As Above, So Below

John Plowright

Juxtaposition is a common comedic device and is very well illustrated by the section of 'Annie Hall' in which subtitles perform the function of speech bubbles, allowing the viewer to compare what Woody Allen and Diane Keaton’s characters are saying, with what they are actually thinking. It reminds us that the best subtitles become almost invisible, though at one level we're conscious that to match the editing of images, text has also been edited. The idea that films present an illusion of reality and that subtitles represent an additional layer of illusion whilst purporting simply to reproduce the dialogue heard, is the idea explored by this poem.

As Above, So Below

Each passing phrase

A paraphrase

Capturing the essence of what is said

So eye flits from text to image

With as little as possible lost in translation

Neither preceding nor following the image

But coincident with utterance

So that those conversant

Do not feel short-changed

And those with only a nodding acquaintance of the language

Nod sagely with the illusion of complete comprehension

Of all things said.

So smoothly done

The work receives no credit

So attuned have we become

To the rhythm of the edit.

Illustration by Vega Boney-Hundal

Allen Woody, Keaton, Diean, ‘Annie Hall’ (1977), JD YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tcH2zSqVCcJD