Online Green Light Review 13-12-11

8/3/2019 Online Green Light Review 13-12-11

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Unit 3: Environment

Online Greenlight Review 13/12/11 Emma Foster


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Contents

Sigmund Freud s The Uncanny 2-3 Associated Artists 4 Wider Reading 6

Visual Concept Statement & Influence Map 6-7 Key Thumbnails 8 Creative Partnership Archive 9 Essay Introduction 9-10


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Sigmund Freuds The Uncanny

Freud s theory on the uncanny speaks about elements which induce uneasiness and distresswhen surrounded by them. However, this isn t just anything that creates these emotions;

Freud suggests that the uncanny revolves around something we know being tamperedwith, impacted on in an unusual and wrong way so that it becomes unknown.

'Species of the frightening that goes back to what was once well known and had long been familiar.'

The idea is constructed around the German word Unheimlich and can be applied to anynumber of things that follow the above. Yet this isn t always uncanny to everyone so in away the uncanny has an element of individual portrayal which then makes it even moreambiguous and follows the alienation effect because we are unclear sometimes whether

something is uncanny or not.

The categories Freud puts uncanny elements into are persons and objects/belongings, senseimpressions, and experiences and situations. Although

'Something must be added to the novel and unfamiliar if it is to become uncanny.'

This is where intellectual uncertainty comes in- a sense of misinterpretation, ambiguity andvagueness.

Examples of ways things can be uncanny are:

The Uncanny Valley

Doubles, second self-observation/doppelgangers


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Repetition through symbols/numbers

Unintentional Return through repetition

Isolation (unusually empty spaces)

Possession of inanimate objects
http://uk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0PDodq.q.ZOjiEAhSpWBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTBpcGszamw0BHNlYwNmcC1pbWcEc2xrA2ltZw--/SIG=128kh3vhj/EXP=1323768894/**http%3a/www.flickr.com/photos/justinaerni/4475776834/http://uk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0PDodtSq.ZOnHYAG85WBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTBpcGszamw0BHNlYwNmcC1pbWcEc2xrA2ltZw--/SIG=129pli5ou/EXP=1323768786/**http%3a/www.flickr.com/photos/43253400@N05/4455809650/http://uk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0PDodhXqOZONDAAu0VWBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTBpcGszamw0BHNlYwNmcC1pbWcEc2xrA2ltZw--/SIG=13sds05q7/EXP=1323768023/**http%3a/www.taringa.net/posts/noticias/8655970/Los-numeros-de-_Lost_-premiados-en-la-loteria-de-EEUU.html


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Associated Artists

Dan Witz

I decided to look at Dan Witz work relating to my visual conceptas well as the uncanny because of the lighting and shadows heuses which I think I would like to experiment similarly with my

work. Also, the sense of isolation of objects/ buildings he createsis extremely effective in the uncanny; maybe I could isolate thetoys in my toy shop some, not making the shelves too cramped.

Edward Hopper

Edward Hopper is a key artist I looked at for theuncanny because he does something different with the

framing which is sometimes multiple such as lookingthrough one thing like a window into another sceneand the intrusion of peoples lives we feel awkward

about viewing voyeuristically.

Richard Serra

Richard Serra is an artist suggested to me after I told Sammy about

the maze like and claustrophobic atmosphere I wanted to achieve inmy toy shop. He is really interesting because just like a maze walkingthrough his sculpture is quite nerving in that we worry where the exit

is.


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Boris Krasnov

I found this sculptor while researching into giant uncannytoys/dolls for my toy shop idea and I think they are a

great example of something so unusual and with humanqualities looking down at us watching our every move.

Kristiina Wilson

Fashion photographer Kristiina Wilson likes her work to

represent women as tough but facing an element of theweird so her Russian Matrioska dolls stalking through thewoods are eerie and ambiguous. Again there is the doubt

of something lifeless actually being animate which issomething we are unfamiliar with.

Andy Warhol

Phil suggested looking at Andy Warhol for the idea of repetitive toy displays featuring in my scene rather than

one of everything and the hassle and stress it would causein Maya. There is something weird and unnecessary aboutthe massive displays of the same product in supermarkets

when they could have a smaller display and just put outmore stock when needed! Andy Warhol uses a lot of repetition in his work whether it is the

exact same or elements of change such as colour and there is something quiteuncomfortable looking at a display of the same thing over and over again. I remember

walking into an exhibition of his work at a London art gallery and one area having the wallscompletely covered with the same image, I didn t want to stay in there long because I felt

like I was losing my barings.


