Some Unholy War :
The history of the photograph promises a moment of truth, however the art of photography has moved on from this history, from Henri Cartier-Bresson’s Decisive Moment (acknowledging of course that these are wonderful in their capture) into something altogether more vague and indecisive. This series aims to explore the blurring of the privileged frame into the sequence of history, whilst not being strictly evidential or historical at all.
The series also serves as a form of questioning and mockery of the concept of war as entertainment, the presence of conflict in modern popular culture and commentary on the cliché of war films gone-by. Also, the fact that these films may, in some circles, be accepted as truthful depictions of a historical reality that is twisted to fit the American ideal thrust upon us by Hollywood in the post-WWII period (a tradition subsequently picked up by other cultures) seems worthy of attention.
The films and songs that have been appropriated and transformed in these photographs are currently as follows:
A Bridge to Far (1977)
Directed by Richard Attenborough. Joseph E Levine Productions
with Head Like a Hole by Nine Inch Nails, 1990
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Zoetrope Studios
with Peace Frog by The Doors, 1970
Battle for Haditha (2007)
Directed by Nick Broomfield. Channel Four Films
Battle of Warsaw 1920 (2011)
Directed by Jerzy Hoffman. Zodiac Jerzy Hoffman Film Production Sp. z.o.o
with The Love Song by Marilyn Manson, 2000
and Nine While Nine by The Sisters of Mercy, 1985
Black Hawk Down (2002)
Directed by Ridley Scott. Sony Pictures.
with Can't Get You Out Of My Head by Kylie Minogue, 2001
Brotherhood (Tae Guk Gi) (2004)
Directed by Je-kyu Kang. Shoebox Entertainment
with A Drug Against War by KMFDM, 1993
Centurion (2010)
Directed by Neil Marshall. Pathé Pictures International
Our World War (2014)
Directed by Bruce Goodison/Ben Chanan. British Broadcasting Corporation
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Directed by Steven Spielberg. Paramount Home Entertainment
The Hurt Locker (2008)
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow. Voltage Pictures
The Thin Red Line (1998)
Directed by Terrence Malick. Fox 2000 Pictures
The original copyright remains with the original copyright holders. This work (Some Unholy War) is considered both transformative and fair use of the above works in terms of being outside current copyright legislation.
Rob™, 2014
[back]
The history of the photograph promises a moment of truth, however the art of photography has moved on from this history, from Henri Cartier-Bresson’s Decisive Moment (acknowledging of course that these are wonderful in their capture) into something altogether more vague and indecisive. This series aims to explore the blurring of the privileged frame into the sequence of history, whilst not being strictly evidential or historical at all.
The series also serves as a form of questioning and mockery of the concept of war as entertainment, the presence of conflict in modern popular culture and commentary on the cliché of war films gone-by. Also, the fact that these films may, in some circles, be accepted as truthful depictions of a historical reality that is twisted to fit the American ideal thrust upon us by Hollywood in the post-WWII period (a tradition subsequently picked up by other cultures) seems worthy of attention.
The films and songs that have been appropriated and transformed in these photographs are currently as follows:
A Bridge to Far (1977)
Directed by Richard Attenborough. Joseph E Levine Productions
with Head Like a Hole by Nine Inch Nails, 1990
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Zoetrope Studios
with Peace Frog by The Doors, 1970
Battle for Haditha (2007)
Directed by Nick Broomfield. Channel Four Films
Battle of Warsaw 1920 (2011)
Directed by Jerzy Hoffman. Zodiac Jerzy Hoffman Film Production Sp. z.o.o
with The Love Song by Marilyn Manson, 2000
and Nine While Nine by The Sisters of Mercy, 1985
Black Hawk Down (2002)
Directed by Ridley Scott. Sony Pictures.
with Can't Get You Out Of My Head by Kylie Minogue, 2001
Brotherhood (Tae Guk Gi) (2004)
Directed by Je-kyu Kang. Shoebox Entertainment
with A Drug Against War by KMFDM, 1993
Centurion (2010)
Directed by Neil Marshall. Pathé Pictures International
Our World War (2014)
Directed by Bruce Goodison/Ben Chanan. British Broadcasting Corporation
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Directed by Steven Spielberg. Paramount Home Entertainment
The Hurt Locker (2008)
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow. Voltage Pictures
The Thin Red Line (1998)
Directed by Terrence Malick. Fox 2000 Pictures
The original copyright remains with the original copyright holders. This work (Some Unholy War) is considered both transformative and fair use of the above works in terms of being outside current copyright legislation.
Rob™, 2014
[back]
