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JUSTICE

Video of dance/music performance JUSTICE was performed at Riverside Park, New York City, at sunset on the first day of summer, June 21st 2017. Produced by MiShinnah Productions. Written and Directed by Elise Kermani.

Inspired by Metamorphosis by Ovid, circa 8AD:

“And Atlas said:
Take a look around.
Both of the poles are
steaming.

And if fire destroys the poles,
then your own house will fall...

Snatch from the flames
whatever still remains,
and help preserve the safety of the universe.”

More at www.mishinnah.org

The JUSTICE performance was part of Make Music New York and the Summer on the Hudson performance series.

  • Elise Kermani
    Director
    SAND, POE, Jocasta, Iphigenia: Book of Change
  • MiShinnah Productions
    Producer
  • Christine Elmo
    Key Cast
    "self"
  • Kaliya Warren
    Cinematography
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Experimental, Short
  • Genres:
    Dance, Social Justice, site specific, Performance, new music
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    November 14, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Elise Kermani

Elise Kermani is artistic director of MiShinnah Productions, a non-profit dedicated to making cross genre performance films. She received a PhD in Media Philosophy from the European Graduate School and teaches media art at State University of New York, Empire State College. Her particular interest is in creating site specific performance where architecture informs the project. She recently moved from Los Angeles to her hometown of Michigan City, Indiana. After living most of her life on both coasts (in New York for 25 years) she is happy to be home and living near the beautiful dunes of Lake Michigan.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

JUSTICE was inspired by ancient Greek writings of Ovid about Atlas and Athena, and by looking at Greek vase paintings and the sculptures of the war between the humans and the amazons. It was performed the year after the 2016 elections, and the tension of living in the United States after that election is palpable. From the director:
“The purpose of the Universe is to become aware of itself. Humans are that awareness. We are at a specific time in the history of the universe when the conditions are right for our own existence. That perfect balance, this Being, is currently hanging on by a thread. Nature understands the intimate justice necessary between the animals, rocks, sun, the moon, and the stars as a dance of equality. Our performance is an offering to all living and static beings, and a celebration of our being alive and aware.”