You cannot, so we are told, step twice into the same river:
the water will have flowed on past. But you too
will not be the same person stepping.
In Marey’s image, change is happening
in the space between the man who jumps,
the man who has just jumped, the man who jumped
a moment ago, the man
in mid-jump
who used to be the man about to jump
and who will soon be
he who has jumped.
The man who jumps is not the same man who lands.
He will have added some heartbeats, shed some skin
he might have sneezed
or remembered that he had to be somewhere
post-jump
or decided, in mid-jump, to leave his wife.
The man who gets up from the bed turns and looks down
at himself, yes, but the self of a moment ago
still there, an instant ghost.
Chronophotographic images made by Étienne-Jules Marey (1830-1904)
21 comments:
Nice piece, Zeph, and quite a brain-strainer. That photo illustrates how I feel when I get up.
Thanks, MM. I find the second picture rather spooky.
Hello Zeph,
Marey for back to school, excellent choice professor.
Sorry if I don't understand this guy's movement theory but I am crossing a river each day and never realized it was not the same river. It's probably because I am always going over the same bridge.:-)
btw, regarding Marey,in France he is regarded as the grand-father of cinematography.
I could be wrong, but I get the feeling this is (perhaps, in part) a reflection on jumping to a new flat?
I hope your cat came home.
http://www.ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave/marey.html
I was on Leonardo's foot steps
This is fascinating. I must go and look up Marey as I am not familiar with his work.
I agree that the second picture is very spooky and for some reason brings to mind the stories of LeFanu.
Just like the man who finishes reading a poem by Zeph is not the same as the man who started, but an improved creature.
I have to take issue with a couple of points, though. If I sneezed mid-jump, I'd never achieve such a tidy reception, but would probably land in a heap. I've never learned to sneeze quietly.
And is an instant ghost like the coffee? Just add water...?
It's the same river, Guitou. Unless a philosopher tells you it isn't. Yes, Marey is definitely the grandfather of cinematography, and I think the first in the world to do this kind of motion-capture stuff. He invented special cameras to do it.
Offie, I am glad I have improved you, even just a little:) I think an instant ghost would have a bit more impact than instant coffee, though personally I never drink the stuff.
Mimi, yes, it's the way the man looks back at the other 'selves' as they were doppelgangers...
Mishari, I've moved to the suburbs, it's enough to make anyone think deeply about change. And no, the cat didn't come back, sob.
oh lord, now I'm imagining lots of ghosts of moments-ago-me cluttering up the place, staring at me disapprovingly. Which isn't fair at all, I'm older and wiser than them. I won't sleep tonight.
Zeph, I'm half afraid to say this in case it makes you feel worse instead of better, but I'm quite certain your cat is like Kipling's, "walking by his wild lone through the Wet Wild Woods and waving his wild tail".
Munni, I think it's quite possible, I had arguments with this cat for weeks about her wanting to go across the road into the (very large) park and me not being able to leave the front door open for her. She may well be having a great time out there pretending to be the Queen of the Jungle. This would be the best answer, other answers such as theft and car boot sales are not pleasant to contemplate.
Your queen of the jungle may have found her Tarzan at the Park.What's wrong for going to a catburger's joint at Echo or Bellevue park on a sunny californian afternoon Munni?
G.
look who is talking,! La mére Michel just lost her cat
http://www.mamalisa.com/?t=fm&p=160&c=8
I'm sorry about your cat, Zeph. If you tell me what name she answers to, what she looks like and your old street address, I'll have a wander over there every evening for a week or two (I'm thinking you must be by the canal if you were in Bow and across from Viccy Park: a 15 minute walk from where I live)
I have to walk Honey anyway and she doesn't frighten cats, (especially not a Maine Coon cat); maybe, just maybe, I'll at least spot her if not entice her into my clutches...I'm happy to do it.
Mishari, you are kind. I'll send you an email.
jumping through ghosts
as the animation of time and place
makes leaving one behind
in the instant of departure
seem like a photograph of
a particular battle-weary soul - stilling the motion of life
enjoyed the philosophy essay Zeph
Doc
Lovely, Doc, thank you.
I'm delighted to say the cat has returned, I went back to the old house again and she was there - apparently unharmed, though she's been in a fight. I think Munni's theory may have been the right one. The cat has offered no explanation, though she's been shouting at me a lot. Deary me, the anxiety these animals put one through.
Zeph
Cordell Barker's take on the other side of the cat coin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bETCusT5kNM
Zeph, that's wonderful news, I've been worried about her. I've been having some differences of opinion with my two lately, but I do love them.
I've decided I now find the idea of constant change reassuring, because I always expect changes to be decisive and immediately noticeable, and then I'm disappointed when they're not. Nice to be reminded it's happening all the same.
I'm with Munni - so glad pusskin is home. Apart from personal stuff, my worst nights have been when furs were missing.
Not an issue now with the Mi who still won't go out. She misses her big Tig so much. Makes it easier for me - I miss Tig and Mouse so much and knowing Mims misses them too does help.
Is that bad?
It's the same river, right enough, but the water is different.
This is fascinating. I must go and look up Marey as I am not familiar with his work. I agree that the second picture is very spooky and for some reason brings to mind the stories of LeFanu.
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