House of Fun – torture euphemism
- House of Fun – torture euphemism
- 2015
- 35′
- percussie & video
- script, directing & music: Merijn Bisschops
- cinematography: Morgana Machado Marques
- actors: David Eeles & Caroline van Leedam
- première: Tatiana Koleva, 8 November 2015, November Music, ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NL)
An associative audiovisual performance about the euphemisms surrounding torture practices.
House of Fun brings the far away matters of torture practices closer, without resulting into a glorification of violence. A performance for people with an interest in art-house movies, adventurous music, language and philosophy. The full video is available at my YouTube channel.
The title refers to a former torture chamber in Dubai in which a person could be reduced into submission within half an hour. One example of how gruesome acts are concealed in everyday language, legislation and government policy by metaphors and understatements.
Ominous and disguising the ritual percussion music, played on vibraphone, timpani, drums, gongs and objects, guides the non-narrative monologue of the main character. He represents the perpetrator in all its forms: the interrogator, the torturer, the supervisor, the medic, the government, but also an aggressive spouse and the media. By using torture jargon and subtle humour they objectify their victim and play their invasive role in the private life of the victim. She is fully subjected to their power, except in her preserved silence.
