Screenings 3: Joan Jonas

Artist Joan Jonas’ 24-minute long video, “Double Lunar Dogs,” has been on display 

Angelina Dinsmore / Asst. A&C Editor / The USD Vista

In collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary  Art San Diego (MCASD), USD’s Humanities Center presented the final screening of artist Joan Jonas’ video artwork. Jonas has visited USD in the past, and is currently a professor of visual arts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her 24-minute long video, “Double Lunar Dogs,” has been on display since March. On Thursday, May 2, Anthony Graham, an assistant curator at MCASD and a USD alum, gave a talk about Jonas’ contemporary film, analyzing the original choreography, striking images, and abstract dialogue.

An intimate group of people gathered in the Humanities Center gallery to hear from Graham while Jonas’ video played on repeat behind him. Graham told listeners that the 1960s and 1970s began a crucial development in performance art. Though she was originally trained as a sculptor, Jonas has expanded her talents to many different art forms, and was among the first artists in the 1970s to combine performance and video. “Double Lunar Dogs” stems from Robert Heinlein’s science fiction story, “Universe,” which conveys a similar concept of the spaceship as the entire world. 

Jonas’ video originally debuted as a stage performance in 1980, then later came out as a video in 1984. While there is no obvious plot, it tells a story about a small team of astronauts who have been aboard a spaceship for so long that they forget their mission. They were born on the spaceship and will live their whole lives there. The only stories they know of Earth are ones that have been passed down through tall tales. The spaceship resembles a mad scientist’s lab and the passengers have futuristic outfits and makeup. The story is told through special effects, fragmentary scenes, and an electric soundtrack. 

Graham drew the audience’s attention to the continuous themes of memory and the passage of time. The main character constantly questions herself and the objects around her. When shown everyday objects, it is evident that she has forgotten what they are. This is demonstrated when she uses a bowl and a piece of plastic as a makeshift helmet. Graham also compares doubling and mirroring in film. Jonas used multiple screens to portray the various dimensions and perspectives. 

After Graham’s synopsis of the film, the event turned from a presentation into a discussion. A few  members of the audience asked questions to further understand what she was trying to say. 

“Do you think Jonas uses the characters’ body movements to compliment each scene and message?” one asked. 

“We move around just as much as the characters do,” Graham responded. “Jonas demonstrates this by trying to make the screen itself appear mobile.” 

“Double Lunar Dogs” attempts to show access to different layers and realities. Jonas does not want anything to be so cut and dry. She uses pixilation to show a shift in perspective and visibility. Some characters shift in and out of view to show the various perspectives of the characters. Jonas incorporates various body movements and symbolic props such as masks, mirrors, and hearts to show the ongoing exploration of identity. 

One audience member asked how the work was initially received, and although Graham was not entirely sure, he explained that the art market is constantly changing and that Jonas’ work eventually grew out of fashion in the 1980s. 

Sophomore Sarah Kushner came to the exhibit for a class, and found that she is a fan of Joan Jonas’ work. 

“I have always been intrigued by performance artists and the ways in which they utilize and exert their bodies to convey their artistic intent,” Kushner said. “It is clear that Jonas is heavily influenced by animals and enjoys featuring the relationships shared between humans and animals. I found this really interesting and she inspired me to incorporate my loved ones into my art.” 

Sophomore Maura Knopke also attended the event simply out of love for Jonas. Knopke appreciates Jonas’ sense of self in her work. 

“I like how she incorporates herself into her videos,” Knopke said. “She is not only the creator but also the subject.”

Jonas remains an influence for all contemporary artists. Jonas is still making art, as she claims she is never truly satisfied with her work, so she constantly tries to improve it. She also spends time at colleges nationwide to present her art. For those who have not yet gotten the chance to visit the Humanities Center gallery, Jonas’ film will be on display until May 17. USD is fortunate to have collaborated with MCASD so that Jonas’s incredible work could be showcased to the broad San Diego community.