Videology and Utopia

Part one

THE USE OF VIDEO IN CULTURAL ANIMATION

In France almost all the early experiments with video were carried out between 1969 and 1970 either in the field of political militancy or in connection with ‘cultural animation’.(1) In September 1969 the Sony portable video equipment was put on show at the Radio and Television Exhibition and, because of its exceptional ease of handling, it may be said to mark the beginning of the ‘revolution’ we are discussing here.

Groups of activists who, after May 1968, were looking for ways of providing counter-information, quickly became interested in this new type of equipment, mainly at the instigation of Jean-Luc Godard. Tapes made during demonstrations or during interviews with leaders were shown in bookshops ...