Rodney Graham

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the theme of identity, or of changing identity, seen throughout Graham's work. The paper examines and analyzes several of Graham's pieces in order to illustrate this continuous theme. The paper explains how Graham's fascination with the permanent instability of the photographic, filmed self reflects his feeling that he never really had a clear vision of who he was as an individual or who he was as an artist.

From the Paper:

"Rodney Graham is a Canadian artist, born in Vancouver in 1949. But he could be anyone or so his art suggests. In Fishing on the Jetty, 2000, the Rodney Graham renders himself into his own text as a filmed subject. In this film/performance art piece, the viewer is witness to the sight of Graham playing Cary Grant in his own nautical version of Alfred Hitchcock's "To Catch a Thief." Graham, within the context of the piece is himself, is the character of Grant, and is also the persona portrayed by "Cary Grant," the sublimely artificial romantic lead of the 1930's classical film in a who-done-it about mistaken identity, a film where the actor portrays a constantly misleading man with a shape-shifting identity."

More papers on Rodney Graham:

• Descriptive Essay # 105918 : "Martha Graham"
• Essay # 90089 : "The Innocence of Barbara Graham"
• Analytical Essay # 120615 : "Garry Wills on Martha Graham Garry"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: