In week 3, we learned about the importance of experimental animation and how the early pioneers and their groundbreaking works laid the groundwork for today’s practical and theoretical studies in animation.
As soon as artists could manipulate multiple images, it changed how they expressed their ideas through movement, often challenging traditional art styles.
In the early 1900s, the avant-garde movement explored the artistic potential that focused on line, form, movement, rhythm, colour, and light.
Abstraction:
The term “abstract” refers to concepts that are not tied to concrete objects, allowing for a focus on ideas that can be appreciated intellectually. It emphasises internal structure and form rather than aiming to represent specific objects.
Additionally, abstract ideas can convey emotions or qualities without referring to tangible items. In a broader sense, abstraction involves developing thoughts from concrete realities into general principles or intellectual ideas, encouraging a more conceptual understanding of art and expression.
We learned about two types of abstractions: formative and conceptual. Formative abstraction emphasises visual elements like shapes and colours while conceptual abstraction centres on ideas and themes behind the work.
Formative Abstraction:
Formative abstraction focuses on manipulating visual fundamentals like colour, form, space, light, texture, and dynamics such as movement and rhythm. This approach emphasises these elements as central themes in artwork.
I learned that the artist’s role is investigative, often without a predetermined outcome, mainly in applying a theory or initial objective. This encourages creativity and deeper exploration of concepts.
Additionally, there’s a crucial link between conceptual application and technological advancements in film and animation, raising complex questions about how technology influences art and encourages critical thinking.
We understood that looking at experimental work is essential because it showcases the limitless potential of developing visual and film language, driven by technological advancements. This innovation inspires independent and groundbreaking projects. Personal vision in independent film and animation is crucial for the medium’s development, highlighting the importance of individual creativity in shaping new artistic expressions.
Additionally, we learned that experimental film encompasses a wide range of concepts, models, and approaches, making it hard to categorise. To better understand this complexity, we focused on several key areas:
- Recognising Qualities: We saw how to identify qualities, aesthetics, abstract themes, and concepts in experimental works.
- Analysing Influences: We examined how new technologies, society, and culture shape individual works and movements.
- Determining Artist Motivations: We considered the motivations and priorities of the artists behind the films.
- Establishing Significance: We assessed the historical and contemporary significance of these works.
When analysing and implementing formal experimental animation, several key elements must be considered.
Categorisation is essential for understanding the genre and sub-genre of the work. I explored the background, setting, mood, tone, theme, and topic, assessing how the animation comments on these aspects and whether it fits within established categories or offers a unique perspective.
Form and Function highlighted the importance of interpreting the meaning in relation to the format and presentational mode. I considered the artist’s objectives and limitations, which significantly influence the overall message of the work.
Process focused on the techniques, materials, and technologies used in the animation. I learned to examine how the relationship between the message and the medium can lead to the process, technique, or tools becoming integral to the message itself.
Lastly, we looked into the Formal Elements, including space, composition, light and colour, movement, rhythm, timing, pacing, transitions, and audio relationships.
Conceptual Abstraction:
Conceptual abstraction involves mixing and rethinking different storytelling techniques and traditional methods of communication. This approach challenges the usual way of making films, encouraging us to question how we perceive them. It also uses symbols and metaphors to add deeper meanings.
We learned that the way formal elements are organised or placed together can create strong sensory and emotional responses. In mainstream cinema, these elements might be hidden, but in abstract work, they are often shown openly.
I also learned that experimentation in these areas has historically taken place outside of mass media and the commercial industry. Movements like the Futurists, Surrealists, Dadaists, and Cubists have left their mark on formal language and conceptual approaches to film, influencing mainstream cinema.
Additionally, personal vision through independent film and animation remains central to the development of the medium, emphasising the importance of individual creativity and innovation. I understood that personal and independent visions in animation often use different processes and ideas without needing to follow the traditional rules or commercial standards of mainstream animation. This means that independent productions can be harder to define by genre since they have a unique approach. As a result, we need to use different methods to evaluate and appreciate these works.
Non-Dialogued Film:
I learned that non-dialogue films, which include everything from silent movies in Hollywood to Surrealist and children’s films, must tell their stories without using any spoken words. This presents a challenge for filmmakers because they need to find other ways to share their messages. They rely on gestures, acting, visual storytelling, special effects, and different sounds to express ideas and emotions. This approach allows them to communicate effectively without relying on dialogue.
Paul Wells’ book Understanding Animation (1998) shows that there are several techniques that allow animation to move away from traditional storytelling methods. These techniques include:
- Metamorphosis: Transforming characters or settings.
- Condensation: Simplifying complex ideas into shorter forms.
- Sound: Using audio elements to enhance the narrative.
- Symbolism and Metaphor: Using symbols to represent deeper meanings.
- Synecdoche: Using a part to represent the whole.
- Fabrication: Creating imaginative elements that don’t exist in reality.
- Associative Relations: Connecting different ideas or images to evoke emotions.
- Acting and Performance: Conveying emotions through character actions and expressions.
- Choreography: Designing movements that tell a story.
- Penetration: Exploring deeper themes or ideas within the narrative.
In conclusion, Week 3 highlighted the diverse techniques that make animation a powerful storytelling medium. This week reinforced the idea that animation can transcend traditional narrative forms, offering unique opportunities for artistic expression and engagement with audiences.