Abstract

The word ‘curfew’ originated from ‘couvre-feu’, a French term that means ‘cover fire’. Historically, as early as the 11th century in Europe, curfew was enforced through the use of warning bells which signified the time to put out all fires, thereby blacking out the village. The blackout created a form of security in which the inability to see ensured the inability to move, especially on moonless nights. This presentation will explore the blackout as a form, function, and concept. From pre-industrial night, tangents will be taken to electrical failure, the bottom of the ocean, global black spots, solitary confinement, and death.

• Carrie Hott is an interdisciplinary artist based in Oakland, California, USA.   carriehott.com/7195506/about