Cecilia Dougherty
Cecilia Dougherty creates videotapes and digital films which focus on the themes of lesbianism and popular culture. While her early work places lesbians in a cultural territory separate from mainstream society, other projects portray the lesbian experience in terms of commonly held norms; in her own words, "the life of an ordinary lesbian and her working-class family."
Her work, which is created primarily as video art, is actually not chiefly 'about' lesbianism, but is about the nature of individual experience within society, with strong psychological themes. She uses biography, essay, portraiture and autobiography to examine the nature of human experience.
An early influence in Dougherty's life was the poetry of Robert Graves.
She holds a PhD in Media Philosophy from the European Graduate School. Her video works are archived at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. She is based in New York.
Videography
Lynne, 6.00, portrait of writer Lynne TillmanKevin and Cedar, 8:30, portrait of writers Kevin Killian and Cedar SigoGone, 36:42, dual projection video installation, experimental documentaryEileen, 10:20, portrait of writer Eileen MylesLaurie, 11:02, portrait of writer Laurie WeeksLeslie, 11:04, portrait of writer Leslie ScalapinoUntitled , video installation, collaboration with sculptor Taylor DavisThe dream and the waking, 15:10, experimental documentary videoMy Failure to Assimilate, 20:00, experimental documentary videoI’m Leaving Home Without You ,, single channel video installationJoe-Joe, 52:00, experimental biography, video collaboration with artist Leslie SingerIn flux, 50:00, video diary, collaboration with Leslie SingerThe Drama of the Gifted Child, 5:30, video essayMeet Me in Saint Louis, Fuck Me in Kansas City, video diary, collaboration with artist Leslie SingerCoal Miner’s Granddaughter, 80:00, fictionalized autobiographyHello World, Goodbye San Francisco, 35:00, video diary, collaboration with artist Leslie SingerThe Temptation of Jane, 50:00, video diary, collaboration with artist Leslie SingerThe Passion of Jane, 11:00, video letterGrapefruit, 39:10, experimental documentaryKathy, 12:00, video essayClaudia, 7:50, video essayCoat of Arms I, 16:00, essay, slow scan video captureCoat of Arms II, 8:00, essay, edited version of slow scan video76 Trombones, 3:30, experimental videoFuck You Purdue, 12:00, video plagiarism based on the work of artist Howard FriedBirdland, 16:00, narrativeSick, 5:30, documentaryGay Tape: Butch and Femme, 26:00, documentary