[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.29,0:00:23.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Feodorov: I'm real interested \Nin using, like, kitsch objects
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.56,0:00:27.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and trying to create spiritual-like altars.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.36,0:00:37.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This sort of weird disneyfication of \Nnature that happens in western society,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.78,0:00:42.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you know, whereas in native mythologies, \Nanimals are extremely powerful totem symbols,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.19,0:00:46.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,demanding, you know, fear and respect.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.54,0:00:52.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So those contradictions are \Nreal important in my work.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.30,0:00:56.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, in kind of trying to blend \Nthem into sort of a hybrid mythology.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.84,0:01:12.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Forest at night" is made up of 12 trees. \NEach tree has 12 arms on each side.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.32,0:01:18.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And 12 is something that's important \Nin both Christian and Navajo mythology.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.88,0:01:24.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then, in a little plate in front \Nof each tree stump is some sawdust,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.52,0:01:28.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sort of like ashes of someone who's been cremated.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.24,0:01:35.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm more interested in the ambiguity. \NI think the ambiguity is where,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.32,0:01:37.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you know, the spiritual lies.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.52,0:01:46.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's how Navajos sing "Old Macdonald."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.12,0:01:49.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Woman: yes, I'm riding my donkey up the hill.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.60,0:01:52.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[ singing in Navajo ]
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.24,0:01:54.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's how he bumps up and down.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.08,0:01:59.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Woman: Sing with grandma.\N[ singing in Navajo ]
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.94,0:02:03.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Feodorov: I have this background \Nof a traditional Navajo
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.44,0:02:09.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this sort of outsider Christian \Nbackground of Jehovah's Witnesses,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.20,0:02:12.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which are completely opposed to each other.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.56,0:02:18.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I'm, like, in the middle, trying to \Nkind of, you know, make sense out of it.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.28,0:02:22.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Grandma: This is grandpa again with his horses.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.36,0:02:28.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And grandma with her horse and hillary \Nready to go somewhere, to a powwow.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.18,0:02:32.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Feodorov: my grandmother was a hand trembler.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.96,0:02:36.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And people would go to her, and her hand \Nwould begin to tremble and she would,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.76,0:02:38.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like, answer questions for them.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.72,0:02:41.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And hand tremblers sort of, are oracles.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.52,0:02:44.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Grandma: here's grandma and grandpa again.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.48,0:02:50.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then -- oh, here you are. \NYou're walking with Grandpa.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.81,0:02:55.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Feodorov: I spent just about every summer \Nwith my grandparents on the reservation
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.64,0:02:58.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,until probably, like, 15.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.34,0:03:03.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Grandmother: Grandpa always looks \Nso serious, but he's very comical.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.07,0:03:07.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Feodorov: well, my grandfather \Nused to be a yei be chei dancer,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.32,0:03:11.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is one of the ritualistic \Ndances, where they put on the mask,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.64,0:03:13.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they become the gods.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.72,0:03:17.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, when they start dancing, \Nthe spirit enters into them.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.60,0:03:26.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The bear is a very, very powerful totem \Nsymbol for Native American cultures.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.52,0:03:35.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Behind these masks are cuddly, cute little faces.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.04,0:03:42.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's turning these teddy bears \Ninto powerful totem symbols,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.28,0:03:44.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sort of giving them back their power.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.04,0:03:49.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But also they would be products \Nthat consumers could buy.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.28,0:03:52.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So at the same time, we'd be \Nstripping them of their power.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.44,0:03:59.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're just sort of examples of the \Nissue of commodifying spirituality.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.64,0:04:03.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,People think that, you know, \Nmany times when they buy –
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.60,0:04:07.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or at least the advertising \Nwants people to believe that
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.08,0:04:10.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,buying something will change their \Nlives or have an effect on their lives.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.16,0:04:14.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, this is something that is \Njust outright telling you that.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.24,0:04:19.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I made a little handbook that \Nwould accompany your purchase.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.60,0:04:24.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Congratulations, you have just purchased \Nthe most important product of your life.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.60,0:04:26.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If your life is not going \Nthe way you wish it would,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.80,0:04:29.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,chances are you have somehow \Noffended your totem teddy.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.76,0:04:33.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If this is the case, use the \Nhandy spinning oracle to determine
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.68,0:04:36.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what you must do to appease \Nyour offended totem teddy."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:36.68,0:04:39.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it always goes to "Try again."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.60,0:04:43.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Warning -- the consumer must use extreme caution
