November 02, 2006

Metamorphosis of Narcissus 1937 -1938 Dali


image from http://www.brain-juice.com/cgi-bin/show_wok.cgi?p_id=38&w_id=123



4 comments:

AbsractArtZoZo said...

short and to the point ...i wish i could be so succinct...thanyou for you comments.....x

Rie said...

Hi Sarah,

I stumbled across 'The Metamorphosis (in German: Die Verwandlung)' by Franz Kafta and wondered if this was 'up your street'?

I'm quite fascinated by this idea, particularly the body and or personality changes, a la Jekyll & Hyde.

The film 'Mary Reilly' by Stephen Frears shows the Jekyll & Hyde character (played by the excellent John Malkovich) in complete physical transformation (metamorphosis). Metamorphosis depicted in film must be quite an interesting area, with the aid of modern technology in particular, makes everything feel more realistic, in a sense.

There's also the Godley & Creme 'Cry' video (I'm showing my age) which was revolutionary in video at the time, ahem, if I recall....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1Z8pSXCNFI

tim said...

another slightly interesting fact; the story of Jekyll and Hyde was based on the building that housed the royal college of surgeons which was founded by john hunter (who is regarded as the first proper surgeon). The front section housed the lecture rooms and library and so represents Hyde where as the rear of the building was where the 'butchery' would take place and so is Jekyll.

as a foot note, another slightly interesting fact. Before surgeons, butchers performed operations and would do so before the invention of anesthetic (which was later to be invented at john hunters college but Joseph Lister in 1866) Anyway to cope with the pain patients would be handed a white cane to squeeze. This cane would become splattered with blood and thus the white and red cane you find outside butchers shops was born.

Sera said...

Thanks Zoe. p.s you are extremely succinct. Your blog is fantastic and how you achieve to be so succinct with so much information is quite a talent I think.

Just watching the 'Cry' video. Music videos are really strange aren't they. I mean the song's not something I would nesacarily listen to but the video's fantastic and I can see why it would be revolutionary. Its like the song makes the video work even more though.
I've been trying to find out a bit more about the 'Mary Reilly' film, I found a John Malkovich tribute which was the most useful. It had Julia Roberts in as well didn't it. Ill keep an eye out.

The idea of personality changing shape is definately very interesting, I see what you mean by Jekyll & Hyde.

I think there could be a whole blog a metamorphosis.

Theres the idea of shape and shape only where the change is purely visual (spatial). It can occur with text, within personality, withing physical beings. It's interesting to see how people think of Metamorphosis, what they relate it to.

As for John Huntr - think he's fab. Have you been to the Huntarian Museum Tim? It's fab. Very interesting. I think it's changed quite a lot since i've been there. Someone was telling me that you can dress up - perhaps as skeletons I think.. I had a look on Wikipedia, and found the same thing you wrote that Jekyll and Hyde - the house was based on Hunter's. Apperently John Hunter used to employ people as body snatchers to bring him bodies from graves. They would bring them through the back door so that he could operate - If i'm not mistaken.

After all your comments Im now thinking more - Self destruction and Gangs of New York rather then Morph.

Strange the comparison between
Morph, who can be remade, born again and again, with changing faces and butchers who imply time age and death.

On afterthought,
What about Candy Canes? Aren't they red and white?