Transplanting The Self

To Give Is To Receive Is To Give {Ryan Tebo, 2008}

(okay, this needs a bit of initial background info: the piece under review is a brand new documentary by a graduate of Syracuse's VPA Film MFA program, Ryan Tebo, currently on tour as part of a collaborative multimedia show called "Petting Zoo" with the two central subjects of his documentary, musician Tom Abbs (pictured left) and painter MP Landis. Abbs and Landis, longtime friends + collaborators, recently underwent surgery together during which Abbs generously provided Landis with a new kidney from his own body, in order to counteract Landis' looming kidney failure. Tebo + Co. shot footage of the whole emotional process, and their touring show uses music + painting + video + performance to focus on the complexity of their recent situation, using the documentary as a grounding point.)

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I'm not sure, in the case of this documentary, whether it is really the means that justify the ends, or rather the ends that justify the means. I love the idea of the film being an extension of the "Petting Zoo" principle where a free exchange of input among each medium attempts to dissolve authorship. I especially appreciate that the footage is shot by several different parties, in a sort of 'pot-luck' aesthetic of handing off the torch.

However, I feel that the essence of the film is really made in the edit, and could stand on its own as an arranged emotional progression. This contradicts what appears to be a valid attempt by Ryan to minimize his hand in the work in order to highlight all of those involved.

I blame my calling all of this into question on Ryan's introduction of the work within not only a greater philosophical and metaphysical context, but also within his own aesthetic and cinematic philosophies as an artist. At the same time, I am appreciative of the questions and insight this introduction provided prior to our viewing the work.

Having an understanding of what the maker's ideological intentions can often hinder a viewer's ability to absorb information from a piece, however, in this case I was happy to have a better grasp of the situation (i.e. the context of the tour, the nature of Michael & Tom's relationship and past collaborations) and still see that if not given these through-lines, the film could still be read, understood and enjoyed for what it was trying to document.