebrity fascination and commodification of emotions took over the american psyche. With the Twin Towers attack, a return to the real has changed consciousness.
    This protest video, sung from an outsider/ insider perspective juxtaposes the news with footage shot in the Yukon territory, Canada of a snowy peaceful landscape.

  • Accession #: 2603
  • Distribution Status: In Distribution
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