Happenings: The Art of Radical Juxtaposition

Susan Sontag's essay on Happenings held my interest because I had never even heard of this form of art.  It was easy to see how 'happenings' are an art form and it was interesting to learn about the ideas and thoughts behind them.  I especially was intrigued at the fact that the way the audience-treatment was handled.  I have heard about other performance art, but none in which treated the audience in such an odd way as this.  It does not sound like fun to be part of the audience at one of these performances, but I suppose that may add to the intrigue: you never know what to expect. Sontag clearly related the 'happenings' to surrealism and it was easy to link this topic to the art movement.  At first I did not understand the title...but after reading it more in depth it becomes clear.  I see Radical Juxtaposition as meaning some kind of revolutionary or contemporary movement where the art can be seen the actions of the performers, and many different ideas could be considered. 

Readings over Sontag and Warhol

The reading over Susan Sontag’s Notes on Camp was a bit difficult to understand.  After reading all of the notes, I tried to define exactly what ‘camp’ was.  I mainly think of it as the idea of making something into what it is not.  I looked it up and it was more clearly defined as ‘A sensibility that revels in the artifice, stylization, playfulness, and exaggeration rather than content.  I can see how this would be difficult to apply to art pieces.  I guess it would not apply to any piece of art that is too serious. 

I enjoyed reading Andy Warhol.  I don’t know if it was just because the reading was so much easier than all the recent ones we have been looking at, or if it was just interesting. Perhaps it was a little of both.  It was easy to relate to how Warhol described his experiences.  I was fascinated in his dilemma of not having any friends when he really needed some, but then when he decided he needed to be alone, people were always bugging him. I can relate, as well as many others I’m sure, to the way that things always happen to me at the wrong times! Andy Warhol talked a lot about his long hours at work and how much effort he put into it, I just wish Warhol had talked more about his creative process.