©David JacobskiStomLichaam - Short Film Festival 2023
StomLichaam is a short film festival organised by Untold Stories and Arenberg which highlights a mix of artistic disciplines. A blend of poetry, dance and videography. Together with Quartier de Lune we entered the competition with our piece called The Duality of Ego and Shadow.
"We are all born whole but somehow culture and society demands we live out only part of our nature and refuse other parts of ourselves. While we can hide our dark side from society, we shouldn’t hide it from ourselves. To act is to sin, to create is to destroy. We cannot make light without corresponding darkness."
©David JacobskiTeam
- Videography by David Jacobski
- Choreograped by Denis Inghelbrecht & Kevin Dekeyser
- Danced by Denis Inghelbrecht & Kevin Dekeyser
- Production manager: Ayla Vitale
- Assistant producer: Soleva Jeanjean
- Costume design by Ayla Vitale
- Poetry by Rina Mushonga
The Ego
When we are born, we are born with a clean sheet governed by our inner instincts and genetical bagage. It's only as we grow older and find our way in the world that we start to develop an 'ego'.
The ego is how we decide our place in society and the world around us. It represents the conscious mind which manifests itself based on our past experiences, values, and beliefs. The ego encapsulates everything that we want to be associated with or believe is inherently good about ourselves.
©David Jacobski
©David JacobskiThe Shadow
The shadow on the other hand contains traits that we consciously oppose, often contrasting those presented in our ego. It is what we don't see when we look in the mirror. The shadow is everything we are but don't want to consciously accept, the parts of ourselves that we reject, disown, or simply don't recognize.
The ego and shadow come from the same source, and exactly balance each other out. For light can not exist without darkness and darkness can not exist without light.
The Duality of Shadow and Ego
Every human being possesses both an ego and a shadow. For some, the ego outshines the shadow, while for others, the opposite is true. It is through the acknowledgment of both the shadow and the ego that we can embrace our humanity. By understanding not only our strengths but also our flaws, we can achieve wholeness.
The shadow is an integral part of oneself and shouldn't be ignored. Refusing to acknowledge one's shadow, the dark side of one's nature, only accumulates the darkness. The shadow will eventually demand its dues in some form, whether it's intelligent or foolish.
©David Jacobski
©David JacobskiA well-adapted ego can greatly increase our social success, as it encapsulates our best traits and adapts to different social contexts. However, issues arise when a person becomes overly identified with their ego, unable to distinguish between their societal role and their authentic self.
Our short film explores the continuous battle between shadow and ego, delving into the psyche of every individual as they struggle with self-perception and identity.
Images
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