This week I have been focusing on experiments with split screens in my video projects. At first I had thought about incorporating one screen that contained words and another that displayed images, but then I started to try out a video that had overlapping imagery and how this mirroring reflects my ideas. The vertical lines that I display side-by-side reference the differences that result when one describes the same thing in separate languages. I heavily drew from Ludwig Wittgenstein's theories concerning language use, specifically how speakers must agree upon specific units of meaning in order for any language to function. By mirroring images of blinds, I showcase how the same object can be perceived differently, even if those differences are slight. I also referenced the ability of language to communicate things beyond what is literally said when I placed a shot of the sun and blinds side by side. Each image informs the other and this diptych reflects the meanings that can be derived from saying something like "the weather is nice today" or "you don't need your umbrella." These phrases do not translate literally to the imagery on the screen, but they do allude to clear skies and the start of a new day.
I took some feedback I received during the group show into consideration with this project that made me see the imagery of closed blinds as barriers that could make people feel trapped. After reflecting on this perspective, I thought the split screen effect would add an element of enclosure that alludes to the idea of language as inhibitor. I think this imagery works because it represents the limitations that we unknowingly experience in our day to day lives. Although I still want to maintain a meditative aspect to the video, I also know it is important to address the idea of language barriers and whether even the language one speaks can act as a barrier itself.