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Wider Reading

To improve my understanding of the uncanny I have been reading some articles on it. Ithought I should start off reading about something being uncanny that I knew well so I read

about the uncanniness of L.A. Noire. http://www.theverge.com/2011/06/22/uncanny-valley-la-noire-blade-runner-heavy-rain/ . This article was extremely useful in furthering my

understanding; it also had other examples of the uncanny such as The Polar Express andsome reference to Pixar which didn t keep my view of the uncanny to games such as L.A.

Noire and Heavy Rain.

I also found this article when hunting around for Ikea stuff for my perception essay.http://www.artinfo.com/photo-galleries/shopping-transcendence-ikea-photographer-

guillaume-janots-uncanny-scenes-beijings?image=1 . It is actually true about Ikea and otherfurniture stores. It is weird to see scenes such as living rooms unpopulated but in a

showroom it is even weirder to see then seem lived in and populated.

I saw these dolls by Marina Bychkova when looking up uncanny dolls for my toy shop andread her view of her sculptures which interestingly doesn t imply anything about the

uncanny whereas critics seem to automatically say this about them.http://www.enchanteddoll.com/artistinfo/info.html

Finally, more wider watching than wider reading but looking at drapery/clothing inMonsters Inc. playing tricks on the child s eyes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07l6HgPDJn0

Visual Concept Statement

My visual concept revolves around the idea of the element of fun and happiness turningeerie and psychologically uncomfortable. What better way than through something

associated with children who we aim to protect from things belonging to the abnormal? Ihave chosen to focus on a toy shop for a few reasons. One was when you think of mazes youworry about getting trapped and I feel it would be interesting to try and convey this throughthe maze like shelf layout of a toy shop which is normally seen as exciting by children, but if

there are no children in sight what would happen? An endless twisting of shelves anddisplays overlapping so that we cannot see what lies beyond, only gaps in the displays

teasing and making us nervous. This alongside some of my research especially that intoMonsters Inc. gave me the idea of being watched within this maze like structure; giant toystructures that have human qualities overlooking these shelves following our every move

and some sort of mobiles or bunting/banners streaming from tops of shelves and the ceiling

reflecting shadows around, creating strange shapes . Would this be enough to drivesomeone mad in something so familiar and usually so happy and bright
http://www.theverge.com/2011/06/22/uncanny-valley-la-noire-blade-runner-heavy-rain/http://www.theverge.com/2011/06/22/uncanny-valley-la-noire-blade-runner-heavy-rain/http://www.theverge.com/2011/06/22/uncanny-valley-la-noire-blade-runner-heavy-rain/http://www.theverge.com/2011/06/22/uncanny-valley-la-noire-blade-runner-heavy-rain/http://www.artinfo.com/photo-galleries/shopping-transcendence-ikea-photographer-guillaume-janots-uncanny-scenes-beijings?image=1http://www.artinfo.com/photo-galleries/shopping-transcendence-ikea-photographer-guillaume-janots-uncanny-scenes-beijings?image=1http://www.artinfo.com/photo-galleries/shopping-transcendence-ikea-photographer-guillaume-janots-uncanny-scenes-beijings?image=1http://www.enchanteddoll.com/artistinfo/info.htmlhttp://www.enchanteddoll.com/artistinfo/info.htmlhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07l6HgPDJn0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07l6HgPDJn0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07l6HgPDJn0http://www.enchanteddoll.com/artistinfo/info.htmlhttp://www.artinfo.com/photo-galleries/shopping-transcendence-ikea-photographer-guillaume-janots-uncanny-scenes-beijings?image=1http://www.artinfo.com/photo-galleries/shopping-transcendence-ikea-photographer-guillaume-janots-uncanny-scenes-beijings?image=1http://www.theverge.com/2011/06/22/uncanny-valley-la-noire-blade-runner-heavy-rain/http://www.theverge.com/2011/06/22/uncanny-valley-la-noire-blade-runner-heavy-rain/


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Visual Concept Influence Map


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Key Thumbnails

These are my thumbnails so far for my scene. I have been playing around with layout tocreate a claustrophobic atmosphere where you can see through narrow gaps only but at the

same time making it so that it isn t too busy. I have also been trying to take intoconsideration my ability to model in Maya and the time things could take so there is the

idea of repetition of elements throughout the scene which not only would help decrease theworkload in Maya to something more workable but would also help create the uncanny

effect of hang on wasn t I just here?? I have also been playing about with where lightsources could illuminate key parts of the scene so fairy lights or these great iconic seer type

ball lights.

