ImplicitMeanings Metaphorand Symbol MichalRovner

ByLindaWeintraub in IntheMaking:CreativeOptionsforContemporaryArt (page4451)

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summaries

Videoinstallation:MutualInterest
utilizesmetaphorsandsymbolstocommunicatecomplex ideasandmixedperspectives. Whymetaphorsandsymbols?
toexpand(towidenthescope)significance augment(toincreaseandenlarge)meaning toembody(include)opposingtruth

Butmetaphorsandsymbolsonlyaccomplishthese taskswhenmembersoftheaudienceinterpretthem Rovners useofmetaphorsandsymbolsinstead ofstraightforwardrepresentationsallows viewerstobecomeengagedinthesearchingof otherpossiblemeaningsthatisbeyondthefirst impressiontheworkgave.

Whatisrepresentation
Isitaduplicateofanoriginal? reimpliesthatthesubjectiscreatedinnewform. Similaritiesanddifferencesinrepresentationsareequally apparent. Oneoftheremarkableattributesofartistic representationisthatthesubjectoftheworkofartmay bedifferentfromthesubjectoftherepresentation. Example?

Impactofmetaphoricalrepresentationon viewers:
Artobserversaregiventhetasktosearchfor meaningsthatareobscuredbymetaphorsand camouflagedassymbols. Anaudienceisgivenhis/herresponsibility he/sheisnotapassivereceiverofmeaningbut activeinterpreter.

3levelsofseeingmetaphorsWeintraub providesthroughRovnerswork:
1. Whenrepresentationsexpressesemotional statesoftheartist. 2. Conveyanceofpossiblepolitical circumstances. 3. Transcendingthespecific(artistssubjective mind/emotion,political/socialconcerns)to arriveatuniversalconditions.

1.Expressionoftheartistsemotional state.
Whatkindof emotion? Fears?Enxieties?

Thebirdsswirlaroundyouuntilyouaredizzy.I usefourmicrophones.Youbecameobliterated.
Rovner manipulatesher filmsjustas sculptors modelingclay Sherespondsto herexpressionist impulses

Meaningsandinterpretations proliferates
3functionsofrepresentationthroughmultiple transferenceofthebirdimages: 1. Providesopportunitiesforviewerstorelatetothework. 2. stagewhereappreciationisautomatic relaxes viewers 3. Viewersareleadintoanexpandedterritory interpretationcomesin. whatthingshaveincommonmakestheiridentity ambiguous betweenstrangenessandfamiliarity.

Photographyasamediumwithgreatexpressive propertiesforRovner. thefirsttimeItookpicturesforaclassIwas shockedthattheobjectsdidntlookthewaythey didinreality,butlike myfeelings. Resemblancetotheinvisiblesinrepresentations.

MutualInterestasexampleofexpressive art.
How? Elements:overwhelmingscaleofthescreen,stark andgrimcolourscheme,disorientingtempoin birdsactionsfromfrenzytofrozen,cameras interspersingandchaoticzoomsetc.

Thethemehereisnotaboutbirds.Birdsarethe vehicle,thematerial,thepointofdeparture.Thisfilm isacommentonmyfeelings.Thingsareunstable,in flux.Theygofromgoodtobadtogood.

Birdsexternalize internalstateofsomeone possessedbydementedforceorsufferingfrom hysteria. Emotionalchargeoftheworkcapableof generatingallkindsofsubjectiveresponses fromaudiences.

2.Conveyingpossiblepolitical circumstancesthroughfurther metaphors.

How? Disassociatingbirdfromitsusualmeaning. Means:thearbitrarycombinationofhelicopter soundwithflockingbirds. Thismeansasanexampleof:
1. Metaphorisimaginativeconstruct. 2. Metaphorisaproductoftheartistsconstantsearchfor meaning.

Rovnersbackground
IsraelilivingintheStateduringGulfwar. Herexperienceofthewarthroughthetele Metaphorsderivingfromherbackground:
Birdsashuman,needforstableterritory home Thedriveofatinybirdtothatoftinynationfighting Flockingbirds refugees Etc.

Whatwastheartistsownexplanationofthework? (page48last2ndpara)

 Inthe2ndlevelviewersresponseinvolves applicationofimaginationandintelligence. Butisthisenoughtoaccountforthecomplexityof thiswork?

Theessenseofthings
Whatisit? Whyisimportant? theessenseislocatedinthehumancollective unconscious,aremoteterritorythatmaybedifficultfor peopletoaccess Issymbolusefulhere? Symbolsconveysaspectsofrealitythatescapesordinary centersofperceptionsandthatbypassordinarymodesof expression.

JosephCampbellsstatement:
(Page492ndpara)

symbols
Componentsofculturalinheritance Donotneedtobelearned. Oftenelicit(bringforth)rawimmediacyofan emotion. Thereforeittranscendstime,individualimagination, andlanguage E.g.bird arecurringsymbolinmanydiffculturesof similaranddifferentmeanings. >finallytoarriveatuniversalcondition!

3.Goingbeyondthespecifictoarriveat universalmeaning
traditionalsymbolismisingrainedinthehumanpsyche. MutualInterest,bydepictingbirdsasmessengersof turmoil,stripsthemoftheirageoldassociations. weintraub flyingbringstomindwings,initiation,gettingfromone placetoanother.Tome,itsmoreaboutbeingtakenout ofcontext,beingdetached.Itsaboutbeinginbetween, aftertakingoffandbeforelandingrovner

Birds
Stirdeeprecessesofhumanpsycheinsteadofjoyful elation Rovner intendedtoconjureexperienceofchaos. InfluenceofChinesephilosophy:fluxaspartof everything. Rovner gobeyondtheconfinesofnormsinrational thinkingtoarriveatsomethingmoreimpactful through referencingontheunpredictablepowerofnature