Response 5 - Pryings

The video Pryings shows a struggle between the two performers, Vito Acconci and Kathy Dillon. The reason for the struggle is unknown. Without knowing what causes this aggressive piece, the viewer is left to imagination. Since Kathy Dillon’s eyes are closed and she is being forcibly maneuvered, it is an immediate reaction to feel sympathetic for the woman.

The performance is filmed very close up to the subjects as they struggle. The camera is focusing on the shoulders of the Kathy while most of Vito is rarely seen other than his hands. By focusing on the victim and not the predator in this situation, Vito is given a more mysterious character. He seems to be a hidden criminal, unseen by the mask of the video frame.

When the video first began, Kathy rarely fought against the fingers that kept trying to open her eyes. As the video proceeds, she violently shakes her head about in an attempt to release herself from the grasp of Vito. At certain points, the viewer is grasped with horror as Kathy covers her eye, as though she has been stabbed in the eye. When she does shake her head, her hair seems to go everywhere on the video. This tangled mess of hair distorts the image of what is occurring and hides her facial expression. As the video continues, Vito Acconci’s breathing becomes harder and harder. The sounds of hard breathing add to the physical struggle between the two performers.

The video focuses on the struggles between opposing sides. One of which is the tension between man and woman, but more importantly the struggle between blindness and sight. The empowerment of sight over the blind is shown by the dominance over the other. In this case, Vito Acconci can visibly see where her eyes are located as he attacks, while Kathy sways her head back and forth in a blind attempt to be freed. The audience also becomes a part of the struggle, as they see this violent struggle and want to do something to aid the woman. Overall, this video is very mysterious, violent and full of tension.