Negativland: Our Favorite Things

Negativland is chopped and screwed, California style. The Bay-Area band rose to popularity in the early ‘80s thanks to its mash-ups of popular music and sound bites from television, film and radio. The group gained notoriety when it was sued by Island records for sampling U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” in its tune “The Letter U and the Numeral 2.” This song, along with others, gets a visual makeover in the DVD Negativland: Our Favorite Things.

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More About

• Negativland
• Jesus Christ
• U2
• The Little Mermaid

The DVD — released in 2007 — features 18 filmmakers’ interpretations of Negativeland hits. “Christianity Is Stupid,” which took the words of a recorded sermon out of context and set them to heavy metal, is brought to life through clips of Hollywood’s take on the story of Jesus Christ. “My Favorite Things,” a mix-up of the popular tune from the Sound of Music, is matched with cut-up scenes from the original motion picture. “The Letter U” samples a telephone message from a lawyer at Island threatening to take the members of Negativland to court. His voice is humorously paired with Ariel, the leading character in Disney’s The Little Mermaid. See these and more kooky interpretations at 8:30 p.m. Domy, 1709 Westheimer. For information, call 713-639-3669 or visit www.domystore.com. Free.
Fri., Aug. 8, 8:30 p.m., 2008