‘Or Words to That Effect’:The Antimetaphysics of Slapstick

Antimetaphysical slapstick–as a figure of thought–draws on the traditions of the theatric and cinematic slapstick as well as on the postulates and thought structures of a philosophy of difference dating back to the formation of post-modern or poststructuralist theory. The antimetaphysical variety of slapstick, outlined in this chapter, develops first from within the traditional concept of body-related comedy and subsequently intersects with a number of other forms of comedy and the comedic. Notably, subtleties of distinction between comedy genres such as satire, parody, farce, or travesty do not play a role here, as the focus is on the use of specific operations and techniques that are traditionally attributed to slapstick and can even be found in the discourses of poststruc-turalism and postmodernism (sense, nonsense, repetition, seriality). Drawing particularly on Gilles Deleuze’s treatiseLogique du sens[The Logic of Sense,1969], this chapter examines to what extent these techniques yield the construct of an antimetaphysical variant of slapstick which is no longer driven by a metaphysical desire to get to the bottom of things, and which is fundamentally independent from genre. Instead, the question of how the comedic is produced, i.e.,constructed through comic operations is discussed in detail using the example of German dramatist Wolfgang Hildesheimer’s comic plays. On the one hand, this leads to a novel reading of Hildesheimer’s early theater that outlines the structure and special features of antimetaphysical slapstick. On the other hand, it results in an original contribution that refines the overall definition of slapstick.

Hron, Irina. "‘Or Words to That Effect’: The Antimetaphysics of Slapstick". Slapstick: An Interdisciplinary Companion, edited by Ervin Malakaj and Alena E. Lyons, Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter, 2021, pp. 269-292. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110571981-017

Behind the mask, another mask

Πίσω από τη μάσκα, μια  άλλη μάσκα / Behind the mask, another mask

 

 

Βιβλιογραφία, σημειώσεις

Bibliography / REF/ Works Cited / Films / Performances 

 

 

Τέχνη στο συγκείμενο (Art in context ) 

Αμφισβητήσεις της δεξιότητας στη νεωτερικότητα 

 Κωστής Βελώνης

 

 

Bialik, Kristek,  Busby Berkeley and the Art of Order, The Outtake, April 25, 2015 

https://medium.com/the-outtake/busby-berkeley-and-the-art-of-order-81e42c25bb6d  

 

 

Cahun, Claude, Downie, Louise,  Malherbe, Suzanne

Don't kiss me : the art of Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore ,  London : Tate,  Jersey : Jersey Heritage Trust, 2006.

 

 

Gee, Felicity, A Review of Gillian Wearing and Claude Cahun: Behind the Mask, Another Mask , ASAP Journal,  April 27, 2017 

http://asapjournal.com/a-review-of-gillian-wearing-and-claude-cahun-behind-the-mask-another-mask-felicity-gee/

 

 

Gombrowicz, Witold, Φερντυτούρκε, μτφρ. Τασία Χατζή,  Ερατώ, Αθηνα,1984   

 

Greenberger, Alex. Philip Guston KKK Paintings: Why an Abstract Painter Returned to Figuration to Confront Racism. ARTnews, 30 Sept, 2020

 

https://www.artnews.com/feature/philip-gustons-kkk-paintings-history-meaning-1234572056/

 

Elkin, Lauren. The many masks of Gillian Wearing and Claude Cahun, RA magazine, 16 March 2017.

https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/article/magazine-identity-parade-gillian-wearing-claude-cahun

Emelife, Aindrea. Philip Guston's KKK images force us to stare evil in the face – we need art like this. The Guardian, 28 Sept. 2020.

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/sep/28/philip-guston-kkk-images-force-us-to-stare-evil-in-the-face-we-need-art-like-this

 

Fox, Charlie, Get Your Freak On: On the recurring appearance of the mask in art, Frieze, 1 Oct. 2017

https://frieze.com/article/get-your-freak-0

 

Harris, Steven, Coup d'œil. Oxford Art Journal, Vol. 24, No. 1 (2001), pp. 89, 91-111 https://www.jstor.org/stable/3600380 


Higgie, Jennifer, One Take: Human Mask, Frieze,  17 Dec. 2014 

https://frieze.com/article/one-take-human-mask

 

Jarry, Alfred . Gestes et opinions du docteur Faustroll pataphysicien: Roman néo-scientifique suivi de Spéculations Paris: Charpentier, 1911. 

 

Jarry, Alfred.  Ο Υμπύ βασιλιάς, μτφρ. Σάκης Μανιάτης, Αθήνα: Κείμενα, 1972 

 

Jarry, Alfred. Υμπύ Τύραννος, μτφρ. Αχιλλέας Κυριακίδης, Αθήνα: Opera, 2003

 

 

Κονταράτος, Γιάννης. Philip Guston - Ο ζωγράφος στην Εδέμ, Αθήνα : έκδοση ΑΣΚΤ 2014.

