Looking Outwards 4: Person Over Time

  1. “Boyhood” by Richard Linklater

“Boyhood” is a coming-of-age drama directed by Richard Linklater, filmed over 12 years (2002–2013). It follows Mason Evans Jr. (Ellar Coltrane) as he grows from age six to eighteen, with his divorced parents.

Linklater wrote the script year by year, incorporating the actors’ real-life changes into the story, creating a unique portrayal of growing up in real-time. It was very impressive to watch this unique portrayal of the characters growing up in real time, highlighting how small, everyday moments shape a person’s identity, making the film a powerful reflection on the passage of time.

2. “Following Piece” – Vito Acconci

a paper with photos, notes, and a map

This is a month-long performance art piece by Acconci in 1969 in which he randomly followed strangers through the streets of New York City until they entered a private space. Acconci described the experience as losing his sense of self, becoming almost an extension of the person he was following. It’s an exploration of human behavior over time, with a focus on the mundane and transient nature of public and private space.

 

3.”Underground Circut” – Yuge Zhou

Zhou has created several pieces centered on the theme of temporal changes, and this is one of my favorites. It’s a collage of hundreds of video clips shot in New York subway stations. “Station to station, the movement of commuters in the outer rings suggests the repetitive cycle of life and urban theatricality and texture.”