This week, I started with my research topic: The Aestheticization of Violence in 3D animation. In this topic, I will examine how violence, when made to look stylised or visually appealing, has an impact on storytelling, does it promote character development, and change moral perceptions. This topic is particularly intriguing because it helps me dive into how animators shape the narratives and influence the audiences perspective of good versus evil.
Research Question: How does the aestheticization of violence in 3D animated films create moral ambiguity, what are the implications for narrative resolution and character development?
This question will be the foundation of my work, guiding my analysis of how stylised violence challenges traditional storytelling norms and changes audience expectations.
Why This Topic?
- Personal Interest: I’ve always been fascinated by how animation can evoke emotions, and violence is often a tool used to convey drama, conflict, and depth.
- Blurred Morality: Stylised violence blurs the lines between heroes and villains. It can make a villain seem more relatable or charismatic, challenging viewers’ moral judgment.
- Complex Narratives: This subject highlights how violence impacts character arcs, especially when heroes face internal conflicts or consequences of their actions, and villains are humanised through their motives or backstories.
- Ethical Responsibility: Animators have significant influence over how violence is perceived. Their creative choices can shape societal attitudes toward violence, making this a critical area of study.
By exploring this topic, I aim to address the ethical responsibilities of animators and how their artistic choices impact the way stories are told and received:
- Stylised Violence and Moral Ambiguity:
- I’ll examine how visual choices like colour, framing, and exaggerated movements make violence appear less graphic yet more impactful.
- This will help me understand how these choices create moral ambiguity, making audiences sympathise with villains or question a hero’s actions.
- Character Development in 3D Animation:
- I’ll analyse how the portrayal of violence affects character arcs.
- Heroes often face internal struggles about their use of violence, while villains may be portrayed as victims of circumstance, adding layers to their personalities.
- Narrative Impact:
- I’ll look at how violence drives the story forward and shapes the resolution.
- For example, when stylised violence humanises a villain, it can lead to more complex, morally grey endings.
- Ethical Considerations:
- I’ll explore how animators balance creative freedom with their responsibility to audiences, particularly younger viewers.
- This includes questioning whether aestheticising violence normalises it or sparks meaningful reflections on its consequences.
Keywords for My Research: To dig deeper into this topic, I’ve identified keywords and phrases that will guide my research:
- Keywords:
Aestheticization, violence, 3D animation, moral ambiguity, narrative structure, character development, villains, stylised violence, moral judgment, emotional disconnection. - Keyword Phrases:
- Aestheticization of violence in animation
- Moral implications of animated violence
- Character development in 3D animated films
- Violence and narrative resolution
- Ethical responsibility of animators
- Psychological effects of animated violence on audiences
Moving forward, I will start drafting my research report according to the format provided, organising my thoughts into sections that explore visual techniques, narrative consequences, and the ethical role of animators and diving them into chapters.