 

Laing, Olivia. The Body Snatchers, Frieze Magazine, Oct. 15, 2017 

https://www.frieze.com/article/body-snatchers  

 

 

Latimer, Tirza, Claude Cahun’s Mirror in the Lens, The Gay &Lesbian Review Worldwide, July 31, 2015   

 https://glreview.org/article/claude-cahuns-mirror-in-the-lens/

 

Λουκρήτιος. Για την φύση των πραγμάτων (De Rerum Natura)  μτφρ. Θ.Αντωνιάδης -Ρ.Χαμέτη,  (Θεσσαλονίκη : εκδόσεις Θύραθεν, 2013) Βιβλίο ΙΙ, 216 .

 

Lubin, David M., Masks, Mutilation and Modernity: Anna Coleman Ladd and the First World War, Archives of American Art Journal, Vol. 47, No. 3/4 (2008), 4-15


https://www.jstor.org/stable/25435155  

Rhem, James (Ed.), Ralph Eugene, Meatyard: The Family Album Of Lucybelle Crater And Other Figurative Photographs  Published by D.A.P./Distributed Art Publisher,  2002. 

 

Searle, Adrian.  Pioneer of perversity: Pierre Molinier's extreme exposures, The Guardian,  August 25, 2015

 

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/aug/25/pioneer-of-perversity-pierre-molinier-extreme-exposures

 

Serres,  Michel, Το Παράσιτο, επιμ. Διονύσης Καββαθάς, μτφρ. Νίκος Ηλιάδης,

Αθήνα : Εκδόσεις Σμίλη, 2009.

 

Skidmore, Maisie, The Forbidden Photo-Collages of Pierre Molinier. Another Magazine, Nov 12, 2015

https://www.anothermag.com/art-photography/8019/the-forbidden-photo-collages-of-pierre-molinier

Sorene, Paul, Alfred Jarry’s Ubu Roi: The Most Punk Play Of All Time, Feb.7, 2017 

https://flashbak.com/alfred-jarrys-ubu-roi-the-most-punk-play-of-all-time-372959/

 

Wecker,  Menachem,  Alfred Jarry’s ‘King Ubu’ Inspired Everyone From the Dadaists to the Beatles—and His Fascist Buffoon Is Now More Relevant Than Ever , January 27, 2020

https://news.artnet.com/exhibitions/alfred-jarry-morgan-library-1758372

Welby Everard, Miranda. Imaging the Actor: The Theatre of Claude Cahun , Oxford Art Journal, Vol. 29, No. 1 (2006), pp. 3-24 https://www.jstor.org/stable/3600491  

Valentine, Victoria.  L.,Trenton Doyle Hancock: What If Torpedo Boy, My Black Superhero, Met Up With Philip Guston’s Klan Character? Culture Type, Oct.9 ,2020

 

https://www.culturetype.com/2020/10/09/trenton-doyle-hancock-what-if-torpedo-boy-my-black-superhero-met-up-with-philip-gustons-klan-character/

 

Velonis, Kostis. Alfred Jarry and Asger Jorn: The Epicurean Influence as Social “Swerve”

https://www.hildegoesasger.org/2015/07/alfred-jarry-and-asger-jorn-the-epicurean-influence-as-social-swerve-by-kostis-velonis/

 

 

Performances /Films

 

 

Ubu Roi, Marionetteatern Stockholm, Holland Festival 1967

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEHVzH-kzWY

 

Alfred Jarry, "Ubu Roi" (Jean Christophe Averty 1965)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vuzhkEkNSQ

 

“Ubú tells the truth”, William Kentridge, 1997

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=18&v=cVWh_kYD2GY&feature=emb_title

 

Claude Cahun, Jeu de Paume, Paris, 2011

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7QXL2fiAKQ

 

Gillian Wearing and Claude Cahun: Behind the Mask, Another Mask by Sarah Howgate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn1_mZgT1O0

 

Photographies, Archives, Pierre Molinier, Auction –Drouot –Richelieu, 2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp54w54crY4

 

Busby Berkeley

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIO9y1xMPIA

Footlight Parade (1933) – Human Waterfall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRqcZcrgPaU

Anna Coleman Ladd and the Facial Prosthetics of World War I

https://www.artandobject.com/video/anna-coleman-ladd-and-facial-prosthetics-world-war-i

 

Wildly Strange Ralph Eugene Meatyard

https://www.anatomyfilms.com/ralph-eugene-meatyard-unrequited-love/

 

Fukuchan Monkey in wig, mask, works Restaurant

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS7QkjIKOxk

 

Untitled (Human Mask) by Pierre Huyghe (Snippets)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk4gJBoYyhU&list=PLJimIUTI3SLMIRcXdcxRRJV44mMPU5-CI&index=1

 

Pierre Huyghe - Untitled (human mask)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk4gJBoYyhU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEgiVlnP8nc

 

Trenton Doyle Hancock, The Exchange, 2020. Film by Greg Poole. Produced by James Cohan, 2020

 

https://www.jamescohan.com/artists/trenton-doyle-hancock?view=slider