An Orientalist Obsession in Sequins
starring Theda Bara as "the Vamp"LILIMOTH
Roxanna Bikadoroff 2009
28 " w x 30 " h sequins and beads on fabric
A fool there was and he made his prayer
(Even as you or I)
To a rag and a bone and a hank of hair
(We called her the woman who did not care)
But the fool, he called her his Lady Fair
(Even as you or I)
- from Kipling's 'The Vampire' (1897), which later became the
script for Wm. Fox's film, 'A Fool There Was' (1915) . It starred
yet unknown Theda Bara as the 'vamp,' launching her career
as Hollywood's premier Lilith. To create an orientalist mystery
around her, the studio claimed her name was an anagram for
'Arab Death.'
script for Wm. Fox's film, 'A Fool There Was' (1915) . It starred
yet unknown Theda Bara as the 'vamp,' launching her career
as Hollywood's premier Lilith. To create an orientalist mystery
around her, the studio claimed her name was an anagram for
'Arab Death.'
Stoker-inspired painting by Philip Burne-Jones which Kipling wrote his poem about, Theda in 'A Fool There Was' and Babylon's original 'Queen of the Night' (the 'Burney Relief,' British Museum).
MEDUSUN
Roxanna Bikadoroff
2009
29 " w x 40" h
sequins and beads
on fabric
But, list, Ianthe! when the air so soft Fail'd,
as my pennon'd spirit leapt aloft,
Perhaps my brain grew dizzy-but
the world I left so late was into chaos hurl'd-
Sprang from her station, on the winds apart.
And roll'd, a flame, the fiery Heaven athwart.
Methought, my sweet one, then I ceased to soar
And fell-not swiftly as I rose before,
But with a downward, tremulous motion thro'
Light, brazen rays, this golden star unto!
Nor long the measure of my falling hours,
For nearest of all stars was thine to ours-
Dread star! that came, amid a night of mirth,
A red Daedalion on the timid Earth.
- from E.A. Poe’s 'Al-Aaraaf'. The poem was inspired by Tycho
Brahe’s discovery (Nov. 11, 1572) of a supernova in the constellation
of Cassiopeia. Al-Aaraaf, taken from the Q’uran, refers to a place
between heaven and hell, where souls wait for judgment.
In Greek mythology, Cassiopeia and her husband, Cepheus ruled the
Kingdom of Ethiopia. Cassiopeia had insulted the Nerieds (water
beings) by bragging that she and her daughter, Andromeda, were
more beautiful than they. Seeking vengeance, the Nerieds got Poseidon
to send a flood and sea monster to devastate the kingdom, so Cepheus
was forced to sacrifice Andromeda, naked but for her jewels, to the
sea monster. Luckily, Perseus, who happ’d to be flying by with Medusa’s
freshly severed head in his bag, swooped down to save her - and the
kingdom. Ages later, Perseus would reincarnate as George, the
dragon-slaying, Patron Saint of Greece, Ethiopia and England.
L to R : W. Heath Robinson’s illustration for ‘Al-Aaraaf’, Theda horror still and
serpentine dreads (Namibia).
Why have you hated me in your counsels?
For I shall be silent among those who are silent,
and I shall appear and speak.
Why then have you hated me, you Greeks?
Because I am a barbarian among [the] barbarians?
For I am the wisdom [of the] Greeks and
the knowledge of [the] barbarians.
I am the judgment of [the] Greeks and the barbarians.
- from The Thunder : Perfect Mind (Nag Hammadi Texts)
dread ; fearfulness, but also (archaic) the emotion aroused by something awe inspiring (awful) or astonishing, fear of God (Rasta).
astonish ; to stun, to render senseless as by a blow, to strike with sudden fear or wonder (from latin ‘attonare - to strike with lightening/’tonare’ - to thunder).
One more to come in this series... stay tuned !
