Imaginal Journal

Imagination is Medicine

Cristy 1/14/11 Cristy 1/14/11

Come On Let's Go by Broadcast

You won't find it by yourself
You're gonna need some help
And you won't fail with me around
Come on let's go

I will tell you if you change
And who's been saying things
It's hard to tell who is real in here
Come on let's go

You know who to turn to
Now everything's changed
Come on, lets go
Stop looking for answers
In everyone's face
Come on let's go

What's the point in wasting time
On people that you'll never know
Come on let's go

When you're looking for a friend
But it's empty at the end
When everybody's disappeared
You won't be alone

If you want I'll compensate
If you overestimate
So there's nothing left to fear
You won't be alone
You know who to turn to
Now everything's changed
Come on let's go
Stop looking for answers
In everyone's face
Come on let's go

What's the point in wasting time
On people that you'll never know
Come on let's go

With Warm Regards for the late Trish Keenan

Cristy 1/13/11 Cristy 1/13/11

The Dying Swan

The Dying Swan. 1917. Russian Silent Film by director Evgeni Bauer.

Just for the beauty and sadness of it.

Cristy 1/11/11 Cristy 1/11/11

Red Book Dialogue: Miranda July & John Beebe

Artist, Miranda July, and Jungian analyst, John Beebe discuss the Red Book and other insightful things. This was filmed at the Hammer Museum, May 2010.

Cristy 1/8/11 Cristy 1/8/11

Motifs in Black Swan

Wow, I am struck by the film Black Swan and its unnerving quality. I’m contemplating Natalie Portman’s character, Nina, as holding the light and dark aspects of the Princess archetype, a motif or primordial pattern of nature and psyche.The more she pushes to split off her darkness, the more the passion/energy it illicit to take over, as if by possession in reaction to the polarizing pull of expectations.

I appreciated the layer of building this story over the already tragic story of Swan Lake, based on a Russian folktale about Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer. This male presence could be considered the negative animus possession, the inner masculine side of woman that is compulsively driving her to consider the truth of her logic, and if positively mediated brings about consciousness.

I was able to attend a presentation by the film director Darren Aronofsky. It appeared to be quite a feat to get this film produced and I couldn’t help but consider how poignant it is for this material to be coming into collective consciousness.

I consider the 1948 film “Red Shoes” about a ballet dancer torn between love and her career, as a predecessor. Then and even still, it seems, the lead feminine must die to not compromise the ideals placed upon it. A heavy burden to carry.

Certainly rich imagery, themes, and topics for exploration.