3.8
kilometres of fence, 50,000 peaceful protesters, 4,700 canisters of tear gas,
and 6,000 cop crotches.
Fourteen film and video artists respond to the Summit of the Americas
(the FTAA) held in Quebec
City in April, 2001. Click here for synopses of the
works.
The compilation continues to raise funds for the legal defence of those arrested at the protests through international screenings and sales. Works from this video compilation were shown in 2003 at the Fugitive Images: The Global Visions Video Lounge at the Edmonton Art Gallery. blah blah blah: (re)Viewing Quebec was programmed into the Better Worlds: activist and utopian projects exhibit in 2002 at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre and included in an accompanying catalogue.
All
proceeds raised from screenings or sales of this compilation of video
works are in support of the To
donate directly to Libertas, send cheques or money orders to: Tel: 514 262 4746 |
For
distribution information, or to order VHS tapes of the compilation,
please contact
To
contact a member of the collective, order an individual work, or to
suggest links to this site,
|
|
"One
of the most exemplary aspects of blah blah blah was that it
produced community from a range of artists toward a single cause: longtime
activists and people who had never attended a demonstration; documentarians
and experimental artists; seasoned filmmakers and novice directors.
It was also racially diverse. This is significant because racial diversity
has so far been lacking in the self-defined anti-globalization movement." Now Magazine ranks the premiere screening
of these works as |
|
The
Weekend In Québec
|
Media coverage of the Summit is contrasted with footage shot in the front lines of protest. |  |
| Dark
Vader by Karma Clarke-Davis 1.5 mins |
Dark Vader is a pseudo commercial collage which uses graphic images and metaphorical references to present a view on Globalization that is both literal and ironic. An expressionistic panoramic digital montage is created using still images taken on site. The soundscape samples the "Darth Vader" march in Star Wars, juxtaposed with traditional drum beats from third world areas such as India, Africa, and Latin America. |  |
|
Enemies
of the State |
A celebration of the Québec summit protest movement without cops or tear gas. |  |
|
Extramural
Activities
|
Close-up impressions of events outside the fence. |  |
| Girls
With Opinions
|
Four thirteen year old girls from Québec City offer their take on what the protesters are all about. |  |
| Below the belt with the Sûreté. |
 |
|
|
Documenting
Dissent
|
The impact of the largest peace time security operation in Canadian history on those attempting to document the protests in Québec City. |  |
|
Gooney
Tunes
|
137 seconds of TV intelligence. |  |
| Why
Are You Afraid of Our Voices? by Lyndsay Moffat 3.5 mins. |
Alternating shots of protesters dancing and being gassed set to the tension of a drum and bass soundtrack remind us that there is joy in our struggle and that the mainstream media didn't even get half the story. |
|
| Vocal
Demonstration by Charles Officer 4 mins |
side by side, i stand inside this bona fide global divide. a rising tide of approximately 70,000 wide. in my mind, through my mind, the realization of a subdivide. vocal demonstration is a personal reflection, after witnessing an incredibly minute representation of people of colour at the summit of the americas demonstration in quÈbec city, 2001. |
 |
| Like
a Nice Rubber Gas Mask by Malcolm Rogge 4.5 mins |
"It seems now that while defence apparel and supplies have become necessary for exercising our right to freedom of expression, they have also become a signal to authorities of our political dissent. The fashion of resistance identifies us as targets, even as it is being sold to us." Reprinted from an article by Malcolm Rogge in Lola #10, Toronto. |  |
| Ten
Seconds of Protest by Jody Shapiro 2.5 mins |
A detailed look at the first ten seconds of police response to the civilian protest in Québec City. A moment of fear. |  |
| (of)
fences by b.h. Yael 5:30 mins. |
(of) fences provides an impressionistic documentation of a few moments around 'the fence,' along with a meditation on the reasons people came to speak in Québec and what the fence disallowed, precluded, protected, imposed...... the offences of silence. A french version of this piece is available through V tape. |
 |
Related Links
The Council of Canadians public interest group promoting
social justice |
the blah blah
blah
|
"They say to themselves,
"Let's go spend the weekend in Québec City, we'll have fun, we'll
protest and blah, blah, blah."
