Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Grandeur et décadence, Part II































Don't the above images (part of the same zoom sequence) give the unsettling impression of a video monitor image morphing into an evocation of a Byzantine Virgin icon? The stills above are taken from Grandeur et décadence. I would like to think of Godard walking through a museum, or perhaps sitting by his desk in lamplight with a book of the Old Masters, peering at image after image ("after" in time, "after" in space), realizing or deciding that they were a string of ands to braid with other strings in his own work. Is this zoom presenting us with a quick proposal--that television, in giving us so many images, so much information, and not allowing us to respond to it and communicate with it in its own form, operates like the Church in Medieval Europe? What is important is not whether Godard endorses this comparison or not, but that his film enables it, gets us to question the "omnipresent" or "omnipotent" ("la toute puissance") ...

4 comments:

ZC said...

Then again, an interesting point of comparison/contrast to the Byzantine icon is the placement of this model's hand--it looks almost like a blessing (two fingers raised together), though as far as I'm aware, the Virgin rarely appears giving such a blessing (a sign more often offered by the infant Christ in her arms).

Daniel Kasman said...

Awesome post, and beautiful images. Your recent posting on post-1968 Godard has really instilled a desire to see a group of films I've generally been ambivilant about viewing. Now if only I had access to them...

Anonymous said...

Hi, Zach. I posted on your earlier board awhile back. Anyway, I have some information that might interest you. New York is holding its primary on Sep 12; and, Jonathan Tasini is challenging Hilary Clinton in the Democratic Senate primary as an anti-war porgressive.

Best, Greg

ZC said...

Phyrephox--let us know your thoughts on your site. If you want I can send you an email with some tips for how to access some of these ...

Greg, nice to see you around again. You've just reminded me that I have not registered as a New York resident & voter--damn. Must do that very soon! Thanks.