Aristophanes On Broadway

The human voice a ‘sensuous body’ plays a meditative part in Aristophanes On Broadway. The narrator shares the tale of Zeus’ angry splitting of the original form of human bodies into two pieces, and the subsequent search for each lover for its soulmate. The speech of Aristophanes (from Plato’s Symposium) gives voice to the transcendent aspirations of all forms of love. Edvard Munch’s idea that one spies upon the human soul in ‘the negative image’ motivates the film’s visualization. – Z.S.
‘…moving and visually mesmerizing.’ – Chicago Filmmakers.
‘The subversive power of this piece remains central to this seemingly lyrical visual study of the 1990 Gay Pride Procession in Chicago. Motion is slowed, image is inverted so we are actually watching a high contrast negative (you’ve never seen colours like this). The beauty of the visuals is striking as is the classical intentionality of the Speech of Aristophanes from Plato’s Symposium.’ – Shellie Fleming, Image Film and Video Center, Atlanta.
‘The award for ‘originality’ went to Zack Stiglicz of Chicago, who used an amazing cutting technique on high contrast negative imagery for his Aristophanes on Broadway. This retold ancient Greek myth of how the sexes were differentiated is enacted in the context of a startling carnival pageant, the gay pride procession. Zack’s poetry and voice are bold and declamatory and sustain the rapturous mood of Aristophanes’ strange tale.’ – 1991 National Poetry Association’s Poetry Film Festival (San Francisco).