Jean-Luc Godard: Passion (1982)

In addition to sheer wackiness -- even moments of slapstick -- what jumps out from Jean-Luc Godard's Passion (1982) is the repeated appearance of tableaux vivants, staged recreations of master paintings by, among others, Francisco Goya (1746-1828). These are stunning, especially amid the tumult of other activities swirling around them.  

Passion's cast includes heavy hitters like Isabelle Huppert, Hanna Schygulla and Michel Piccoli. Their characters have noticeable features or tics ranging from stuttering to sucking on what looks like a cross between a flower and a lollipop, to deaf-muteness and harmonica playing, not to mention short hair.  One can see this kind of strangeness in all sorts of movies and series, anywhere from a Sergio Leone Spaghetti Western to David Lynch's Twin Peaks.  

Tableaux vivants convey an ancient tradition. In more recent times, they have been used to circumvent censorship, starting with photographic images. In daguerreotypes in the 19th century, they were often painted to add yet another effect while (seemingly) bringing them back in line with the original paintings. 

Contemporary photographer Cindy Sherman has done a lot with the tableau vivant, carrying its uses even further by "recreating" sometimes fictional images that nonetheless feel as familiar as a moment of Déjà vu.   

Add excellent music and some semblance of traditional plot and what've you got? Another pensive, interesting and somewhat esoteric Godard film. Colorful dreams follow.  

Today's Rune: Protection. 

It's Plain Bizarre . . .

 

Yet another one of the cards awarded to Pliny Durant on January 1, 1865 in St. Charles, Illinois. The publisher: F. E. Thurston, Philadelphia (Lancaster Avenue). 

This is an odd depiction. The picture itself could be telegraphing a lot of things besides the literal First Commandment. In addition, the proportions are surreal. It reminds me of Guest of Cindy Sherman. Go forth and fill in the blank. . . What's really going on here?

Today's Rune: Signals. 

Guest of Cindy Sherman

It took a while for Guest of Cindy Sherman (2008), a documentary by Tom Donahue and Paul "H-O" Hasegawa-Overacker, to emerge from the shadows and become available in digital format. Not sure if this was because of the Great Recession or because certain people wanted it delayed.

In this mosaic of a film, we follow Paul H-O on his arc from goofy arts show host in NYC to "Guest of Cindy Sherman" and beyond. Essentially, he is in the right place at the right time but, becoming his own worst enemy, he crumples existentially. Why does he "win?" Why does he "lose?"  There's more to it than the fickle finger of fate -- he actively goes for it, gets it, falls in over his head, becomes ungrateful and ungracious, and loses it. What is "it?" Friendship, intimacy, significant moments with Cindy Sherman, who is seen becoming more and more sought out by "everybody," more famous, wealthier (as in millionaire -- pretty nice change for any artist). All interesting. The footage of Cindy Sherman is particularly absorbing. Not sure what H-O's original intention was here, but he comes off as "out of his league" while Sherman comes off as a very cool person and artist. Groovy beans.  

Today's Rune: Harvest.  

Marc Chagall in Dallas

Double luck on Easter Sunday at the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA): not only was there an open parking space across the street, but once inside, the same ticket was good for both the Cindy Sherman and Marc Chagall exhibitions, one right after the other.

Chagall (1887-1985) artifacts on display include costumes he designed for a World War Two era ballet, sculptures, miscellaneous ceramic items and paintings. Groovy times.  

I remember as a kid seeing stained glass windows by Chagall in a small chapel outside of Petersburg, Virginia at the edge of a Civil War battlefield -- or was that in a dream?

"Dance like hypnotized chickens . . . " (Iggy Pop, "Lust for Life," 1977). Ha!

Today's Rune: Fertility.

Cindy Sherman in Dallas

Got to check out the Cindy Sherman exhibition at the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) -- fantastic. Photos large, gigantic and miniature, in black & white and in full garish color. Cindy Sherman -- like Tracey Ullman, eh? They're both in their fifties, come  to think about it. Still absorbing how it's different to see in person vs. with eyes only, refracted. Notice how in this image she looks like a character in an Antonioni movie?

Today's Rune: Joy.
   

Fellow Travelers: The Photographers

Kellie Jones, Lorna Simpson (Phaidon Contemporary Artists, 2002).

Patricia Bosworth, Diane Arbus: A Biography (2005).

Susan Goldman Rubin, Margaret Bourke White: Her Pictures Were Her Life (1999).

Anthony Penrose, The Lives of Lee Miller (1988).

Cindy Sherman: The Early Works, 1975-1977. Catalogue Raisonné (2012). Das Frühwerk.

Five über-cool photographers. I dig them all! 

Today's Rune: Partnership.