The Collapse of PAL
The Collapse of PAL is an audiovisual performance that memorializes the outdated PAL signal, a color encoding system for analog television. Menkman uses digital video bending and sound manipulation techniques to show that, despite its obsolescence, the influence of the PAL signal lives on in newer technologies.
In "The Collapse of PAL" (Eulogy, Obsequies and Requiem for the planes of blue phosphor), the Angel of History (as described by Walter Benjamin) reflects on the PAL signal and its termination. This death sentence, although executed in silence, was a brutally violent act that left PAL disregarded and obsolete. While it might be argued that the PAL signal is dead, it still exists as a trace left upon the new, ‘better’ digital technologies. PAL can, even though the technology is terminated, be found here as a historical form that newer technologies build upon, in- herit or have appropriated from. Besides this, the Angel also realizes that the new DVB signal that has been chosen over PAL is different, but at the same time also inherently flawed as PAL.─██─▀─▌█
This is the rendered version of a live av-performance first done on national Danish television and subsequently performed at oa. Transmediale (Germany) and Nova festival (Brasil). See full list of performances and screenings when login.
Render of part one of the Collapse of PAL (Eulogy, Obsequies and Requiem for the blue plains of phosphor). As performed at TV-TV on the 25th of May 2010, Copenhagen, DK, Copenhagen, DK. The video work is based on analogue signal, compressions, glitches and feedback artifacts in sound and video. For this part of the 30 minutes video, I used a NES, some image bending and a broken photo camera (CCD chip is loose) && for the sound I used a cracklebox, feedback, Eurosignal and a couple of DV-compressed videobends.