The best study visit we will never run…
Chris Marker’s La Jetée has occupied a part of my brain for over thirty years. The film which, with one small significant exception is composed of still photographs, staked a claim and refused to budge. So it was with considerable excitement that I read that the Whitechapel Gallery was devoting an exhibition to Chris Marker’s work.
Sadly the exhibition does not lend itself to the OCA study visit model; most of the work can only be effectively viewed by a relatively few people and requires considerable time. However, while it might not make for a study visit, the exhibition comes highly recommended and Chris Marker’s work can be examined from the comfort of your own home. It is common today to introduce La Jetée by saying it ‘was the basis of Terry Gilliam’s 1995 Twelve Monkeys.’ This is true, but it misses a far bigger point. La Jetée is a masterpiece in demonstrating how photographs fix in our brains and how they can be sequenced into a larger whole. Watch this extract from the start:
The image, which means so much to the boy, is on screen for nearly 30 seconds; the image of his legs (which speaks so clearly to us of his vulnerability) for barely two seconds. If your French is up to it you can watch the whole film on Vimeo however the English voice-over version is available on Amazon from about £9.
From there on, just Google and you will find a wealth of material.
11 thoughts on “The best study visit we will never run…”
Leave a Reply
> Next Post Steve McQueen and the Long Take
< Previous Post Royal College of Art show: be inspired!
Tutor News – Katrina Whitehead
6 Comments
Some of you will know me as your personal tutor, or you may have...
Read more
Student Stories: Julia McLean
2 Comments
OCA Photography Program Leader Dan Robinson caught up with Julia McLean about her experience...
Read more
OCA’s Online Degree Show Showcase 2023
0 Comments
Welcome to our online Degree Show Showcase 22/23 where we are celebrating a number...
Read more
Student stories: Nuala Mahon
30 Comments
I have arrived at the finishing line of the long adventure that is (or...
Read more
Thank you for pointing this out, Gareth. I’ll definitely be making a pilgrimage to see this show. La Jetée was a hugely influential piece of work for me when I was an undergraduate. I must have watched it every night for about 3 months. I still enjoy watching it and get different things from it each time.
A rare thing in culture: a one off. I can’t think of any other non-movie movie.
English version (24 mins which is slightly shorter by 2 mins that others) also on Vimeo
On second look the 24min version follows the trailer in the OP.
Thanks for finding this Nigel
For those interested, there is a mysterious but interesting website made by Chris Maker and the Centre Pompidou with English versions of some of his works here
(For more explanations: http://rhizome.org/editorial/2012/jul/31/morechrismarkeronline/)
This has come at just the right time for me. I’ll try to get to the Whitechapel. thanks for the links everyone as well.
Thanks for the post, Gareth! As for Catherine, it too has come at a moment for some thoughts around formats and more…
Ah, I forgot, thanks for further links guys…
Shot on a pentax spotmatic i believe – £20 on ebay!
Stunning. Really powerful images that hold your attention as well as any “movie” I’ve seen. Thanks for sharing this Gareth.