Monday, June 2, 2008

Laurie Anderson's Homeland Prep Kit

Below are some of the sources I used to prepare for Anderson's performance of Homeland. Also visit the "Language Is A Virus" site created for my Honors European Literature students to use during their study of Anderson this year by clicking on the following banner:

Listen: A radio interview with Laurie Anderson
In this interview Anderson talks about Homeland, shares her opinions about how 9/11 influenced her as an artist, and her technological fantasy of long mechanical arms.
Click here to listen to the interview.

Read: An overview of the performance, HOMELAND

Homeland is a series of songs and stories that creates a poetic and political portrait of contemporary American culture. Conceived as one long piece of music, Homeland moves through many worlds- from Greek tragedy to American business models. The stories and songs that make up Homeland are marked by political urgency. They address the current climate of fear, obsession with information and security. They are also- as with all of Anderson's work- personal and utterly unique.

"Dead stars their light still trapped in time. The dark emotion that came

a great distance to reach me. The sky. The land. The sky. The land
"

The music, built on the foundation of groove electronics, will feature many of the new melodic forms Anderson has been developing on the violin and in her recent work with new electronic systems and Tuvan throat singers. Anderson is joined in Homeland by several musicians skilled in improvisation so each performance is unique

Sonically, Homeland is the most sophisticated Anderson production to date. The electronic contrals are all virtual and Homeland is a tour de force of spoken word, music and technology.

"
I walk accompanied by ghosts. My father with his diamond eyes.

His voice life size. He says: Follow me. Follow me.



Watch: Video Clip from Anderson's Homeland


Read The Reviews:
Read what the experts say about the show so you can debate their points after you see the show.
The Boston Globe
The City Paper (Charleston, SC)

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