See also film blog for poncy celebration of nuns without clothes.

8th October 2010

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Medium exuding ectoplasm by Ada Deane, 1922 “Ectoplasm is shapeless, it is “informe,” a kind of primordial paste—and to show itself as this, it annexes semiotic markers that designate intermediate spirit worlds. When looking at these fluid, inchoate forms, sometimes imprinted with a face, it is worth recalling that the word larva, used in English for the early stage of a caterpillar, meant “ghost” or “specter” in Latin, but is also used by Horace to designate a mask, such as might frighten an observer, while the verb larvo meant “to bewitch” or “enchant.” Ectoplasmic masks are indeed larval: they promise the emergence of forms, but don’t deliver them. The term pseudopod catches this relationship with the embryonic—and indeed with abortion.” — Marina Warner, ‘Ethereal Body: The Quest for Ectoplasm’, Cabinet, Issue 12, Fall/Winter 2003 (Image via Necropolis Now)

Medium exuding ectoplasm by Ada Deane, 1922

“Ectoplasm is shapeless, it is “informe,” a kind of primordial paste—and to show itself as this, it annexes semiotic markers that designate intermediate spirit worlds. When looking at these fluid, inchoate forms, sometimes imprinted with a face, it is worth recalling that the word larva, used in English for the early stage of a caterpillar, meant “ghost” or “specter” in Latin, but is also used by Horace to designate a mask, such as might frighten an observer, while the verb larvo meant “to bewitch” or “enchant.” Ectoplasmic masks are indeed larval: they promise the emergence of forms, but don’t deliver them. The term pseudopod catches this relationship with the embryonic—and indeed with abortion.”

— Marina Warner, ‘Ethereal Body: The Quest for Ectoplasm’, Cabinet, Issue 12, Fall/Winter 2003

(Image via Necropolis Now)

Tagged: marina warnermediumquotespirit photographywritingada deanespiritectoplasm1920s

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