The Surveillance Camera Players
Ett konstnärligt motstånd mot övervakningssamhället
Interdisciplinary studiesÖvervakningssamhälleThe surveillance camera playersMotståndPerformance konstPolitikOffentlighetSurveillance societyProtestManifestationPerformance artPoliticsPublicTVÄRVETENSKAP
The purpose with this essay is to examine how arts and politics integrate to raise urgent messages and call upon social changes. Performance art as an artistic manifestation against the surveillance society has been studied to clarify this integration and through an empirical examination of the anarchistic performance group The Surveillance Camera Players. This group formed in New York City 1996 as a manifestation against the increased use of surveillance cameras in public places in Manhattan. Through performance in front of these cameras, The Surveillance Camera Players are able to express their protest against the surveillance society which, occurring to them, violates citizens constitutionally right to privacy. The development and signification of the surveillance society are examined through theoretical perspective by foremost Michel Foucault, but also by contemporary scientist in that field. Theories about political art have been studied for the understanding of the work of The Surveillance Camera Players.