Midterm Update

Midterm Development

Theme and Story

The theme that of my project is technology's negative affect on man. My story draws parallels with the philosophy of Primitivism, the belief that with technology came the loss of mankind's humanity. Though the ability to advance is one of our greatest strengths, it is also has the potential to being the key to our downfall. As with the Romans and the Babylonians, I want to tell the tale of man's great folly when given the gift progression.

The story start with a colossal vessel soaring hauntingly in the sky. The brilliance of this craft lies with its creators, a highly intelligent civilization that inhabits it. This was society of luxurious, peaceful beings that managed

to bring about incredible technological advancements. The flying craft happens upon a city populated by individuals of seemingly lesser intelligence than they. The beings become intrigued by what they see and desire to know more. So, they charge an adventurous individual known as the Traveler with the task of exploring the land of the Primitives. What he finds made a shocking impression on him. This is a society of great builders. But unlike the Traveler’s people, the primitives functions do not go beyond the necessity of survival. They are living in very harsh environments where the air is filthy and water is scarce. After seeing enough, he decides to make his way back to his home. He brings news to people about what he saw. Feeling sympathy for the primitives, the beings decide to share some of their technological secrets with the hard-lucked people. The Traveler makes his way back to the darken city and share with it people the means by which they can advance. Looking down from their great metropolis, the Traveler and his people observe as the primitive begin to make great strides of progression in their society. Everything was improving for the people. No longer did they have to suffer the conditions nature burdened them with. But as time goes on, the once primitive civilization start to exhibit radical changes in personality. More ambitious they became, more greedy and arrogant. Eventually they set their sights on the beings that gave them to key to advancement. Before the gentile beings in the sky know it, they are attacked by the once docile primitives. Angered by the destruction of their city, the beings strips away all power from the primitives. Every and all things that made up the primitives' utopian society were taken away forever.

Character Breakdowns

“They who touch the heavens”

• Advanced civilization that is of supreme intellect
• Origins are unknown
• Are a tranquil and humble society of technologically advanced beings
• Believe in the potential of all sentient life forms
• Like to observe other life without interfering with the natural course of things

“The Traveler”

• Is part of advanced civilization
• Very intrigued by the unknown
• Is a great inventor
• Likes to explore existence beyond the boundaries of his home
• Feels it is the purpose of his people to enlighten and aid in the progression of lesser life forms
• Greatly enjoys the luxury of his home but likes to take part in culture of other civilizations

“The Primitives”

• Lesser advanced society
• Have great ingenuity
• Are hard workers who struggle to survive
• Is oblivious to what exists beyond them
• More withdrawn socially
• Are very docile, most likely due to their condition

Outline

Act I (setup)

The setting is introduced (highly advanced technological city in the sky).

The Traveler is seen looking down upon a ruined civilization. He has been charged with the task to explore this world by the council of his people.

He travels to the city. He finds a mass population that seems to be keeping themselves from extinction with backbreaking labor. The Traveler takes notice of the extremely poor conditions of the environment and reports back to his home. After giving the news of what he saw to the counsel, his is told to give the people some of the secrets to their technology.

Act II (confrontation)

After receiving the secrets to advance technology, the primitive civilization begin to progress. After a while, they are all living a more luxurious life. The primitives start to grow arrogance at their achievements and are no longer content with living in the shadow of the people in the sky. After building ships and weaponry, they stage an all-out war on the people in the sky.

Act III

The primitives cause great destruction to their would be saviors, in an attempt to overthrow them. Angered by the audacity of the primitive, the gentile beings take away the gift of their people. All the technology that helped the primitives flourish has been stripped away. The advance civilization in the sky turn their backs on the primitives and set course for a new destination

Storyboards

Midterm Project

For my midterm, I decided to tell a story that revolves around my prevailing interests in the class so far. Most of my research dealt with much of sci-fi and mythological lore. I have always been a huge fan of both genres of fantasy and aim to create a story that involves and/or is inspired by classical mythology and science fiction films. The story revolves around the hero who is loosely based off of Hermes. Hermes was known as the fleet-footed and mischievous god of Greek mythology. Mostly seen as a messenger, Hermes was given the ability to travel places freely that would be otherwise problematic or fatal to anyone else. The main character is seen in the middle of an invasion. As the invading fleet makes its way through the city, the hero takes it upon himself to protect his people by attempting to defeat them using deceit.

