Monodrom

Projected: 1972; broadcasted: February 25, 1974

“The word ‘monodrom’ is derived from the Greek and means one-way street. That is TV: a one-way communication system, a monodrom. What effect does it have? The mirror image of the word ‘drom’ (way) is the German word ‘Mord’ (murder). In a newspaper advertisement I invited people to treat me like some kind of material.” “I will behave as the public instructs, because the public remains anonymous and can instruct me according to its will, according to its secret most wishes, what it has always wished to get off its chest. An animated human sculpture is created in line with the public’s artistic directions. This is because everyone knows what he wants, what he wants from someone else; everyone wishes to (…) conduct others and to treat the other (…) as material for his wishes.” “(...) Many people called up, especially since they were able to remain anonymous. But I didn’t really carry out the wishes because, without real control/without simultaneity it would have been senseless. I selected the most interesting wishes. One is able to see a screen, and after each telephone wish, one saw a hand next to the wall which then knocked on the wall. When, finally, one woman wished that I ought to disappear altogether from the cultural scene, the entire wall disappeared.” (Peter Weibel)