"Coming To Life" and Intermediality in the Tableaux Vivants of Magic Mirror and Confessions To The Mirror

Pucill, S. 2018. "Coming To Life" and Intermediality in the Tableaux Vivants of Magic Mirror and Confessions To The Mirror. in: Smith, V. and Hamlyn, N. (ed.) Experimental and Expanded Animation: New Perspectives and Practices Switzerland Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 231-255

Chapter title"Coming To Life" and Intermediality in the Tableaux Vivants of Magic Mirror and Confessions To The Mirror
AuthorsPucill, S.
EditorsSmith, V. and Hamlyn, N.
Abstract

Drawing upon the recent writing by Agnes Petho, the text examines the films Magic Mirror and Confessions To The Mirror in terms of their intermedial language. The main focus in the analysis is on the tableaux vivants that re-enact photographs by Claude Cahun, which according to Petho are the supreme examples of intermedial intensity.

A questioning of the duality of traditional categories of “animation–live action” is examined through the writing of Tomas Lamarre. This is applied to the way in which Cahuns’s photographs are enlivened or animated in the film. Borrowing Lamarre’s concept, what the tableaux vivants add to the original still image (Cahun’s photograph) is time, rather than movement. This idea is developed in the examples described where the re enacted image holds still, whilst voices and a soundscape create the movement within the film. Literal movement of the image, the agitational serves not to signify but to keep our attention to stay with the prolonged image.

Particular instances of intermediality are discussed both generally and through examples. This includes a theory of the auratic through the touch of the filmmaker. Finally, a discussion is had of the idea of inhabiting the place of Cahun as performer, which is heightened through the disorientation that is a consequence of the intermedial. Crossing time period and authorship is a central focus of the writing, which points to the significance of an artist animating the historical archive in film where uncovered historical narrative has the potential to be be brought into the present through direct means.

KeywordsIntermedial, Tableaux Vivants, Claude Cahun, Experimental Film, Expanded Animation
Book titleExperimental and Expanded Animation: New Perspectives and Practices
Page range231-255
Year2018
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
Publication dates
Published19 Sep 2018
Place of publicationSwitzerland
ISBN9783319738727
9783319738734
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73873-4_12
FunderUniversity for the Creative Arts
Web address (URL)https://research.uca.ac.uk/3893/
https://www.zippyframes.com/index.php/academic/experimental-and-expanded-animation-new-perspectives-gets-sas-norman-mclaren-award-best-scholarly-book-in-animation

Related outputs

A Dialogue with Claude Cahun: Between Photography and Film in Magic Mirror and Confessions to the Mirror
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Explore this book chapter

Confessions To The Mirror
Pucill, S. 2016. Confessions To The Mirror.

A Dialogue with Claude Cahun: Between Photography and Film in Magic Mirror and Confessions to the Mirror
Pucill, S. 2021. A Dialogue with Claude Cahun: Between Photography and Film in Magic Mirror and Confessions to the Mirror. in: Knowles, K. and Schmid, M. (ed.) Cinematic Intermediality: Theory and Practice Edinburgh Edinburgh University Press.

Garden Self Portraits after Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore
Pucill, S. 2019. Garden Self Portraits after Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore. Ottawa Municipal Art Gallery 14 Sep 2019 - 09 Feb 2020

Encounters of the Space Between: a Collaboration with Claude Cahun in Magic Mirror and Confessions to the Mirror
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The Provocation of Intermediality in the Tableaux Vivants in Magic Mirror and Confessions To The Mirror
Pucill, S. 2017. The Provocation of Intermediality in the Tableaux Vivants in Magic Mirror and Confessions To The Mirror. Pratschke, K. (ed.) Photofilm: Sampling the Archive. GUGA (Centre of Architecture), in co-operation with the Metropolitan University, Budapest, Hungary. 19 Sep - 19 Nov 2017

Jersey Premiere Screening of Confessions to the Mirror
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Frankfurt Screening: Confessions to the Mirror
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Ottawa Art Gallery Screening: Confessions to the Mirror
Pucill, S. 2019. Ottawa Art Gallery Screening: Confessions to the Mirror. Ottawa Municipal Art Gallery 14 Sep 2019 - 09 Feb 2020

Dortmund / Cologne Women's International Film Festival Official Selection: Confessions to the Mirror
Pucill, S. 2019. Dortmund / Cologne Women's International Film Festival Official Selection: Confessions to the Mirror. Dortmund, Germany 08 - 14 Apr 2019

UCL Art Museum Screening: Confessions To The Mirror + Q+A with Maria Walsh
Pucill, S. 2018. UCL Art Museum Screening: Confessions To The Mirror + Q+A with Maria Walsh. Bloomsbury Studio, UCL, London 22 May 2018

Bagdam Lesbian Festival, Toulouse, France, screening of Confessions to the Mirror
Pucill, S. 2018. Bagdam Lesbian Festival, Toulouse, France, screening of Confessions to the Mirror . Toulouse, France 29 Mar - 14 Apr 2018

BEEF Bristol Screening: Confessions To The Mirror and Q+A with Vicky Smith
Pucill, S. 2018. BEEF Bristol Screening: Confessions To The Mirror and Q+A with Vicky Smith. Cube Microplex Cinema, Bristol 20 Feb 2018

White Cube, Bermondsey, London: Screening: Magic Mirror, Confessions To The Mirror
Pucill, S. 2017. White Cube, Bermondsey, London: Screening: Magic Mirror, Confessions To The Mirror. 28 Jun - 17 Sep 2017

Cinematek, Oslo: Screening of Confessions To The Mirror + Q+A Greg Pope
Pucill, S. 2017. Cinematek, Oslo: Screening of Confessions To The Mirror + Q+A Greg Pope. Cinemateket, Oslo 2010 - 2019

National Portrait Gallery: Screening of Confessions To The Mirror
Pucill, S. 2017. National Portrait Gallery: Screening of Confessions To The Mirror. National Portrait Gallery, London 09 Mar - 29 May 2017

Creteil International Women's Film Festival Official Selection: Confessions To The Mirror
Pucill, S. 2017. Creteil International Women's Film Festival Official Selection: Confessions To The Mirror. Maison des Arts, Place Salvador Allende, Creteil, Paris 10 - 19 Mar 2017

Alchemy Film Festival, Scotland Official Selection: Confessions To The Mirror (16mm, col, 68min, 2016)
Pucill, S. 2017. Alchemy Film Festival, Scotland Official Selection: Confessions To The Mirror (16mm, col, 68min, 2016). Heart of Hawick, Scottish Borders 02 - 06 Mar 2017

BFI London Film Festival Premiere of Confessions To The Mirror (16mm col, 68min)
Pucill, S. 2016. BFI London Film Festival Premiere of Confessions To The Mirror (16mm col, 68min). BFI Southbank, London 05 - 16 Oct 2016

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2020. Televised documentary: Interview with extracts from Magic Mirror and Confessions to the Mirror in the documentary 'Masquerades and Games: the Female Artists of Surrealism'.

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