The Mysteries of Art: On “The Saragossa Manuscripts” by Wojciech J. Has
Abstract
Grodź analyses Wojciech J. Has’s film The Saragossa Manuscript in the context of art as sacrum, as a field in which man is granted the honour of peculiar salvation. Grodź says that in the film Has celebrated the mysteries of art, acknowledging its imperfection and even trashiness. She maintains that it was a breakthrough in his creative activity because from that time on Has started to “daydream” on the screen. Grodź tries to fathom the mystery of the screen shape of Jan Potocki’s unique story-within-a-story novel with narrative-defying patterns. Grodź claims that according to Has art was the perfect embodiment of the sphere of sacrum. Describing the “hieroglyphic” character of the film and trying to reach the deeply hidden meaning of the movie, she indicates the labyrinthine design of space and related meanings, and also meaningful spots, characters and props. She makes references to the Qabbala, astrology, the magic of numbers, masonry symbols and meanings of Tarot cards in the composition of the film.
Keywords:
Wojciech Jerzy Has, sacrum, artReferences
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Authors
Iwona Grodźkwartalnik.filmowy@ispan.pl
Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań Poland
Absolwentka wydziału Filologii Polskiej UAM; doktorantka w Zakładzie Filmu i Telewizji na Wydziale Filologii Polskiej i Klasycznej UAM i studentka historii sztuki.
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Copyright (c) 2004 Iwona Grodź
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