Sun, april 19
15:00 – 16:26
Het Documentaire Paviljoen: De Spiegel
A Day in the Life of a Consumer & A New Product
Description
Illustrating the absurdities of being a modern-day human, A Day in the Life of a Consumer (1993) and A New Product (2012) expose the calculated structures underpinning contemporary capitalist society. In these two films, Farocki displays how consumer needs and desires are first constructed, only to be fulfilled later, examining the shifting of human agency within capitalist systems over time.
This program is part of Systems for Agitation: A Harun Farocki Retrospective bringing together a selection of Farocki’s films and installations, alongside a series of collaborative events. From 17 April to 24 May.
Composition
A Day in the Life of a Consumer
Forty years of commercials, presented without commentary, show how the life of an average consumer in West Germany was progressively refined. Needs are created and fulfilled, to the point of absurdity.
A New Product
What does a typical workday look like for a corporate employee? In Farocki’s hands, consultant brainstorming sessions feel like a scene from absurdist theater. Office design is focused on the lifestyle of employees—now they are the latest product.
Tickets & Times
Sun, april 19
15:00 – 16:26
Het Documentaire Paviljoen: De Spiegel
Wed, may 13
17:30 – 18:56
Het Documentaire Paviljoen: De Spiegel