[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:01.02,0:00:02.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[COMPUTER MOUSE CLICKING]
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.08,0:00:10.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,["New York Close Up"]
Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.48,0:00:19.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[SNEEZES]
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.40,0:00:21.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I feel like I have a hard time\Nconnecting to
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.62,0:00:24.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,anything that doesn’t have humor
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.16,0:00:26.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because for me, humor is like survival.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.92,0:00:31.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I can't imagine a state of no humor.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:35.58,0:00:38.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Meriem Bennani's Exploded Visions]
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.78,0:00:45.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I grew up in Rabat, Morocco
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.58,0:00:48.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I've lived in New York for nine years.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.46,0:00:53.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had my first museum exhibition\Nat PS1 last summer.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.39,0:00:56.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I couldn’t believe it,\Nand I tried to stay cool.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.53,0:00:58.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I was so excited.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.12,0:01:04.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had about a month and a half to prepare.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.64,0:01:08.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had tickets to go to Morocco \Nthe next week.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.05,0:01:11.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I just decided I would observe\Nand film everything
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.69,0:01:15.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and kind of have this almost diaristic archive
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.04,0:01:17.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of my two weeks there.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.49,0:01:20.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I wanted to take on this challenge
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.00,0:01:22.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of using it in a way that I had never seen.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.28,0:01:25.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[MUSIC BEGINS PLAYING]
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.02,0:01:34.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[FLY SINGS RIHANNA'S "KISS IT BETTER"]\N♪ Kiss it, kiss it better, baby ♪
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.76,0:01:37.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I made a 3-D fly in the video.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.44,0:01:40.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so she's taking you on this tour.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.84,0:01:43.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She's kind of like the storyteller.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.68,0:01:49.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One characteristic of the fly is
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.26,0:01:52.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that compound vision just formally felt like
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.24,0:01:56.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a direct analogy with the room that had, like,\Ntwelve channels
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.90,0:01:59.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and all these different\Npoints of views of video.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.58,0:02:03.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Video for me is new.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.56,0:02:06.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What I've always done is drawing.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.06,0:02:10.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I like that, with a video,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.08,0:02:12.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,within one second, you know where you are.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.34,0:02:20.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I use footage as material,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.92,0:02:22.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and not for its real content,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.82,0:02:24.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but really using it as material
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.34,0:02:28.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the direction that is completely disconnected\Nwith its reality.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.72,0:02:31.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I started making these little videos
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.89,0:02:35.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where I would see something and then imagine\Nwhat could be added
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.39,0:02:37.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or removed or manipulated.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.86,0:02:39.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It would be really quick,\Nlike a fifteen-second video--
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.70,0:02:42.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which was the time on Instagram before it\Nbecame a minute--
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.97,0:02:45.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there was a freedom that was\Nreally fun in that.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.86,0:02:47.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[MUSIC BEGINS PLAYING]
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.52,0:03:00.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This past spring,\NI was commissioned by Art Dubai
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.82,0:03:02.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to make an installation.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.93,0:03:05.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so I made these four sculptures
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.06,0:03:07.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that were actually viewing stations.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.00,0:03:11.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They reference design in a way\Nthat makes you want to sit in them--
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.99,0:03:13.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like, they feel comfortable,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.52,0:03:16.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but then you kind of are tricked\Nbecause when you sit in them
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.42,0:03:20.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,your head ends up inside\Nwith a video that you are viewing.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.26,0:03:30.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[WOMAN] Action
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.34,0:03:36.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,--There is this Egyptian couple\Nand the guy says:
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.14,0:03:39.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,--"Have you seen the stars habibti?"
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.22,0:03:41.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,--And the girl: "Oh habibi I have\Nseen them indeed!"
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.26,0:03:42.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Isn't the Residence beautiful?]
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.22,0:03:46.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Me?]