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.88,0:04:47.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when performing any of the \Nfollowing dances and chants."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:49.40,0:04:53.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, like Christians, you know, \N"Please, God, forgive me for this,"
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.00,0:04:54.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or, you know, "Please, God, let me have..."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.56,0:04:57.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, there's none of \Nthat in Navajo mythology.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.00,0:05:01.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You basically do the ritual \Nand it has to go right.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.32,0:05:03.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If, you know, your situation has to be corrected.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.64,0:05:06.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If it's not, well, it's because \Nyou did the ritual wrong.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.48,0:05:14.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm not debunking spirituality, \NI'm not making fun of it, I am…
Dialogue: 0,0:05:16.60,0:05:18.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,well, yeah, I am.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.32,0:05:28.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the thing is is that it's only \Nbecause I think it's necessary.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:33.12,0:05:35.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Years of spoon-bending research has shown
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.12,0:05:38.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that employees who frequently \Njourney to the world of the dead
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.36,0:05:41.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,come back as highly motivated employees,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.52,0:05:45.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,exactly what you need to \Nbe on top and stay on top.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.32,0:05:49.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's why we developed the Office Shaman.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.48,0:05:52.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, you're probably asking \Nyourself, where's the shaman?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:53.32,0:05:54.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's the beauty part.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:54.80,0:05:59.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We have highly trained licensed shamans \Navailable to guide your employees
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.28,0:06:00.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through their spirit quests.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.08,0:06:05.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here's a potential motivated employee right now.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.20,0:06:06.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What's your name, sir?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:06.04,0:06:06.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's Paul.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:06.88,0:06:11.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Paul, now, don't be afraid, but I kill you \Nfrom the south, I kill you from the east.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:11.78,0:06:15.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Feodorov: Paul Stewart and I have \Nbeen collaborating on music and,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:15.28,0:06:18.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sort of, performance art \Npieces for almost 20 years.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:18.24,0:06:23.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,–You're passing through the \Nworld of fire, of water.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:23.20,0:06:28.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am now going to sprinkle you with \Nthe grave dirt of your ancestors.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.41,0:06:33.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The animal spirits have now been \Npacified. And here are their messages.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.76,0:06:41.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Paul, stand up. Welcome back. How do you feel?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.64,0:06:42.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I feel fine.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:42.84,0:06:44.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, back to work.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.56,0:06:45.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thanks, Office Shaman.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:49.63,0:06:51.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Feodorov: I'm still not really \Ninterested in making comfortable works,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.68,0:06:55.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like Matisse said, you know, that \Nart should be like a comfy chair.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:56.00,0:06:57.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think it should be provoking.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:07.64,0:07:13.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Since I knew that these were paintings \Nthat were going to be in office spaces,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:13.36,0:07:17.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I wanted to create paintings that were \Nshowing the environment that, you know,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:17.00,0:07:18.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the workers were in.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:20.64,0:07:23.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Seeing the corporation as like a heaven.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:23.16,0:07:26.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, you have all these \Ndifferent steps of deities.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.68,0:07:34.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The composition is obviously modeled \Non, like, early medieval icons.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:37.76,0:07:42.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The CEO is seated in the throne \Nlike a Christ figure would be
Dialogue: 0,0:07:42.04,0:07:45.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the tympanum area of a cathedral.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:45.60,0:07:48.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the hand is shaped like a pose, you know,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.56,0:07:53.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the Christ figure makes, which \Nis a blessing pose for the hand.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:53.52,0:07:55.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Of course, you know, he's stuck a cigar in there,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:56.36,0:07:59.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which has completely defiled that tradition.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:03.00,0:08:07.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And to see the CO as, you know,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:07.12,0:08:11.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not just a guy that gets paid \Na big salary, but as a deity.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:14.32,0:08:20.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On very few paintings have I known what I \Nwas going to do when I started the painting.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:21.16,0:08:24.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For me it has to happen as I'm doing it, you know?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:26.64,0:08:31.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a battle for me, it always is. It's \Nlike this canvas is like mocking me,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:31.24,0:08:35.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,saying, you know, I dare you \Nto make something out of me.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:36.76,0:08:41.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it's something for me that's not really an \Nenjoyable process, it's a struggle, you know?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:41.36,0:08:43.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I guess I like the struggle.