Transmissions
ipsum murmur ambiguitatis
Introduction
The concept of Transmissions finds its roots in the visionary film "Jean Cocteau s’Adresse … l’an 2000." Crafted in 1963, this cinematic masterpiece by Cocteau is not merely a message to the future; it's an audacious attempt to engage in a dialogue across the chasm of time. The film presents a paradoxical conversation where either the speaker exists and the audience is yet to be, or the reverse. Such a dialogue, while seemingly impossible, is profound in its intent and ambition. What sets Cocteau's film apart from countless historical artifacts is its clear, focused, and intended audience. While history is replete with artifacts, narratives, and messages that drift through the ages, many lack a specific recipient. These pieces of the past, despite their potential significance, often float aimlessly through the corridors of time, waiting for someone, anyone, to take notice. Without a designated audience, these artifacts risk remaining dormant, their potential insights and catalystic power untapped. They shine brilliantly in one era, only to fade into obscurity in another, their relevance and impact entirely contingent on the whims of time and the chance discovery by a receptive audience.
Cocteau, in his foresight, recognized this peril. By designating an intended audience for his film, he charted a clear path and mission for it, ensuring its resonance and relevance for future generations. This intentionality not only bolstered the film's chances of survival but also ensured that its messages would be activated, reflected upon, and engaged with by its intended recipients. Furthermore, the questions Cocteau posed and the overarching conversation of the film serve as beacons, illuminating past histories in their contextual richness. They guide us, offering glimpses into epochs gone by, revealing nuances, perspectives, and modes of thinking that might otherwise have been obscured by the sands of time. The film's immediacy, juxtaposed with its rootedness in a bygone era, offers a unique window into a world of insights and wisdom, bridging the past with the present and future.
In essence, Transmissions, inspired by Cocteau's pioneering endeavor, seek to continue this legacy of intentional dialogues across time. They aim to ensure that the voices of today, with their rich tapestry of insights, questions, and perspectives, find their intended audience in the future, fostering understanding, connection, and continuity across generations.
Transmissions
Future Archaeologies envisions a world where the wisdom of one generation doesn't just dissipate into the annals of history but is purposefully channeled to enlighten and inspire future generations. It's from this profound perspective that the idea of creating an archive of Transmissions emerges. These aren't just films; they're time capsules, meticulously curated and intended to be unveiled a century from their creation. The objective? To establish a continuum, a loop that not only preserves the essence of an era but also ensures its relevance a hundred years hence. The Transmissions archive is dynamic, ever-evolving. With each passing year, new recordings, rich in insights and perspectives, are added. This ensures that the archive isn't just a static repository but a living, breathing entity that grows with time. It's this continuous addition that allows Future Archaeologies to weave a tapestry of time, connecting the present with the unknowns of the future and, in the process, carving out a sustainable trajectory for the organisation.
Method
Selection of Subjects The subjects, the heart of each Transmission, are chosen with meticulous care. The criteria? Cultural significance and the potential to contribute to the rich tapestry of the archive. Each subject is introduced to the ethos of Transmissions, its overarching purpose, and the inspiration driving it. This briefing isn't just informational; it's transformative. It prompts introspection, making subjects ponder their existence, their era, their legacy, and the transient nature of what's deemed 'important.'
Role of Future Archaeologies Talents The responsibility of curating these subjects and overseeing the recordings primarily rests with the Future Archaeologies Talents. Each Talent is entrusted with producing two Transmissions during their tenure. This approach ensures the archive's dynamism, as it benefits from the fresh perspectives of an ever-evolving group of curators. Additionally, other staff members from various bureaus will contribute to the archive, enriching it further.
Criteria for Subjects While the initial criteria focused on age (over 40) and field (creative, akin to Cocteau's poet), the emphasis is on depth, wisdom, and the potential to resonate with future generations. By ensuring that the subjects are chosen through the lens of an ever-changing youthful perspective, the archive retains its vibrancy, relevance, and credibility.
