I found a very interesting thing from this animation. After watching it, people had discussion about religion. Do you think this animation focuses on religion or death?
Very clever use of 2D illustration techniques and 3D props and sets.
Just as impressive are the sets and architecture in his other animation which you can see at: http://vimeo.com/9503178
Definitely worth taking a look at his his blog: http://arthurgillarsen.blogspot.com.au/ and his webpage: http://www.comlock.net/
He's gone for that zombie, blood-splatter look (one of the illustrations that he shows on his website is modeled on the actor from Dexter.) The tramp seems to be modeled on a Willie Nelson-like figure.
What does the animation focus on? Well, mainly it focuses on animation. The story shows the outcome of a very parochial view of religion, of a parish that lives in a "haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy."
I think yes, death and religion is a major theme in this video but i think, for me its more about the darker side of human nature. We've seen many times throughout history how, when many people are in a state of stress or fear, all you need is one person who knows how to talk ~ and they'll all follow. For example, a lot of people say that when Germany got Hitler they were at a state of mind, where if it wasn't Hitler, it would have been someone else who's had the same or similar intention.
But it's a double edge sword because, when it comes down to it, in a dire situation, people's actions are based on instinct. Its natural for us to look for the easy way out ~ after all, no one wants to be tortured by the enemy for 60 years when it could only be 3 years.
And i think this is shown quite strongly throughout the entire film, for example at 1.58, when the priest is talking, the sign behind him says "fear of..." - we don't know what the rest says, but the word 'fear' is never covered up for long. it's always visible and next to the priest.
and what the priest is saying: "It is said that every man is punished for the deed of one. and the punishment was death."
What he's doing is trying to get rid of the one person who is working against him, by getting the other's to despise and get rid of him - Control -
but what he doesn't realise is by installing this added fear into the crowd that already is at their end (because, the town suggests no water, there is no indication of crop- essentially it depicts a desolated town that is doomed from the start) The crowd then turns on him, as well as everyone else.
Therefore i think this video is more about what happens when a certain group of people, under certain circumstances, are pushed to their limits. More so than religion or death.
Can't ignore the presence of death. And here it is linked quite distinctly to the town and their religion.
I think it is really a story about ignorance, and how we can justify death by blinding ourself to the world around us. Can religion sometimes be used as vehicle to justify ignoring what is truly in front of us?
I think that this video is not about religion or death, its just about human nature and how destructive humans are. The supposedly angel of death didnt do anything he just sad there, while people assumed that he was going to kill someone just because hes the undertaker. In the end they destroyed each other because of assuming. WE WILL ALWAYS FEAR WHAT WE DONT UNDERSTAND.
Very clever use of 2D illustration techniques and 3D props and sets.
ReplyDeleteJust as impressive are the sets and architecture in his other animation which you can see at:
http://vimeo.com/9503178
Definitely worth taking a look at his his blog: http://arthurgillarsen.blogspot.com.au/
and his webpage:
http://www.comlock.net/
He's gone for that zombie, blood-splatter look (one of the illustrations that he shows on his website is modeled on the actor from Dexter.) The tramp seems to be modeled on a Willie Nelson-like figure.
What does the animation focus on? Well, mainly it focuses on animation. The story shows the outcome of a very parochial view of religion, of a parish that lives in a "haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy."
I think yes, death and religion is a major theme in this video but i think, for me its more about the darker side of human nature.
ReplyDeleteWe've seen many times throughout history how, when many people are in a state of stress or fear, all you need is one person who knows how to talk ~ and they'll all follow.
For example, a lot of people say that when Germany got Hitler they were at a state of mind, where if it wasn't Hitler, it would have been someone else who's had the same or similar intention.
But it's a double edge sword because, when it comes down to it, in a dire situation, people's actions are based on instinct. Its natural for us to look for the easy way out ~ after all, no one wants to be tortured by the enemy for 60 years when it could only be 3 years.
And i think this is shown quite strongly throughout the entire film, for example at 1.58, when the priest is talking, the sign behind him says "fear of..." - we don't know what the rest says, but the word 'fear' is never covered up for long. it's always visible and next to the priest.
and what the priest is saying:
"It is said that every man is punished for the deed of one. and the punishment was death."
What he's doing is trying to get rid of the one person who is working against him, by getting the other's to despise and get rid of him - Control -
but what he doesn't realise is by installing this added fear into the crowd that already is at their end (because, the town suggests no water, there is no indication of crop- essentially it depicts a desolated town that is doomed from the start)
The crowd then turns on him, as well as everyone else.
Therefore i think this video is more about what happens when a certain group of people, under certain circumstances, are pushed to their limits. More so than religion or death.
Can't ignore the presence of death. And here it is linked quite distinctly to the town and their religion.
ReplyDeleteI think it is really a story about ignorance, and how we can justify death by blinding ourself to the world around us. Can religion sometimes be used as vehicle to justify ignoring what is truly in front of us?
A question, Caitlin, that's been addressed by various writers from seemingly disparate cultures.
DeleteYou've got the Japanese folktale of Visu the woodsman who learnt the hard way, about work and prayer http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/japan.html#visu
and then there's that famous satirist, Voltaire, who concludes, with ultimate pragmatic wisdom, that "we must cultivate our gardens."
I think that this video is not about religion or death, its just about human nature and how destructive humans are. The supposedly angel of death didnt do anything he just sad there, while people assumed that he was going to kill someone just because hes the undertaker. In the end they destroyed each other because of assuming. WE WILL ALWAYS FEAR WHAT WE DONT UNDERSTAND.
ReplyDelete