Spandy Andy
Directed by Courtney Barton; Vancouver Film School; 2010
Spandy Andy is a dance performer that "promotes positivity and acceptance through dance." Simple as that. I'd equate Spandy Andy to the purple childhood icon, Barney. The same concept goes, man in suit, man with a message, man acting out message through song and dance. Andy is a Canadian born actor- performer with quite an interesting story:
His background in computer programming ("I followed that career because that's what I should do"), working at IBM ("suppressing my Spandy - Andy"), and then leaving his career for the spandex. Andy makes an interesting statement at about 3:15 about, hiding. It goes on, "there's a reason I take the lenses out of my glasses and that's because it's scary when you look at somebody in a mask because they don't have an identity and they're hiding behind something." I ask, isn't Spandy - Andy also hiding behind something? He may not be wearing a mask, but the glasses themselves could be argued as mask- like, but he's in costume. Like Clark Kent and Superman. In addition, he describes Spandy - Andy as a character. Andy and Spandy are two very different people and that's what I think we see in this pair of documentaries: the duplicitous nature of living the life of a caped (spandexed--not a word) crusader.
The few documentary shorts that I have seen (Spandy - Andy, Bye Bye Now, a Banksy short called, "Printing Banksy") are interesting in that they are more like public profiles. Along the lines of record- keeping, these documentaries are records of the lives of interesting (debatable) individuals. Why is it even important for us to know about this guy, who dances around in public, in spandex? Who cares? Yet, there is also something terribly interesting, psychologically, about a man who gives up a career (a good one, at that) for the freedom to live out his days in spandex. I can't say if I believe that Spandy - Andy is truly happy or if that behind the outfit there's an untold story-- he talks about being bullied in the first one-- that might reveal to the audience the exact reasons behind the act. I wonder if a longer documentary, more research and more funding, might give us a better idea about who Spandy - Andy really is. Or maybe, he's just a guy who prefers spandex.
TIGHT BRIGHT post! ;-)
ReplyDeleteAs for the SPANDEX being similar to a mask, I find it to have the opposite effect. You can't miss me when I'm wearing it and I make sure my name is clearly stated on the chest encase you don't know who I am.
Thanks for sharing <3.
First, since Spandy Andy commented first, I will talk directly to him. Spandy Andy, I want you to be my best friend.
ReplyDeleteAs for the video itself, I really like how the first one choose to show home video footage on a cartoon TV set. At first, I would have liked if the footage was left alone, but afterwards, I connected more of the idea of fame from Television. Also, an audience is an audience, no matter what format they are able to see, and relate with, the character of Spandy Andy.
Spandy - Andy! Thanks for commenting. Ha! I have a major desire for more backstory.
ReplyDeleteHaley, I agree with the comments made about the first video-- their is an undeniable intimacy that comes through with his brother and the story of his childhood. I got stuck on a few things though, like his religion and being bullied. How have those 'things' bred life into who Spandy - Andy is?