Quality Assurance Every Transmission undergoes rigorous scrutiny by the Future Archaeologies executive committee. This vetting ensures that the archive maintains its high standards, both in terms of participants and production quality. The goal is to make the archive not just informative but also captivating and unique.
Collaborative Partnerships To facilitate the production of these Transmissions and ensure their quality, Future Archaeologies will seek collaborations, not only with their Bureau partners, but also with institutions as well as commercial galleries, producers and entities of note. These partnerships aim to streamline operations and secure subjects in advance. However, the sanctity of Transmissions is paramount. The subjects must go through the nomination process, as their essence remains priceless – they cannot be bought, bartered, or compromised.
Preservation and Dissemination
In an era where digital media dominates, Future Archaeologies are taking a critical step back in order to prioritise longevity and authenticity. The chosen medium for the Transmissions is acrylic film. Why? From a conservation standpoint, acrylic film boasts an impressive lifespan, estimated at almost half a millennium. Its conservational categorisation as low-risk ensures that the rich tapestry of insights and perspectives captured on the material endures the test of time. In contrast, digital media, while revolutionary, remains in its infancy from a conservation perspective. Its long-term stability is yet to be proven, making it a less reliable choice for such a monumental endeavour. Acrylic film, therefore, emerges as the most resilient, trustworthy, and economically feasible option available.
Unlike the Concepts and Missives produced by Future Archaeologies, which are all made available to the public upon completion, these cinematic transmissions will not be accessible for viewing before their intended time, unless a convincing reason can be made by the subject. Therefore the access to a transmission will only be possible one hundred years hence production or at the death of the subject. The decision as to which will be entirely up to the Transmission subject. This passage of time will allow the intended audiences, the youth 100 years in the future, to immerse themselves in the wisdom of bygone eras. Therefore, the transmissions are only produced in two master copies, and as they are at the very heart of our project, they will be safeguarded with utmost care. The two master copies will be sealed in individual cases and securely stored at different locations. Each storage site will be chosen from the perspective of offering the highest levels of protection, ideally being secure archives under the guardianship of state entities or the United Nations. This will ensure that the Transmissions, our invaluable time capsules timed to make discovery of themselves are shielded from potential adversities. Furthermore, as the Transmissions will never exist on a digital, or similar, format until their time of dissemination they are also naturally safeguarded against hackers or other unwanted methods of discovery. This will also ensure that the Transmission subjects will be able to speak freely and without fear of repercussions. It will also disjoint their statements from their own time, meaning there will be no one to impress, nothing pressing to promote other than their deepest of insights. Upon the culmination of the filming process, subjects have the right to review their Transmission. If they choose to withhold it from the archive, they are obligated to reimburse Future Archaeologies for the production expenses incurred. Once entered into the archive the Transmission can not be extracted before its intended time.
The Transmissions vision goes beyond just preservation; it's about ensuring accessibility for future generations. To this end, Future Archaeologies will continuously investigate and research which film projectors that can stand the test of time. Maybe even build our own machines in order to ensure that all our archives are paired with accessibility provisions that can stand the test of time. The goal? To ensure our Transmissions remain relevant and useable not just for a century, but for several centuries, ensuring that future audiences can seamlessly engage with the conversations we provide. Parallel investigations will determine the most durable materials for storing and accessing all material artefacts within the Future Archaeologies archives.
We consider the release of a Transmission a momentous event. Unless there's a compelling reason presented by the subject of the film, a Transmission will be unveiled either posthumously or a century after its recording. This approach ensures that the content remains relevant, poignant, and impactful. While our Transmissions will eventually find their way into the wider public domain, Future Archaeologies will emphasise the importance of experiencing them at its own premises and will seek to make an event and spectacle out of each revelation. This approach fosters a continuous dialogue with contemporary audiences, aligning perfectly with the organisation's overarching mission: to bridge the past, present, and future through meaningful, timeless conversations.
