Still Living

Schneider, Rebecca, Still Living, in , Performing Remains – Art and War in Times of Theatrical Reenactment, Routledge, London 2011, pp. 151-181

Abstract

The article delves into the interrelation of photography, performance, and temporality, challenging the dichotomy between the “live” and the “still.” It highlights how photography is often perceived as capturing the past, inherently linked to death and loss, as theorized by Roland Barthes and others. However, the text proposes an alternative perspective, considering photography as a dynamic medium that interweaves liveness through its encounter and circulation.
The author draws on historical practices like medieval tableaux vivants and contemporary art to argue that the photograph is not a mere record of a past moment but a live, ongoing event shaped by its reception and interpretation. Using examples such as reenactments, Cindy Sherman’s performative photography, and the haunting images of Abu Ghraib, the article explores how these images function as sites of memory, complicity, and inter-temporal dialogue.
Ultimately, the discussion blurs boundaries between performance and photography, suggesting that the “still” and the “live” are not opposites but mutually constitutive. The text advocates for rethinking visual culture and its impact on history, identity, and collective responsibility, urging readers to consider their role in interpreting and responding to the images they encounter.

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Language: EN
key: VNURHYNU