These Unruly and Ungovernable Selves

These Unruly and Ungovernable Selves

color, sound, 6 min
"These Unruly and Ungovernable Selves” recontextualizes characters from her previous works into a hypnotic visual essay about the transfiguring of interiority during periods of isolation and ...
Rental format: Digital file $40
Available for sale: Digital file $350

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About

"These Unruly and Ungovernable Selves” recontextualizes characters from her previous works into a hypnotic visual essay about the transfiguring of interiority during periods of isolation and fear.  It takes as its starting point the current coronavirus pandemic and filters it through theorist Jill Casid’s writings on the necrocene, and Walter Benjamin's writings on identifying the difference between threshold and boundaries. Handelman's characters, who each have already struggled with existential questions of belonging and fear in her projects “Dorian, A Cinematic Perfume” (2009-11); “Irma Vep. The Last Breath” (2013-15); and “Hustlers & Empires” (2018), are juxtaposed with found images and texts sourced during the pandemic to take on a new form that both denies and struggles with containment. 

Films

  • Other films by this artist in our catalogue

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    Safer Sexual Techniques in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction
    Experimental

    Safer Sexual Techniques in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction
    Michelle Handelman

    16mm, color, sound, 10 min
    Rental formats: 16mm, 3/4″ NTSC
    • Structural
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    Homophobia Is Known To Cause Nightmares
    Experimental

    Homophobia Is Known To Cause Nightmares
    Michelle Handelman

    16mm, color, sound, 9 min
    Rental formats: 16mm, 3/4″ NTSC
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    A History of Pain
    Experimental
    Narrative

    A History of Pain
    Michelle Handelman

    video, color, sound, 45 min
    Rental format: VHS NTSC
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    Hope
    Experimental

    Hope
    Michelle Handelman

    video, color, sound, 5 min
    Rental formats: 3/4″ NTSC, VHS NTSC
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    CandyLand
    Animation
    Experimental

    CandyLand
    Michelle Handelman

    video, color, sound, 7 min
    Rental format: VHS NTSC
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    I. C. U.
    Experimental

    I. C. U.
    Michelle Handelman

    video, color, sound, 2.5 min
    Rental format: VHS NTSC
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    La Suture
    Experimental

    La Suture
    Michelle Handelman

    video, color, sound, 8.25 min
    Rental formats: VHS NTSC, Beta SP NTSC
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    Michelle Handelman Performance Videos
    Experimental

    Michelle Handelman Performance Videos
    Michelle Handelman

    video, color, sound
    Rental format: VHS NTSC
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    DJ Spooky vs. WebSpinstress M
    Experimental

    DJ Spooky vs. WebSpinstress M
    Michelle Handelman

    video, color, sound, 2.5 min
    Rental format: VHS NTSC
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    I Hate You
    Experimental

    I Hate You
    Michelle Handelman

    video, color, sound, 3 min
    Rental formats: DVD NTSC, VHS NTSC
    • Philosophical
    • Comedy
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    This Delicate Monster
    Experimental

    This Delicate Monster
    Michelle Handelman

    sound, 30 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
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    Dorian, A Cinematic Perfume
    Experimental

    Dorian, A Cinematic Perfume
    Michelle Handelman

    color, sound, 63 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
    • LGBT / Queer
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    Irma Vep, The Last Breath
    Experimental
    Narrative
    Installation

    Irma Vep, The Last Breath
    Michelle Handelman

    color, sound, 33 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
    • Body
    • Erotic
    • Philosophical
    • Films About Film
    • Arts / Artists
    • LGBT / Queer