The Art of the Deal was filmed over the holidays in November 2018 and a rough cut of the first episode was presented at the Goethe Pop Up space followed by a discussion with the artist and some of the featured family members. After six months of post-production, four episodes are now ready to be viewed.

Inspired by reality TV, The Art of the Deal stars three Minnesotan families who openly discuss family politics during the holiday season.

40 years after its birth, reality TV seems to have become an integral part of people’s life, no matter which country or continent, whether in the US, in Germany, or elsewhere. And more than a decade of Keeping up with the Kardashians has certainly shaped the way realities are being performed all over the world.

Following a docu-style aesthetic, The Art of the Deal depicts the private sphere of three families that will serve as a platform to debate and stage questions of individual behavioral patterns but also collective dynamics. During holidays, unlike any other time of the year, the discrepancy between personal expectations and the actual reality of a family gathering frequently results in a drama that usually is resolved within seconds.

Pivotal, universally valid questions will emerge in this process. How do families communicate today? What verbal and body language is at play?

Simultaneously, more mundane questions will arise: Who negotiates the best deals around the dinner table? Who will be the most charming in finding excuses? Who speaks too much and who prefers to remain silent?

After the binge-watching week, the episodes will be available on the Goethe in the Skyways website.