In french, we have an expression which says "en dent de scie" (saw teeth) which evokes ups and downs of life or people. I found it appropriate for this picture :
"Saw" - Cedric Massoulier
I'd have thought, first of all, that this was a picture of architectural geometry typically from Paul Abbott's London photographs, you might have commented on. You would, of course, naturally set it into a French Philosopher's chessboard. However, this is truly Massoulier, born, bred and speaking to us.
The ups and downs of life, taken from a saw, the French perspective, are all destructive no matter which way the jagged edge comes to us. We don't have that metaphor in English. We use see-saw, but that's a child playground equipment. It's a long plank of wood usually, balanced in the center, with one child sitting at each end, so kids can each move up and down in turn.
The see saw movement then is a concept of a more gentle movement of our fate. The French phrase uses a cutting saw, and that is much more harsh. Maybe these two difference represent how our cultures have evolved away from one another, but I'd have to consider that idea a little more. There has to be a reason why we have such different metaphors.
Asher