Production
To ensure a uniform expression across all productions, Future Archaeologies has adopted a dogmatic approach to the creation of the Transmissions. To create a framework that will be the same for all, across time, each subject is provided with a classic 16mm camera and 400ft of Kodak Ektachrome film by Future Archaeologies. This choice of equipment and material not only evokes a sense of nostalgia but also ensures that every Transmission carries a consistent visual signature, irrespective of its content or creator. The aim is to ensure that every Transmission, whether recorded decades ago or just recently, shares the same visual texture and feel. The shared and consistent terms evens the playing field, allowing all participants to contribute to the archive under the same conditions, fostering a sense of unity and shared experience. Through this framework, participants from different times are woven together in a continuous tapestry of human expression creating a collective narrative that transcends the boundaries of time.
The setting, narrative, and actions within the Transmission are left to the discretion of the subjects, in a sense the camera and film format becomes the canvas on which they can paint their thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. Future Archaeologies is also committed to facilitating the production process and its representatives will travel to the subjects, provided it's within reasonable reach. While the backdrop and narrative are subject-driven, there are a few further constraints to ensure consistency, maintain the integrity and authenticity of the project:
One-take authenticityThe entire Transmission must be shot in a single, uninterrupted take. This approach ensures raw, unfiltered expressions, capturing the genuine essence of the subject's message.
Retakes If desired by the subject, are permissible but limited to two consecutive attempts. Any associated costs for these retakes are borne by the subject.
Oversight by Future Archaeologies A representative from Future Archaeologies will be present during the filming to ensure adherence to the project's guidelines and also the organisations ethics. This will primarily concern enforcing our ban on hate-speech, racism, incitement to violence or violations of law. It will also be to ensure that the subject only addresses an unknown future audience and does not leave messages for family members, predecessors or other individual.
No unnatural effects External soundtracks, special effects, or post-production enhancements are strictly prohibited. The Transmissions aim to be a testament to raw, unfiltered expression.
No post-production alterations The Transmissions are archived in their original form, with no retouching, editing, or enhancements. This preserves the raw emotion and authenticity of the moment.
Guiding Principles
Understanding that our subjects come from diverse backgrounds with varying levels of experience in front of the camera, we offer tailored guidance rather than structured workshops. For those who are seasoned in artistic, creative, theatre, or film domains, we respect their expertise and autonomy in crafting their Transmission. However, for those who seek guidance or wish to brainstorm ideas, they can engage in a dialogue with the Bureau that nominated them or the one geographically closest. This approach ensures a balance between artistic freedom and supportive guidance, allowing each subject to craft a Transmission that is genuinely reflective of their essence.
Before embarking on their Transmission journey, all subjects are required to watch Jean Cocteau's original s’Adresse. Drawing inspiration from this masterpiece, they are then guided by a set of thematic prompts, though the order and interpretation are left to their creativity:
Ponder the essence of your current surroundings.
Envision a bold prediction for the future.
Reflect on the vibrancy of youth and the intricacies of love.
Analyse the cultural zeitgeist of your era.
Delve into a personal creation or work of yours.
Contemplate your legacy and how you wish to be remembered.
Define the soul and essence of a poet.
Psychological Impact and Therapeutic Aftercare
Addressing a distant future, especially one where the subject no longer exists, is a profound psychological experience. It confronts the subject with the impermanence of life, prompting introspection about legacy, memory, and the marks one leaves behind. This act of reaching out to an unknown audience in a future era is both humbling and empowering. It challenges the subject to distill their essence, beliefs, and hopes into a message that transcends time. The process can be cathartic, allowing subjects to confront their mortality, celebrate their existence, and express hopes and dreams for future generations. It's a unique opportunity to reflect on one's place in the grand tapestry of time, to ponder the fleeting nature of existence, and to connect with future souls in a dialogue that defies the boundaries of time.
Following the intense experience of creating a Transmission, subjects will be invited to engage in a feedback session. This session is not just a platform for reflection on the production but also serves as a form of therapeutic aftercare. It provides subjects with an opportunity to process their emotions, share their experiences, and navigate the profound impact of addressing a future where they no longer exist. The feedback mechanism is intended to ensure the well-being of our subjects, offering them support and understanding in the aftermath of their unique journey.