déplacent d'un poil le curseur

English translation: they alter our perspective

19:59 Jul 25, 2023
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting / Exhibition information
French term or phrase: déplacent d'un poil le curseur
Here is the excerpt for context:

Et l’allusion successive à la figure allégorique du soin (le lave-linge longtemps associé à la féminité), comme à la charge mentale qui a longtemps incombée aux femmes, et de la force (la musculature masculine) a pour effet d’interroger les représentations des identités genrées. La série des vestales – c’est le titre des quatre toiles de plus petit format – poursuivent cette idée. Ironiquement données comme un éloge à Vesta, déesse antique de la maison et de la famille, elles déplacent d’un poil le curseur pour révéler de nouveaux objets déifiés.

Could anyone offer a potential translation or a paraphrase for the part in the title?

Thank you!
Animus
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:49
English translation:they alter our perspective
Explanation:
Just suggesting something non-figurative here, as I'm mindful that the text is a piece of gallery/museum interpretation, which should be as plain as poss. Interpretation panels in the UK also often include inclusive language, hence the 'our'.
Selected response from:

Lisa Barrett
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:49
Grading comment
Thanks for your suggestion - I ended up going with a combination of the suggestions here, but yours was the closest to what I chose.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2move the needle a fraction
Philippa Smith
4move the frame of reference a smidgen
Bourth
4they move the cursor a bit to reveal new divine items.
Lena Johansson
3Shift the focus slightly
ormiston
3they alter our perspective
Lisa Barrett
Summary of reference entries provided
'curseur', au figuré :
Jennifer Levey

Discussion entries: 8





  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
move the frame of reference a smidgen


Explanation:
I see curseur here not as the thingy we see on our computer screens but rather as the mobile piece on a joiner's marking gauge or - and I really am showing my age here - on a slide rule (always liked the smell of it), a reference point.

Bourth
France
Local time: 21:49
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
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12 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Shift the focus slightly


Explanation:
It's clearly metaphorical and goes on to say ' it reveals....

ormiston
Local time: 21:49
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 24
Notes to answerer
Asker: Just wanted to say thank you for your suggestion - I went with a combination of the answers here and would have shared the points if I could!

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17 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
they move the cursor a bit to reveal new divine items.


Explanation:
To move the boundaries or to push the limits.

Lena Johansson
Sweden
Local time: 21:49
Native speaker of: Native in SwedishSwedish
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16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
move the needle a fraction


Explanation:
I feel the "déplacer le cursuer" is used in the same way here as "move the needle", which works for this context. And you have options for "d'un poil" - I suggest "a fraction" but there are plenty more.

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Note added at 17 hrs (2023-07-26 13:35:18 GMT)
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For those not familiar with the idiom:
"Move the needle is an idiom that is several decades old.(...)
Move the needle is an idiom that means to make a change that is noticeable, to alter or modify something so that the effect of your action is measurable. Most often, move the needle is used in a positive sense, meaning to make progress toward a goal. The expression move the needle became popular in a figurative sense from the 1980s and is one of many phrases that began as business jargon. The image is of a needle on a gauge or meter moving in response to stimuli; related phrases are moves the needle, moved the needle, moving the needle."

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Note added at 17 hrs (2023-07-26 13:38:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

And here's an example of its use (not an esoteric art text, but a similar context of shifting societal perspectives):
"Embrace a ‘systems perspective’ to move the needle on women’s leadership"
https://www.talentmgt.com/articles/2022/06/30/embrace-a-syst...

Philippa Smith
Local time: 21:49
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 47

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Sheri P
7 mins
  -> Thanks!

neutral  Tony M: I can't see how you get from the very IT-associated 'cursor' to the much more homely 'needle', suggesting the old technology of vinyl records etc. I certainly can't see any connection with images?
12 mins
  -> Neither expression is literal! I'll add in a ref to the "move the needle" idiom for you.

neutral  Jennifer Levey: The ST employs a figurative use of 'curseur' which doesn't tally with your 'needle'.
35 mins
  -> The needle is also figurative, not literal.

agree  SafeTex: Hello Philipa. I prefer "nudge the needle" for a couple of reasons but I think your suggestion is fine, and I'm pretty surprised, to put it mildly, by what was said in the "neutrals".
3 hrs
  -> Thanks! And, Ikr? ;-)

disagree  Mpoma: Meaningless. The art context is not atypically problematic to grasp, but this simply makes no sense.
19 hrs
  -> Since we're not beating about the bush: rubbish. It only makes no sense to someone without a grasp of the idom.

agree  Anastasia Kalantzi
4 days
  -> Thanks!
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2 days 14 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
déplacent d\'un poil le curseur
they alter our perspective


Explanation:
Just suggesting something non-figurative here, as I'm mindful that the text is a piece of gallery/museum interpretation, which should be as plain as poss. Interpretation panels in the UK also often include inclusive language, hence the 'our'.

Lisa Barrett
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:49
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks for your suggestion - I ended up going with a combination of the suggestions here, but yours was the closest to what I chose.
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Reference comments


50 mins peer agreement (net): +1
Reference: 'curseur', au figuré :

Reference information:
https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/curseur/21181
curseur
3. Au figuré. Ce qui sert de repère dans l'évolution d'une situation (personnelle, économique, etc.) : Repositionner le curseur de la violence à la télé.


https://www.senscritique.com/film/BAC_Nord/critique/25809662...
Tout l’enjeu est sans doute moins de nous indiquer où positionner le curseur moral et politique, que de remettre en question une vision simpliste, et surtout déconnectée de la réalité, de la lutte entre les « bons et les méchants ».

Jennifer Levey
Chile
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  Emmanuella
10 hrs
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