Almost Daily
Notes towards an essay
* Spectatorship is rooted, according to Lacan, in a mirror-stage aping of human development. We recognise ourselves in what we see onscreen, in print etc. Or, rather, misrecognise, because what we identify is not us but is what we want to see as us. Why does the cinema screen become an imperfect mirror? Nobody seems to have answered this for me yet. I wonder if it's the cinema situation, but that discounts the other viewing experiences. You have to take into account the vested interest someone has in watching something by choice or by purchase, few do. I also subscribe to what cognitivism suggests - that of the thought process overlayed on the film. We do not act the passive observer in many circumstances.
* Why do people enjoy violent films and horror films? Outside of specific perversions, or personal draw to the gory detail? What holds the majority? Theory: They enjoy it for the same reason that Reik thinks many are masochists.
* We suffer in many ways. Masochism is enjoyment of suffering. Essentially. The common traits of the masochist are 1. The importance of Phantasy - the idea of what will come to pass and the release that it coming to pass brings. 2. The importance of suspense - one must wait for a protracted period of time for the realease. Perhaps indefinitely, as the period of time must infer that release may not come to pass. 3. Less important - It to be a displayed act. one seen or felt or to be seen (A tensionarises here also through the commonly private nature of masochism).
* Empathy is the enemy. We empathise as a natural reaction because we idntify with others so readily. Human progress is built on the tension between caring for the self and caring for others. If we are comfortable then we empathise more with others. If we know the other then we empathise more. The greater the suffering the greater the empathy. Empathy is to feel what the other feels, to as much an extent as the mind can understand or wishes to allow.
* The human impulse is to seek pleasure and avoid pain. OR is the human impulse to avoid pain, and move towards pleasure? The distinction is in push or pull. If the mind is pushed from pain then it means that is has not neccessarily and affinity for pleasure. SO, if one is suffering and faces no escape from this then one may turn it into pleasure to withstand it. It is the shortest available route. One turns waiting for the end of suffering into the Release. To reduce discomfort the angst of waiting for this release becomes suspenseful. To see this is the only way to know this. We all become masochists to save ourselves.
* The horror film works like this: We are in a cinema. We may then be successfully induced into a receptive state, but a cognant one. We are introduced to characters. We get to know them. We laugh at/with their jokes. Essential signifiers make us and the protagonists tense. Afraid. This tension is unpleasant and continues, but we know it must end, either in the death of those we identify with or the defeat of the torturer. To save our own displeasure we begin to anticipate what will happen, needing shocks for minor relief. Needing a visual resolution to sufficiently relax. We need these charcters we empathise with to die, horribly, because the spectacle outweighs the emotion. Cinema of attractions. We die, well, our tension dies. We release. We relax.
We are all Masochists
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Crikey, I forget how short Visitations by Clinic actually is. Been an interesting few days. Fist up was the now traditional Festive 10 at Adam's. He, Ellie and I, in honour of the late, great Sir John of Peel, chose our songs of the year, be they made this year or simply found this year. It was really good fun, and set the stage for a twee couple of days thereafter. Insert an escapade with a mouse, which I won't go into, and you get to Sunday, in which the three of us wandered through London and hit up Santa's Ghetto, PostSecret and the barbarossa instore, before heading back home. Joined by Roxy, Leigh and Nathan we watched Christmassy films and chilled the hell out. Lovelylovelylovely. Monday I libraried it a bit, a trend I continued today and will continue tomorrow. I watched esther play at her Monday night GreyHorse fixture, and now I just sit an type whatever I'm thinking. God life's tough. On a serious note I am financially a bit, well, fucked. And these essays are starting to worry me. But I'm starting to sleep a bit more consistently, so it can only get easier. Fuck yeah.
* Rough draft of a fascinating essay by Jen...
* Analysis of shows in US that are heading over here...
* Pitchfork's review of the year, part 1 and part 2