“To write is to implant,” declares Derrida in his magnum opus, “Dissemination.” To delineate the methodological underpinnings of my own literary endeavors, an imperative demarcation must transpire between post-critique and the traditional collage paradigm. Ergo, the mere proffering of exemplars by Numbers, notwithstanding the enticement to categorize them as “quotations,” “collages,” or even “illustrations,” falls tragically short of this lofty ambition. Should the act of excision be entwined with the notion of “castration,” denoting a violent and arbitrary severance, the assembly and dispersal of fragments within a novel framework become indissolubly bound to the concept of “invagination.” Collage and montage, at their ontological core, epitomize a androgynous form of composition—an artistic stratagem that transcends the precincts of copyrighted intellectual property and the intrinsic attributes of a given conceptual ideation.
In response to this conundrum, I proffer a purposeful stratagem wherein one stratum of text is surreptitiously superimposed upon another. Through the deployment of a “double bind” technique, text metamorphoses into a “palimpsest” or a “macula,” thereby challenging the entrenched assumptions in the domains of criticism and pedagogy. As articulated in “Glass,” one progression overlays another, shadowing it without overtly doing so. Nevertheless, it behooves us to acknowledge that the act of quotation begets egregiously protracted texts. Hence, the template for a stylistic proclivity that transcends facile juxtaposition and ventures into the terrain of superimposition is not discoverable within the province of collage but, rather, within the realm of photography.
In semblance to the “Limtrofes,” the translation predicament can be analogized to a “developed film” or a “processed film.” This transmogrifies the text into a “progression,” accentuating the conception of superimposition. Derrida underscores that this superimposition retains comprehensibility by drawing an analogy to a double-exposed photograph. Introducing the paradigm of photography, Derrida proffers an alternative perspective—one that surmounts the constraints inherent to conventional collage.
Upon contemplating this thematic tapestry, one is flabbergasted by the transformative agency inherent in superimposition and its proclivity to challenge conventional paradigms of authorship and textual integrity. Derrida contends that the act of grafting necessitates the extraction of an element from its native context and its subsequent insertion into a fresh framework, thereby transgressing the frontiers of “property” on myriad fronts. In so doing, not only do we subvert the notion of private property, but we also interrogate the dominion of a specific conceptual construct.
The notion of collage writing as a species of larceny begets a labyrinthine interplay between artists, critics, and the very process of creative genesis itself. As an artist, I am acutely cognizant of the nuanced demarcation between inspiration and expropriation. The assimilation of elements culled from diverse sources into a cohesive whole demands a nuanced equilibrium—an awareness of the transformative potential latent in art and an imperative to acknowledge and venerate the origins of those fragments.
Embracing the ethos of superimposition and extricating oneself from the fetters of conventional collage inaugurates a sojourn that surpasses the precincts of facile juxtaposition. It is an odyssey that mandates the exploration of novel dimensions, forsaking linear progression in favor of the visual and conceptual possibilities intrinsic to photography. This approach confronts the entrenched norms of criticism and pedagogy, laying bare hitherto unexplored strata of meaning and fomenting a profound colloquy between texts and ideas.
By assimilating superimposition, I traverse beyond the confines of traditional collage and venture into a domain where diverse narratives and visual lexicons coalesce harmoniously. This technique endows me with the capacity to conjure compositions teeming with layers that transcend mere juxtaposition, thereby beckoning observers to delve into the interconnectedness of myriad elements within a singular oeuvre.
Particularly, grafting exerts a profound sway over my creative modus operandi. Analogous to the manner in which a graft entails affixing a branch from one plant onto the rootstock of another, my aspiration is to amalgamate disparate elements and ideas to yield a singularly novel and cogitation-inducing denouement. This grafting process empowers me to transcend the constraints of unidimensional narratives by exploring the terrain of hybridity and metamorphosis.
Yet, I remain keenly attuned to the ethical considerations that accompany this artistic stratagem. The conception of collage writing as a form of larceny serves as a potent reminder of the imperativeness to recognize and respect the provenance of the elements I integrate into my oeuvre. Instead of appropriating ideas and concepts bereft of their contextual moorings, I endeavor to proffer due credit where it is merited, thus participating in a fecund dialogue with the original sources.
The transgression of the concept of “property” in relation to intellectual constructs impels me to interrogate the very essence of ownership within the sphere of art. In a cosmos where ideas and influences perpetually undulate and intersect, the fostering of a culture steeped in collaboration and shared creativity becomes an imperative. By espousing collage writing as a conduit for artistic expression, I aspire to contribute to this ongoing discourse by acknowledging the communal character of creative inspiration and the permeable nature of artistic demarcations.
Within my artistic praxis, superimposition functions as a conduit for both visual and conceptual exploration. It enables me to engender works that transcend the confines of singular narratives, thereby beckoning observers to engage with myriad strata of meaning and to reevaluate their preconceived notions. Through the employment of photographic techniques such as double exposures and layered compositions, I endeavor to visually encapsulate the concept of superimposition.
By overlaying one text or image atop another, my intent is to engender a dialogue between disparate elements, thereby unearthing unforeseen connections and eliciting novel insights. The resultant artwork takes on the semblance of a palimpsest, bearing vestiges of diverse narratives and perspectives. It compels viewers to scrutinize the interplay of ideas, to interrogate their own presuppositions, and to partake in a deeper echelon of interpretation.
The concept of superimposition and collage writing as a species of larceny resonates profoundly with me. It enables me to embrace the transformative potential inherent in the amalgamation of disparate elements, yielding compositions endowed with myriad strata that transgress conventional boundaries. By engaging with borrowed fragments ethically and assiduously acknowledging their origins, I aspire to contribute to a collaborative artistic milieu wherein ideas flow, intersect, and burgeon.”
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Jacques Derrida, “Dissemination” (France)
Jacques Derrida, “Glas” (France)
Maurice Blanchot, “The Space of Literature” (France)
Roland Barthes, “Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography” (France)
Brandon Taylor, “Collage: The Making of Modern Art” (United Kingdom)
Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, “A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia” (France)
Maurice Blanchot , “The Writing of the Disaster” (France)
Walter Benjamin, “The Arcades Project” (Germany)
Roland Barthes, “The Photographic Message” (France)
Jean Baudrillard, “Simulacra and Simulation” (France)