And Now for Something Completely Different

Mayo Thompson, Paula Ramsden, Kathryn Bigelow, Christine Kozlov, Jesse Chamberlain

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

Watch the first half of the segment on YouTube

Track list

		Track
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 space to practice with his bands. 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 filmed earlier that year. It was one of the New York Art & Language group's final projects before its dissolution in early 1977.

The posters around the set advertise the magazine Art-Language Vol. 3 No. 4 which was released in October 1976. The performance contains readings of passages from the issue.

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

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

Behind the scenes photos

• 
• 

Personnel

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