Desert States: You Win Again

About This Movie

So, 'Desert States: You Win Again' is a fascinating piece, really. It takes those late '80s Miss USA pageant clips and strips them down to something raw and almost unsettling. The way Robinson plays with the visuals is intriguing, turning the glitz and glam of beauty competitions into this kind of haunting spectacle. It’s silent, which adds to the eerie atmosphere—you're left only with the visuals to interpret the often ridiculous pageantry. The pacing is languid, giving you time to ponder the themes of gender and performance. It's distinctive, almost like an art installation in motion, inviting you to question what’s beneath the surface of such ceremonies.

This film is part of a niche segment in video art that repurposes popular media in a critical light. It's relatively scarce, with few prints floating around, making it a unique find for collectors interested in contemporary video works. The lack of a widely known director or detailed genre classification may affect its perceived value, but it certainly draws in those who appreciate avant-garde cinema and the exploration of societal norms through art.