We Are Making a Film About Mark Fisher: A Collective Re-immersion in Hauntology

The article, part of the bimonthly column 'Cicala' curated by Manuela Pacella, explores the ongoing project 'We Are Making a Film About Mark Fisher' by the artist duo Close and Remote (Sophie Mellor and Simon Poulter). The film, which began screening in 2024 across the UK, Europe, and Italy, is not a conventional documentary but a collective process of re-immersing Fisher's thought into the present, as indicated by its subtitle 'So Are You.' The project has generated events, playlists, and articles, attracting an audience aged 18-35. Pacella reflects on Fisher's concept of hauntology, his suicide in January 2017, and the subsequent translation of his works in Italy, starting with 'Capitalist Realism' (2018, NERO) and 'Ghosts of My Life' (2019, minimumfax). She connects Fisher's ideas to contemporary music, citing the post-punk revival and the Irish-language rap group Kneecap from West Belfast, who use Gaelic and English to critique colonialism and have a politically charged following. The film is available for rent via closeandremote.vhx.tv, and a mixtape by ALMARE is on Soundcloud.