Communication Final Outcome Reflection

I incorporated my research much more directly than I was planning by incorporating the intro to Pulp’s "This is Hardcore” into my animation. I had originally thought to record sound effects (such as the motion of curtains being closed and the muffled contact of high heels on carpet) rather than using a pop song. I clung to the notion—wanted to create something original. No more mooching off of other peoples’ ideas! My work already seemed painfully derivative. Yet as I animated I couldn’t rid the feeling that “This is Hardcore” was what was best suited to it: sinister, brassy, cinematic. The song is rich in the atmosphere I wanted to foster and featured and a slow build upon which I could likewise construct a kind of image-based fugue. I finally added the track to see what would happen and it instantly elevated the material. Somehow, including the song made my images seem less imitative (which I’d never intended them to be—I just love what I love so deeply it swells beyond my control and eclipses any conscious planning) and my own voice grew in contrast to the voice to which I was responding.

The transitions and syncing to the sound aren’t as crisp as I’d like, the animation is minimal and goes slightly beyond a pardonable level of wobbliness, and the black-and-white treatment I gave it (I decided monochrome provided depth and made for more striking images) doesn’t possess the level of contrast I’d ideally have (I wasn’t sure what I was even doing initially and used brownish tones to match the rust-colored watercolor pencil I’d semi-randomly selected for the line-work). Still, I’m proud of the final result, and feel it expands upon my six images while adding further mood and immersion through motion and audio. It started as an exercise it storytelling and evolved into a kind of anti-narrative in which I tried to evoke as much as I could while giving away as little as possible.

Some suggestions I received included heightening the contrast to allow for blacker backgrounds, adding some more scenes to expand on the story, and/or further animating the pieces I already have assembled. I think these are all great ideas if I decide to revisit this project. I loved working on this and want to explore both animation (an area in which I’m sure it shows I have little experience in) and the use of music in my work—both with other pop songs and maybe someday my own work, though I don’t currently write music. I love Pulp! Best Britpop band . . . don’t tell Blur I said that. I love making art! I love stories and creating atmospheres and disappearing into the created worlds that mirror our own.

Part 1

Part 1

Communication Final Outcome Development

Confirm copying

Restore backup