Drapes was something else that I needed to think about and automatically you would thinkof clothing but that isn t in a toy shop except dolls clothing so unless the giant toy figuresare dolls I don t see how I could have doll clothing everywhere and it not looking just toothought about, I think I will give it an experimentation but for now I have been looking atsome sort of drape mobiles, fabric kites and then banners or bunting and how to hang it.There is also the possibility of including fabric elements as part of the actual toy displays

which I am really liking.


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Creative Partnership Archive so far

Me (Magda)

Hey Madga! I'm your creative partner for this unit :D Really look forward to working with you andsharing ideas and techniques and especially seeing your work take shape on here. I'malways here for advice and feedback, if you're more comfortable we can chat on facebooktoo :) First things first well done on getting this finished it looks great! :D on Maya Stuff

Me (to Aaron)

Hey Aaron! Just thought I'ld pop over to say hey I'm your creative partner along with Magdafor this unit :) Look forward to working with you and bouncing ideas back and forth from each

other and our blogs. Would be great to see work up here regularly because I'm normallyfloating around the dashboard and available for feedback or any help whenever so don't beafraid to plonk stuff on here even if its unfinished!! Hopefully we'll have a nice chat soon :)on Scene Two Thumbnails 46-75

Nice one Aaron, keep at it this is looking great! :) on Maya: Intro to Texturing

Magda (to Me)

I like the second one :) You could use eraser to add more volume to the figure :3 on LifeDrawing: Week 11

Written Assignment

Investigate into Quantic Dream s Heavy Rain (2010) using Freud s idea of the uncanny andhow this impacts on the perception of the videogame in question.

This essay explores Freud s idea of the uncanny in relation to the 2010 videogameHeavy Rain . Particular interest and investigation will look at the impact of Heavy Rain snew digital media on the perception of the game as well as the production design. A range

of sources will be used to aid and inspire the investigation including Alison Oddey andChristine White s Modes of Spectating (2009), David Surman s Gaming, Uncanny Realism &Technical Demonstration (2008), geek.com s Heavy Rain & Photorealism (2010) andinterview with Quantic Dream s David Cage on videogamesdaily.com (2008). Theassignment begins by defining the key ideas of the uncanny, unheimlich and ambiguous,then goes on to investigate how the uncanny impacts on Heavy Rain such as through theuncanny valley and relate it to other games. In conclusion, the discussion will seek tosummarise the importance of the uncanny as part of Heavy Rain and how it shapesinterpretation....


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Bibliography

Heavy Rain , (2010) Directed by David Cage, U.S.A. Quantic Dream.

Deleon, Gabriel. (2010) Heavy Rain & Photorealism . On geek.com

http://www.geek.com/articles/games/heavy-rain-photorealism-2010057/

Oddey, Alison & White, Christine, A. (2009) Modes of Spectating . Exeter: Intellect Books

Staff, Kikizo. (2008) Heavy Rain: David Cage Interview. On videogamesdaily.comhttp://archive.videogamesdaily.com/features/heavy-rain-david-cage-interview-p1.asp

Surman, David. (2008) Gaming, Uncanny Realism & Technical Demonstration . U.K: Swan Quake.
http://www.geek.com/articles/games/heavy-rain-photorealism-2010057/http://www.geek.com/articles/games/heavy-rain-photorealism-2010057/http://kikizo.biz/team-kikizo.asphttp://kikizo.biz/team-kikizo.asphttp://archive.videogamesdaily.com/features/heavy-rain-david-cage-interview-p1.asphttp://archive.videogamesdaily.com/features/heavy-rain-david-cage-interview-p1.asphttp://archive.videogamesdaily.com/features/heavy-rain-david-cage-interview-p1.asphttp://kikizo.biz/team-kikizo.asphttp://www.geek.com/articles/games/heavy-rain-photorealism-2010057/

Online Green Light Review 13-12-11

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