26m 20s

3/4″ Umatic

In the piece, Elwes is seen on an ordinary night in watching the TV. She then begins to give a critique on what she sees on the screen, although more of a train of thought, highlighting the shallowness and banality of popular television. She particularly singles out the pop music programme ‘Top of the Pops’. A more serious and intellectual precursor to Channel 4’s ‘Goggle Box’.

‘…she is doing what the TV producers so often fail to do… to build up a a realistic view of the audience… to respect their intelligence and find a way of communicating with them that is both enjoyable and stimulating.’ – Pete Shelton, Performance Magazine, 1983

‘The Critic’s Informed Viewing’ text extracts and stills, c.1985. pdf here

Letter ‘Dear Alex’ with descriptions of ‘Nostalgia’ 1982 and ‘The Critic’s Informed Viewing’, 1982, 14th January 1983. pdf here

‘Subverting Television – a three-part programme of British video art’, includes information on Catherine Elwes’ ‘The Critic’s Informed Viewing’.pdf here

‘The national open art exhibition: Broadcast television and the visual arts’. Includes information on Elwes’ ‘The critic’s informaed viewing’.pdf here

‘Alternative Television – contemporary video artists presenting their own work’. A selection of videotapes presented by the artists at the Northampton Arts Centre January 1984. Including Elwes’ ‘The Critics Informed Viewing’.pdf here