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.62,0:03:48.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[BENNANI] When I go to Morocco,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.26,0:03:52.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am surrounded by these women that are\Npowerful or very charismatic.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.00,0:03:58.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I filmed four women\Nthat are family members.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.46,0:04:02.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, at the same time, \Nthey're always in between
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.16,0:04:05.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,being a family member \Nand becoming a character.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.86,0:04:08.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[WOMAN SPEAKING IN FRENCH]\N--I work as a medical representative.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.82,0:04:12.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,--I am divorced, no kids.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.20,0:04:14.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[BENNANI] There's these two extremes,\Nyou know.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:14.58,0:04:17.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On one side, I almost feel\Nemotionally like a monster
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.97,0:04:21.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who traps family members\Ninto this digital world.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.40,0:04:25.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then the other extreme is like
Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.00,0:04:25.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[CAMERA CLICKS]
Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.64,0:04:28.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,fully loving and celebrating family.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.13,0:04:30.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I feel like they're both necessary
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.97,0:04:33.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and between the friction of both of them
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.71,0:04:36.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is created all this potential \Nfor storytelling.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.43,0:04:44.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you think that \Nthe time spent on a piece
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.94,0:04:48.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is a hundred hours,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.09,0:04:52.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I spent maybe one hour with them
Dialogue: 0,0:04:52.12,0:04:54.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and ninety-nine hours editing--
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.56,0:04:56.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,looking at their face\Nand tracking it frame by frame.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.46,0:05:03.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They have no idea that\NI'm spending so much time with them
Dialogue: 0,0:05:03.34,0:05:04.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while I'm in New York.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.50,0:05:06.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I like that.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.16,0:05:15.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was invited by Public Art Fund,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.53,0:05:20.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I made a video piece for\Nthe Barclays Center oculus screen.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.52,0:05:24.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The media portrays very extreme,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.06,0:05:26.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one-dimensional portraits of Muslims.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.04,0:05:31.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because I knew this video would\Nexist in a public space,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:31.04,0:05:35.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I felt the necessity to be more thoughtful
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.22,0:05:38.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and reflect on women who wear the hijab.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:39.86,0:05:41.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The video was called "Your Year"
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.90,0:05:46.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it was showing a timeline of secular\Nand Muslim holidays in America.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.48,0:05:51.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I wanted it to be not jokey,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.62,0:05:54.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but to be obviously in support of
Dialogue: 0,0:05:54.71,0:05:58.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,women wearing the hijab in the neighborhood\Nwhere they would see the video.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:01.52,0:06:02.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had a different approach,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.80,0:06:05.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which was to actually do way more research,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.97,0:06:07.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to talk to women who wear the hijab--
Dialogue: 0,0:06:07.48,0:06:09.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who think about it,\Nwho write about it--
Dialogue: 0,0:06:09.50,0:06:11.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in today's America.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.80,0:06:15.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Being in New York--
Dialogue: 0,0:06:15.28,0:06:18.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with Trump, after this election--
Dialogue: 0,0:06:18.54,0:06:20.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is actually affecting me in deep ways.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:22.44,0:06:25.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Growing up in Morocco,\NI never really thought of myself,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:25.49,0:06:26.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for example, as an Arab.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:26.99,0:06:28.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Although I am, you know?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.08,0:06:30.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I never thought in those terms.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:31.18,0:06:32.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And being here,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.64,0:06:37.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with the travel ban uniting seven countries\Ninto this shitty situation,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:38.38,0:06:40.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for the first time I have felt it.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:40.80,0:06:44.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don’t want to be a Moroccan\Nor a Muslim woman artist.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.52,0:06:46.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I just want to be an artist
Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.74,0:06:49.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who is making a project about trees.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:49.92,0:06:51.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,--Can I touch her?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.16,0:06:52.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,--She's friendly?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:52.16,0:06:53.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,--She doesn't bite?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:53.26,0:06:55.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What this political climate does
Dialogue: 0,0:06:55.52,0:06:59.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that it asks you to think about\Nyour identity constantly.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:00.62,0:07:03.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I feel like my reaction to that
Dialogue: 0,0:07:03.00,0:07:04.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has been to make work that
Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.92,0:07:09.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,itself doesn’t stick to a genre \Nor one identity.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:10.08,0:07:12.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It has to do with me not wanting to
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.40,0:07:14.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,define myself into one thing.