Trickster Theory (2002)

Overview

Part of the No Ghost Just a Shell series, this video installation brings philosophy into dialogue with the virtual character Annlee. Drawing on Belhaj‑Kacem’s Trickster Theory, the work positions Annlee as a “trickster” figure—simultaneously created and agentic, structured and subversive. The video examines identity, authorship, and the game-like dynamics of virtual existence, exploring how a character bound by commercial and artistic frameworks might assert a form of strategic freedom. Through sound, text, and visual minimalism, it turns Annlee’s supposed “shell” into a stage for critique, ambiguity, and philosophical inquiry.

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