Trace elements

and differences

A little note before fully opening this rabbit borough: I sent film exposed during the residency in Paris off for developing and scanning today. Wide-eyed by the price in 2023 versus 2012, I remember encountering a woman in Oslo who said film photography was pure nostalgia. She was so sure she was right, and I wondered how and still do wonder why I am rarely ever as sure of positions that have lasting consequences on the fabric of our social realities. I wondered if that was because of the type of photos she was making, or due to the saturation of images in the world today. You’ll have the opportunity to let me know what you really think and chip in if you think film is worthy of appreciating the difference. I have not survived on tulip bulbs, as I was informed by a photo-professor while in Paris that some Dutch people had, but definitely appreciate the ability to keep doing things that do seem to matter (based on actual material and feedback from viewers).

As nihilism inducing as reading Marx can be, I find all philosophy and theology useful to realising mental freedom. Over 10 years ago, I had concluded freedom was not real and merely a feeling, something we imagine ourselves to be based on ideals and values. This has meant embodying the values I do demand new forms of mental creativity within the social landscapes of today.

Concepts contain both constructive and destructive aspects. A notion alone, even one such as freedom, seems to be impossible to ever be real more than within the realm of the imaginary. In this way, the world flooded with images has me in a perpetual dither on the difference between film and digital. While the difference between painting and photography are vast, the collapse of the care for the difference in film seems more cultural than actual. Japan, for example, carries a great deal of value for film, while also having some of the longest standing companies in the world (versus the rapid growth and accumulation corporate model). Quality in a heirachy over perceived volume.

Film still contains the knowing of the impression from perception of the ‘out there’. This seems important to me because of the notion: yes a tree still falls whether or not anyone hears it. As in the case with the Manganese series, the tree ended up being cut down and so now the only realm it exists in, is the film.

Despite the trending rise of Eastern philosophy in the West, I wish the context of those ideological formations were remembered: formed under some of the most bloody and brutal conditions. Ideas stripped from contextual awareness seem the most dangerous to me. The differences are not in which ideological sects are purer than the other, but the differences in their violence: Perversion or bloodshed? Tyranny or Flippancy?

The dangers of the technocratic society seem obvious in the context of history based on the way the ideas are signalled within our landscape, and worthy of careful consideration. As one of my professors make sure to impart into my memory: the differences are what matter.

So the images below the paywall are for people who care about the differences and want to support (ie Pay) for their existence. Without care, support, appreciation, the materials means for existence simply could not be. If all of this was so obvious, forgive my womansplaining because I have been continually in horrific awe that understandings of history and concepts is becoming rarer in the social landscape today.

The cost of film and development has risen, not because it is a luxury but because of a societal values shifting into dematerialisation and metallisation of reality has increased. This is not because capitalism is evil, but because capitalism is based on math and denoted values distributed amongst bodies. Therefore the social policy and behavioural manipulation achieved is due to the commitment of each individual to be aware of the ways they are being manipulated or told the truth.

This is the world we live in, and it still seems to contain more liberating potential (versus subjugating which despite the fact it is always happening) than a world with a single government deciding what everyone should be allowed to have or not have. If things seem tough now, they could be a lot worse, as I learned nearly no one will care about the things you care about as much as you do.

Invitation to Images, a paid Le Lapin member only page.

Poetry, Prose &Suche: I, II, III, IV. (Suche, German for “search”)

Since I also do not want to tie anyone into a net of subscriptions, you can also make one time payments or contributions to upgrade your access via Zelle: Mariammanart@icloud.com or VIPPS +4740056846 to receive access to posts and photographs you can enjoy for your private use (since you and I both know culture moves liberally throughout the world-paid or not).