And Now for Something Completely Different

And Now for Something Completely Different is a segment of Zoran Popović's 1977 documentary film Struggle in New York about New York's political avant-garde art scene.

Contents

The segment features three performances by Art & Language and occupies the final 10 minutes of the 56 minute film.

1. A Lot of Sad Feelings...Fan Mail
2. Harangue
3. Plekhanov

Background

The segment was filmed in October or November 1976 in sculptor John Chamberlain's New York studio on 76 Vestry Street. Chamberlain's son, drummer Jesse Chamberlain, often used the studio as a practice space. The film features members of Art & Language (specifically the New York Provisional Art & Language group) in a semi-improvised performance similar to Nine Gross and Conspicuous Errors from earlier that year. It was one of Art & Language New York's final projects before its dissolution in 1977.

The posters around the set advertise the magazine Art-Language Vol. 3 No. 4, which was released around the time of filming. Passages from that issue are read during the film.

"And Now for Something Completely Different" is a catchphrase from Monty Python's Flying Circus and was the title of their 1971 film.

Further reading: Robert Bailey's book "Art & Language International: Conceptual Art Between Art Worlds" chapter "Keep All Your Friends"

Personnel

• Kathryn Bigelow
• Christine Kozlov
• Mel Ramsden
• Paula Ramsden
• Mayo Thompson
• Jesse Chamberlain

Photos

Behind the scenes

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