Turn-On(1974)

Turn-On is an experimental short film that captures artist Vito Acconci in an intimate, confrontational performance. Filmed in extreme close-up, the work shows Acconci's face and the back of his head as he hums—first melodically, then with increasing aggression and intensity. He repeatedly wheels toward the camera, his features filling the frame as he squints and speaks breathlessly at the viewer, then turns away to resume humming. This cyclical structure creates an unsettling rhythm that blurs the line between performer and audience, challenging conventional notions of cinema and personal space through raw, bodily presence.