Total Cinematic Musiké: the video-poematic experience of Patrizia Vicinelli

Resumen

“Musikè” (also spelled “mousikē” or “mousike” in Greek) refers to the ancient Greek concept of music and the arts. In ancient Greek philosophy and culture, musikè had a broader meaning than the modern understanding of the term “music”. It encompassed not only instrumental and vocal sounds but also poetry, dance, and other forms of artistic expression. The term is derived from the Muses – the nine goddesses in Greek mythology responsible for inspiring and presiding over the arts and sciences. Musikè was considered an essential part of education in ancient Greece and was associated with the cultivation of the mind, spirit, and character. Its artistic and cultural value, also understood as the ethical formation of individuals, was therefore indispensable. In this article, we will explore how a similar experience can be declared through the fusion of cinema, poetry, and performance in the total opus of Patrizia Vicinelli, especially through her extensive experimental collaborations. Starting with a poetic-cinematic overview, we will delve into a detailed analysis of her cooperation with the artist Mataro da Vergato and the director and partner Gianni Castagnoli, encompassing set design, screenplay, reading, and recorded performance of Durante la costa dei millenni (Along the Coast of Millennia).