I was in my sister’s room in my house and I noticed this poster. Le Mépris is a film from 1963 directed by French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard starring Brigitte Bardot. The title translates to, “Contempt.”
This poster reminded me of some of the non-academic art we studied in class for our “Toward the Modern” unit, particularly the Olympia painting we studied. While she is not nude, this illustration of Bardot does have sexual undertones. Furthermore, both Olympia and Bardot are confronting the viewer with their gaze. They are painted somewhat similarly as well, as the brushstrokes in the poster are visible and there are fewer shadows shaping the figure. This poster is from 1963, exactly 100 years after Manet’s Olympia was finished, but the influence of Éduoard Manet can still be seen. There is a logical cultural connection here too, as both Manet and Godard were renowned French creatives.
I also want to connect this poster to our last Classics unit revolving around satire. Jean-Luc Godard actually made a satirical film in 1967 titled, Weekend. It is about a rich couple that essentially tries to murder each other. It makes comments on the savage nature of society and the fate of filmmaking itself, all with a dark, humorous tone. I think this, as well as our analysis of The Onion in class, shows that satire has evolved into a genre that can be seen in many different cultures, so it is interesting that we learned about it as a uniquely Roman genre in class.
Harry, Team Vesta
The Past in Present Tense 