What can the superhero movie phenomenon of the past decade tell us about individual and collective agency in the 21st century?

“The superhero’s powers, which consist either of supernatural physical abilities (Superman, Spider-Man) or of a fantasy of unlimited capital (Batman, Iron Man), make him a figure of empowerment and agency in a world of consumers who are defined by their lack of these very qualities.” -Dan Hassler-Forest, Capitalist Superheroes: Caped Crusaders in the Neoliberal Age

super was a mixed media show with performance activations created in collaboration with ArtLab interns, as part of PlatteForum Artist Residency, Denver, CO, 2019.

Opening reception of super, an mixed media art show with performance activations created by artist Ben Coleman in collaboration with PlatteForum ArtLab Interns- December 12, 2019, Denver CO. PlatteForum is an award-winning and innovative arts, youth-development, and artist-in-residence program in Denver that teams under-resourced youth with professional artists in intensive, structured, and long-term creative learning environments. Youth work side by side with resident artists to collaboratively plan, produce, and exhibit a body of work in an environment in which artistic excellence is highly valued. platteforum.org More from Ben, this show, and many more: www.bencolemansounds.com

Video of opening reception by Kim Shively.

In addition to the live performance of sound effects using found objects you can see above, I collaborated with the ArtLab Interns to create sonic interventions in a number of existing superhero movies, substituting the typical beefy, hi-fi sound effects and symphonic musical scores with our own homemade mix, created with found objects from the art studio and kitchens, and a new score knocked up on a kazoo, a melodica, and a Casio SK-1. View some of these scenes here.

Kicks

4 channel video installation for super. Kicks is a contemplation of the spectacular monotony of comic book movie violence and a generative piece of music. To experience a online variant, open all four videos and press play at any time, from any point in the video.

A young man stands with his back to the camera looking at 4 wall mounted screens, with a sound system on the ground pointing up at him.

Photo credit: Kim Shively

Imaginary Movie #1
(Audio Description)

Video and sound installation. Inspired by my experience working at a non-profit organization that specialized in rehabilitation services for the blind and visual impaired, this project marries the art of audio description for movies with cut up techniques to create a commentary on a contemporary superhero film that doesn't exist, but somehow could be any and all of them.

Inspired by my experience working at a non-profit organization that specialized in rehabilitation services for the blind and visual impaired, this project marries the art of audio description for movies with cut up techniques to create a commentary on a contemporary superhero film that doesn't exist, but somehow could be any and all of them.

interview with a superhero

Video installation. Performances by PlatteForum’s ArtLab Interns.

Excerpts from video installation created for 'super', an mixed media art show with performance activations created by artist Ben Coleman in collaboration with PlatteForum ArtLab Interns- December 2019 - January 2020, Denver CO. PlatteForum is an award-winning and innovative arts, youth-development, and artist-in-residence program in Denver that teams under-resourced youth with professional artists in intensive, structured, and long-term creative learning environments.

Header image: still from super performance for PlatteForum. Videographer: Kim Shively.