Blind Country (1989)
This collaborative video project is based on a short story by H.G. Wells called "The Country of the Blind"—about a man who travels to a country of blind people and attempts to dominate their sensual, feminine culture with his male, sight-derived power. Following this theme, "Blind Country" begins with animated fruit dancing over Mike Kelley's body and the admonition of "Northerners" to "refill the quickly emptying sack." In the male-dominated land of the North, candy-spurting pinatas stand as phallic symbols. Presumably castrated, and stripped of his authority, Kelley acts the buffoon as he is led through the murky land of the South, a "female," earthy, "realm of the senses" opposing the phallocentric world of the North.
Director: Ericka Beckman
 |
Mike Kelley as |
 |
Bob Gibson as |
|
Aura Rosenberg as |
|
Lolly Lincoln as |
|
Amanda Katz as |
|
Ian Bearce as |
|
Kim Keown as |
|
Lori Desantis as |
| Directing | Ericka Beckman | Director |
| Production | Bruce Fiene | Production Assistant |
| Sound | Bruce Darby | Music |
| Editing | Enrique Aguirre | Online Editor |
| Production | Ericka Beckman | Producer |
| Production | Adam Gilmore | Production Assistant |
| Crew | Joe Briganti | Other |
| Writing | Mike Kelley | Original Concept |
| Crew | Mike Kelley | Script |
| Production | Jan Callahan | Production Assistant |
