GBH Openvault
Rockefeller Artists in Television; Proposition, The
Part of New Television Workshop.
05/08/1972
1999 MAPC Preservation Master Corrected Running Time : 49:23
License Clip
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- Series
- Rockefeller Artists in Television
- Program
- Proposition, The
- Series Description
The "Rockefeller Artists-in-Television" residency program was created to support artists working in television. It was funded by the Rockefeller Foundation from 1967 through 1970. It was replaced by "The WGBH Project for New Television." While some of the Rockefeller artists, such as Nam June Paik, were already very committed to the medium of video, others were coming to the medium for the first time or from a film background. Paik developed the Paik-Abe videosynthesizer, with Shuya Abe, while working as a Rockefeller artist (though additional funding for the synthesizer's construction was provided by WGBH). The device was used to generate special effects and color enhancements. Artists supported by this program included: Mary Feldhaus-Weber, Marie Cosindas, Lee Lockwood, Stan Vanderbeek, David Wheeler, Nam June Paik, Zone, Newton Wayland, Shoshana Dubiner, Theo Wolfe, Dick Bartlett, Tim Mayer, The Propositions, Tim Hunter, David Silver, and Jean Shepherd. Many of these artists worked collaboratively to create one or more works. Series release date: 1967
- Program Description
In “The Proposition” an improvisational comedy troupe creates skits on the spot with audience participation. The four performers ask the viewing audience (who call in their suggestions) to supply key concepts or images, and work them into their structure on the spot. The works that follow are part mime, part satire, and part musical comedy. In one skit, one of the performers hosts a panel discussion between representative students from various nations, discussing the mining of Hai-Phong Bay. In the grand finale, a roto-rooter and a sign painter fall in love in a musical send-up.
- Duration
01:00:00
- Asset Type
Broadcast program
- Media Type
Video
- Subjects
- Live television programs
- Improvisation (Acting)
- Comedy
- Participatory theater
- Parodies
- Topics
- Film and Television
- Contributors
- Albert, Alan ()
- Jutkowitz, John ()
- Burns, Shelly ()
- Baker, Ray ()
- Citation
- Chicago: “Rockefeller Artists in Television; Proposition, The,” 05/08/1972, GBH Archives, accessed April 18, 2024, http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_2F6B9AD9AFFB45D8A07CBDDC96AB363F.
- MLA: “Rockefeller Artists in Television; Proposition, The.” 05/08/1972. GBH Archives. Web. April 18, 2024. <http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_2F6B9AD9AFFB45D8A07CBDDC96AB363F>.
- APA: Rockefeller Artists in Television; Proposition, The. Boston, MA: GBH Archives. Retrieved from http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_2F6B9AD9AFFB45D8A07CBDDC96AB363F