Matthew Green VS MFA Thesis 2009
On Punk, Performance, and Repetition
My thesis explores the intersection of performance art and music. This investigation focuses on West Coast punk and performance art scenes in the late 1970’s early 1980’s. My work blurs the distinctions between the disciplines of punk music and performance art, creating a hybrid multi-media experience. This work addresses the themes of repetition and concealment using the strategies of the artist multiple and performance. In this thesis I will look at the work of Paul McCarthy, Chris Burden, the Germs, and Black Flag. In addition I will be examining the writings of Soren Kierkegaard and Walter Benjamin to provide a critical framework for my investigation.