The Poetry of Jean-Luc Godard

Nouvelle Vague
-Jean-Luc Godard
(tiré de l'introduction de la première partie d'enregistrement sonore. ECM Records)

Dans un premier temps
- l'ancien testament -
un être humain
(un homme)
est sauvé de la chute
par un autre être humain
(une femme).

Dans un deuxième temps
- l nouveau testament -
un être humain
(une femme)
(la même)
est sauvé de la chute
par un être humain
(un autre homme).

Mais la femme découvre que l'autre homme
est aussi le même que le premier
que le deuxième est
(encore et toujours)
le même que le premier.

C'est donc un révélation.
Et si l'homme a dit le mystère,
la femme a révélé le secret.

Nouvelle Vague
by Jean-Luc Godard
(Taken from the introduction to the audio release of the film on ECM records)

In the first era
- the old testament -
a human being
(a man)
is saved from the fall
by another human being
(a woman).

In the second era
-the new testament-
a human being
(a woman)
(the same)
is saved from the fall
by a human being
(another man).

But the woman discovers that the other man
is the same as the first
that the second is
(still as before)
the same as the first.

This is a revelation.
And if the man asserts the mystery,
the woman revealed the secret.

(I'm sorry if my translation isn't very good. It just doesn't have the same ring as it does in french)

I Know, I Know, Everyone's Heard Enough: Helvetica

This clip from HELVETICA mentions "automatic" and/or visceral responses in relation to typefaces. Our associations with the font, and, I think to some extent, its formal blance and simplicity does just the opposite of triggering "automatic negative response" (see below).

We all love helvetica. I use it on my portfolio page, kithalvorsen.com.



Well, actually not everyone loves helvetica. love/hate:BBC

Ultimately, the target is communication, and font is secondary to content. This debate is silly.

"Gracca Cum Est"

Parable of boar and book
from the Monterey County Herald, 5/19/07

Occasional sightings of wild animals in residential neighborhoods on the Monterey Peninsula have caused some local residents understandable concern. Sometimes, though rarely, clashes with nature occur, but different people have their own ways of handling such threats and good common sense usually assures a favorable outcome. The following example may provide some reassurance to chronic worriers.

A young classics student at Oxford was walking in a nearby forest when he was attacked by a wild boar. In the ensuing struggle, he thrust the volume of Aristotle, which he happened to be reading, down the creature's throat exclaiming "Gracca cum est" which translates roughly as "With the compliments of the Greeks." The boar expired, and the incident is commemorated in the window of a nearby church. Quite likely a less erudite text would have proved just as useful, but, at least in this instance, one could say that the pursuit of knowledge proved to be a lifesaver.

Peter Kirwan
Pebble Beach

"Similarly, here are some of the conditions that appear to produce automatic negative affect:"

heights,
sudden, unexpected loud sounds or bright lights,
"looming" objects (objects that appear to be about to hit the observer),
extreme hot or cold,
darkenss,
extrememly bright lights or loud sounds,
empty, flat terrain (deserts),
crowded dense terrain (jungels or forests),
crowds of people,
rotting smells, decaying foods,
bitter tastes,
sharp objects,
harsh, abrupt sounds,
grating and discordant sounds,
misshapen human bodies,
snakes and spiders,
human feces (and its smell),
other people's body fluids,
vomit.

This is a list I found in the book Emotional Design by Donald A. Norman of sensations that typically produce an "automatic negative" visceral affect. This list is preceeded by a list of situations and objects that do the contrary. The latter is neither as long, nor as poetic.

(continuity) It is a list. It is also a poem if you choose to read it as a poem. no?

Relevant?

Following up on the first two posts.
Also, think about the artistry/design behind everyday objects.

Le Debat, Haute Tension; Speechbox

"Programme de gouvernement" Adriana Garcia Galan, a Colombian aritst working in Paris, has transposed the French Presidential debate into a medium of modern urban folk art: Beatboxing. By doing so, she emphasizes a contentious dialogue between hip hip culture and politics that mirrors the original debate setting. The work is currently on display at the Palais de Tokyo, Paris.



Additionally, I think it is worth noting Sarkozy's role and comments as Interior Minister during the 2005 civil riots in Parisian outskirts. His allegations that organized planning was the root of the violence and use of the term "racaille" (translating to rabble or scum) disparaged the working class. The riots took place in areas that have a strong youth culture and population, some of which indentifies with and contributes to the international hip-hop movement.

Posted above is a clip from Wednesday's debate. Some of the English subtitles are not very accurate, so keep that in mind.

tragiquement les résultats ont été annoncés : Sarkozy a gagné. http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-823448,36-906044@51-906165,0.html

Ne L'Oubliez Pas

Pharoah Sanders - Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah-Hum Allah from Jewels of Thought (1969)


John Coltrane discovered Pharoah Sanders playing at New York’s Village Gate in ’63. Shortly thereafter, Sanders began playing the tenor sax in a uniquely shrill split-reed voice alongside Coltrane during an avant-garde period characterized by “cosmic” themes influenced by, most notably, Sun Ra and Albert Ayler. Two years into this “second quartet” project, Coltrane died, forcing Sanders pursue a solo career. He briefly collaborated with Coltrane’s widow and former pianist, Alice, before leading his own band. At this stage, Sander’s band drew heavily upon the avant-garde and cosmic influences of the “second quartet” as well as African scales and rhythms.

Jewels of Thought was recorded in ’69 and has since been largely forgotten. I found a dusty copy of it on vinyl a few months ago. Apparently, Hum-Allah was my mother’s favorite song around the time when it was released.

According the record cover, Pahroah Sanders plays the tenor saxophone, contrabass clarinet, reed flute, African thumb piano, and percussion. He is accompanied by Leon Thomas, Lonnie Liston Smith, Richard Davis, Cecil McBee, Idris Muhammad, and Roy Hanes.


"Peace is the will of the people / and the will of the land
With peace we can move ahead together"