Sears Catalogue c. late 1960s

Editor: Here we have Paul Sharits' "Sears Catalogue," a film loop. It appears to be images extracted from a consumer catalogue. How do you interpret this piece through a materialist lens? Curator: This work invites us to consider the materiality of film itself. What's the significance of Sharits using discarded catalogue images, looping them endlessly? Editor: It seems to be about mass production and consumption, reduced to a repetitive cycle. Curator: Exactly! The loop highlights the endless circulation of commodities and the standardization inherent in mass media, making us question its impact. It also makes us think about the labor involved in creating and consuming these images. Editor: That gives me a whole new perspective on the work. Curator: Indeed, by focusing on the process and materials, we see how art can critique the broader social and economic context in which it exists.