Extraordinary Rendition
Extraordinary Rendition is one of a series of pieces that deal with the phenomenology of our linguistic experience. Qualia (the plural of quale) are the phenomenal characteristics of our mental experiences. Normally qualia are discussed in relation to simple sensory experiences, like seeing red or tasting a lemon. In this series, I'm working with phrases whose component words relate strangely to the ideas they represent. The screens show randomly chosen synonyms of the words that make up the original phrases. Each phrase feels different to read, process, and understand; each phrase has its own quale. (See also Energy Security and Manifest Destiny)
The phrase 'extraordinary rendition' (wikipedia entry here) refers to the CIA's extrajudicial capture and transfer of prisoners to covert prisons outside of the United States for interrogation and torture.
Some of my favorite phrases generated by synonyms of 'extraordinary' and 'rendition' include:
The video screen shows waves on the American coast of the Pacific Ocean reversed. The waves roll away from the camera over and over, but the water is always still there at our feet.