Sydney McArthur: Subtitles Speak: Building Bridges Through Text and Image
Sydney McArthur, MA Candidate in Art History and Museum Studies presents her curatorial project titled “Subtitles Speak: Building Bridges Through Text and Image,” in the JLVAC, April 22-26, 2024.
"My curatorial project “Subtitles Speak: Building Bridges Through Text and Image,” connects film stills with contemporary art on the use of subtitles to relay deeper meanings. The subtitle has its origins in film for the purpose of translation and accessibility. This mini exhibition uses subtitled film stills as a symbol of otherness, translation, and understanding between the viewer and art."
"In comparison to the rapid movement of film images through digital mass media, and drawing parallels to traditional movie watching, viewers are forced to contemplate numerous subtitled film stills on a television adjacent to the Cohen Commons. The accompanying catalogue features relevant contemporary works, adding discussions regarding the interaction between text and image, and the subtitle in curatorial practice."
"This project is a precursor to my Major Research Paper that I will be completing over the summer. My research looks at how the subtitled film still functions as a piece of visual art. I argue that the subtitled film still is a filmic art piece that bridges gaps between languages, cultures, and abilities, by connecting viewers despite our differences. It is my hope that the stills insight curiosity in the viewer, and perhaps spark a desire to watch these movies, or movies which might be considered foreign to them."