For the look of my animation, I want it to have an art deco feel. Much of the sci-fi elements are going to be reminiscent of old 30's and 40's science fiction movies. The story itself should not be no more than 3 minutes as the story would already taking place near the climax. Also, I think that most of what I am trying to achieve will be done majorly on the 2d place as done in my exercised throughout the semester.

Proposal

My proposal for the semester is to create a fast-paced narrative. The concept that I thought of dealt with the character that I had built earlier in the year. This character will find himself in the middle of a war in which he has to try and put an end to. Though his purpose in the war is liable to change, the main aspect of his character is to show the viewer the intensity of battle from his perspective. My idea was inspired by greek mythology's own god, Hermes. His character was one of harmless, mischief and great speed. I was always interested in combining sci fi with mythology in some form or fashion. So, my concept this semester is going to serve as possibly a small introduction to a bigger story

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Gunderson, Keith “Robots, Consciousness, and Programmed Behavior

The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, Vol. 19, No. 2 (1968), pp. 109-122

Ackoff, R.L and Churchman, C.W. “Purposive Behavior and Cybernetics”

Social Forces, Vol. 29, No.1 (1951), pp. 135-149

Aper, J. Michael. “Cybernetics and Art.”

Leonardo, Vol. 2, No. 3 (1969, pp. 257-265

Villers Human, de Suzanne. “Explosions in Visual Art, Literature and Music/ Prskanja u likovnim Umjetnostima, knjizevnosti I glazbi.”

International Review of the Aesthetic and Sociology of Music, Vol. 36, No. 1 (2005), pp. 179-197

Speed, Christopher. “Tele-Spatial Research.”

Leonardo, Vol. 34, No. 3 (2001), p. 198

Batterman, W. Robert. “Defining Chaos.”

Philosophy of Science, Vol. 60, No. 1 (1993)

Bisdorff, A.R., C.J. Wolsley, D. Anastasopoulos, A.M. Bronstein, and M. A Gresty.

“The perception of body vertical (subjective postural vertical_ in peripheral and central vestibular disorders” (1996)

Research Package Thumbnails

Research Package Word List

My idea is connected to the last assignment in which my character tries to complete his mission amidst chaos.

Words that deal with my topic:

1. chaotic

2. anarchic

3. pandemonium

4. disarray

5. disorderly

6. wild

7. frenzy

8. hectic

9. hyperactive

10. manic

11. amped

12. turbulent

13. intense

14. energetic

15. fierce

16. severe

17. vigorous

18. overpowering

19. spirited

20. eager

21. zealous

22. acute

23. dynamic

24. aggressive

25. high-octane

26. bold

27. powerful

28. determined

29. audacious

30. combative

31. violent

32. blunt

33. sturdy

34. blinding

35. fury

36. rage

37. rampage

38. vertigo

39. blistering

40. supersonic

Antonyms

1. slow

2. order

3. half-hearted

4. timid

5. apathetic

6. lifeless

7. meek

8. peaceful

9. submissive

10. diffident

11. mild

12. dispassionate

13. unemotional

14. uninvolved

15. subtle

16. serene

17. humane

18. lenient

19. restful

20. undemanding

21. lethargic

22. listless

23. fatigued

24. weary

25. tired

26. sluggish

27. weak

28. powerless

29. feeble

30. inadequate

31. inept

32. tame

33. craven

34. appeasing

35. pacifying

36. peacemaking

37. quiet

38. puny

39. calm

40. tranquil

Project 2 Write up

Starting this project, I had an idea that would involve the viewer as an individual witnessing the birth of land and eventually traveling through it. Each object in the piece was to have a different texture to give it a multimedia aesthetic. Given that the animation takes place at sea, I was immediately met with an unforseen challenge. In order for my original idea to work I would have to move everything along the z axis. Also, to convincingly have material move through water was beginning to become daunting.

At any rate, I just tweaked my idea a bit. Going back to the drawing board for minor adjustments, I decided to have the viewer witness an eruption. This proved to be much easier and maybe even better than what I had original planned.

Project 1 Plot outline

I am still interested in the idea of a solo journey. What I thought I would do for this assignment is have an individual (in first person perspective) sailing in the vast ocean an finds him or herself swept up in an inescapable current that takes the individual to a place unlike any other.