Imogen Stidworthy b. 1963
Alex (2001-2002)
Imogen Stidworthy in UbuWeb Sound
10”00 DVD, colour, stereo, English spoken
With Jacob Lieberman and Alex F
Alex is based on observation over several months of the treatment of a man with a psychosomatic voice disorder. His condition is hypertension of the larynx, which pulls his vocal cords permanently into the position of an unvoiced primal scream. The treatment involves a penetrating form of manual therapy which, in Alex, trigger strong emotional responses accompanied by vivid mental images, in a process which at times seems literally to be kneading the voice out of or into the body.
The work reflects on the shifting roles of and relationships between doctor, patient and observer. Different forms of image and language come together in the film in the terms of anatomy and medical discourse, subjective descriptions of mental visions and emotional effects, and bodily languages of gesture and stance.
Camera: Imogen Stidworthy
Video and sound editing: Imogen Stidworthy
RELATED RESOURCES:
Imogen Stidworthy in UbuWeb Sound
"Ten Women Who Use Film" curated by Jennifer Higgie
With Jacob Lieberman and Alex F
Alex is based on observation over several months of the treatment of a man with a psychosomatic voice disorder. His condition is hypertension of the larynx, which pulls his vocal cords permanently into the position of an unvoiced primal scream. The treatment involves a penetrating form of manual therapy which, in Alex, trigger strong emotional responses accompanied by vivid mental images, in a process which at times seems literally to be kneading the voice out of or into the body.
The work reflects on the shifting roles of and relationships between doctor, patient and observer. Different forms of image and language come together in the film in the terms of anatomy and medical discourse, subjective descriptions of mental visions and emotional effects, and bodily languages of gesture and stance.
Camera: Imogen Stidworthy
Video and sound editing: Imogen Stidworthy
RELATED RESOURCES:
Imogen Stidworthy in UbuWeb Sound
"Ten Women Who Use Film" curated by Jennifer Higgie