Remembering the body: Deleuze's recollection-image, and the spectacle of physical memory in Yip Man/Ip Man(2008)

Martin-Jones, D. (2014) Remembering the body: Deleuze's recollection-image, and the spectacle of physical memory in Yip Man/Ip Man(2008). Journal of Chinese Cinemas, 8(2), pp. 111-122. (doi: 10.1080/17508061.2014.915561)

Abstract

This article explores how Gilles Deleuze’s conceptualization of the flashback, as‘recollection-image’, can assist our understanding of the rendering spectacular of physical memory in contemporary Chinese martial arts movies. The focus is a prominent flashback in the climactic duel in the kung fu movie, Yip Man/Ip Man (Yip, 2008). This recollection-image demonstrates how trained bodies in Chinese martial art movies suggest a slightly different understanding of time and affect from that which Deleuze formulated, based on his observation of US and European films. On textual, cultural and historical levels this article explores the usefulness of martial arts movies for developing our understanding of physicality in cinema, and for reconsidering Deleuze’s ideas in light of the Eurocentrism of some of his conclusions.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Martin-Jones, Professor David
• Authors: Martin-Jones, D.
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Culture and Creative Arts > Theatre Film and TV Studies
• Journal Name: Journal of Chinese Cinemas
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• ISSN: 1750-8061
• ISSN (Online): 1750-807X
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2014 Taylor and Francis
• First Published: First published in Journal of Chinese Cinemas 8(2):111-122
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.