CONSPIRACY OF LIES
Running time: 12:00
Year: 1992
Format: 3/4", colour/b&w, stereo
Conspiracy of Lies speaks of the alienation of minorities, of consumer culture, urban isolation and the fine balance between mental order and chaos. The tape begins with a voice (my own) recounting the story of the discovery of a series of diary entries and lists written by an anonymous author. When I found the texts, I assumed the author to be a white, gay man, like myself. Through the use of twelve narrators of different race, gender, religion and sexual orientation, I attempted to destabilize my own subjectivity and challenge my preexisting assumptions regarding difference. The tape begins and ends with two texts written by myself. This, I hope, helps to render the boundary between myself and the anonymous author more fluid, thereby questioning the "authority" of authorship.
Conspiracy of Lies: Production credits Text: Anonymous and Nelson Henricks Narration: (in order of appearance) Geoffrey Hunter, Nelson Henricks, Steve Nunoda, Sandra Tivy, Sarah John, Colleen Kerr, Grant Poier, Harry Schwartz, Peter Stinson, Celine Godberson, C.K. Cousins and Kathy Dodd. Music: Nelson Henricks and Mark Dicey. Audio Technical Assistance: Jim Goertz, Vern Hume. Audio Production: EM/Media, Calgary Video Production Assistants: Tracy Bacenas, Janet Cardiff, C.K. Cousins, Tim V.S. Westbury and Jon Winet Additional Camera: Tracy Bacenas Post-Production Assistance: Vern Hume Production & Post-Prod: The Banff Centre, Banff, Alberta Financial Assistance: The Alberta Film and Video Arts Fund and The Banff Centre