It Even Failed as Performance Art

If the first priority of good performance art is to be visually interesting, the second lies in the courage of conviction. From the Kipper Kids to Karen Finley to Dan Kwong, the artist must know themselves and their work sufficiently well that they can breeze past the likelihood that they may at times look ridiculous. The artifice of performance is a universal; any club singer knows they had better rehearse their material and any stand-up comic knows they must be prepared to deal with some wise ass in the audience. Performance art knowingly strides into territory that invites unpredictable responses; that is often a central part of the point. What is often regarded as a gratuitous attempt to grab attention for its own sake is most likely a serious exploration of genuine give and take.

That's what I found striking about basketball star LeBron James' lard-filled televised announcement last night. His so-called "Decision," on its face, shared that quality of performance art. Turned out that the set and the camera editing were less than pedestrian, as though some amateur director was telling a high priced production staff loaded with state-of-the-art equipment what to do. Oh yeah, that is just what happened.

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