Matt Carroll, Erik Lam, Julia Galebach

Reaction to Jill Freedman's Theatre of the Streets

“Haircut”

The video depicts a symbolic reclamation of a public space (the sidewalk in front of our house) for public use.

Set in our front “yard” in Northampton, Massachusetts, it includes visuals of a bleached-blonde, earring-wearing boy wearing sweatpants and dirty Crocs sitting in a barber’s chair on the sidewalk while his girlfriend tries to shave his head, as well as some elements of the surrounding environment.

Set in what should appear to be a wealthy residential neighborhood, the camera pans to several commonly recognized symbols of classlessness: cigarette butts, graffiti, shoes without socks, and a plastic crustacean hanged from a fishing line in-front of the front door.

The video cuts between all these visuals until the sudden appearance of a faceless dirt-bike rider, who inconsiderately starts his un-muffled scooter in broad daylight, blocking the shot of the haircut.

Formatted as a compilation of hand-held camera shots lasting between 1-2 seconds, the response piece is meant to come across as unpretentious, informal, and raw. The lack of music or speech is supposed to make the audience feel a little discomfort while they watch and should further contribute to a sense of truthful realism.