hjuppidentity2019

[hjuppidentity2019]

identity final piece

[hjuppidentity2019]

500 word statement

My piece aims to show the effect the uncontrolled subconscious has on ones own identity, drawn from my uncle’s perspective of self and his own identity, deeply affected by his schizophrenia. Initially, due to my uncles descriptions of sound he hears in his head dictating his actions and his identity I wanted to explore the relationship with sound and visuals, using this a stimulus to make a piece of music and then make the visuals afterwards, having the music dictate the identity of them. I first recorded the music live with no pre set ideas, then in response with the visuals, I used old super 8 film that had already been processed so I could scratch, bleach and paint the rolls of film in order to create a distorted visual effect in response to the music. Stan Brakhage’s Dog Star Man and his use of the similar effect heavily inspired me through this process. My idea began to develop as I began to look into the “divided self”, and the relationship between the conscious and subconscious and how both affect each other altering ones own identity in ways we cannot understand.

Initially I wanted a split screen with the left side showing a man standing and walking in various locations, whilst on the right side; the visuals I made in response to the music I made. The left portrays the conscious state and outward identity of the person or the conscious state that surrounding people can and the left side portrays the inward subconscious identity that people cannot see. The left would super 8 visuals open the left somewhat reflected the framing and colours on the right. However I though this portrayed the conscious and subconscious states to simply, so I decided that shortly into the film as the music built in tension, the split screen would join and the images would overlay, creating a frantic visual experience, until towards the end where the music died down and they would separate. I decided to film the left side of the screen on a old Panasonic mini dv_ NV-DS27 due to the fact I could use the tracer effect for when I wanted the filming to become frantic and distorted. For the super 8 I hand spliced together several rolls of film I had previously tampered with, then played them through a projector, which I filmed on a black magic pocket camera in order to edit and overlay them in premiere pro.

If I had more time, I would have wanted to make an instillation in which I would have the visuals projected on a large wall and have live improvised music responding to the visuals with stills of the visuals hung on the walls like individual paintings. This would represent the subconscious identity.  I believe I did not manage my time well enough and if I had planned more in advance I would have been able to create a piece that would have portrayed my message clearer then I did. I also think is due to me taking longer to formulate my idea and over complicating it. Furthermore, I think I needed to do more online research then just writing in my notebook, I struggled to make notes online.

[hjuppidentity2019]

some ideas for the composition of the shots and how they reflect each other

[hjuppidentity2019]

some stills from the left side of the screen. I wasn't to happy with how they turned out, but was short for time. Initially i wanted my uncle but could not arrange it in time.

some of the shots show the tracer effect, i wanted most of the shots to be the back of the head, as the screen on the right will be the visuals reflecting the subconscious 

[hjuppidentity2019]

For the left side of the screen I've decided to use a Panasonic mini dv_ NV-DS27. Because of its shaky hand held aesthetic and i will also use the built in tracer effect for the more manic shots to distort the image and pixelate and tamper with close ups

[hjuppidentity2019]

The images are examples and portrayll’s of the brain and its subconscious and conscious points of activity. I like the idea that the split screen in my film reflects the conscious and subconscious states of the brain, reflective of the conscious identity and subconscious identity, each effecting one another. The subconscious identity impacts the conscious identity in dreams and was we can not control and the subconscious identity is effected and shaped by sound (like in my piece) or exterior influence like ones surroundings. the combination of the split screen clearly shows the confusion of identity this ca cause, but also the split screen shows how the two interact. The left side reflects the conscious state reacting with the imagery on the right, and the left reflects the subconscious state which also reacts with the film of the subject on the left resembling colours and pace of the film.

[hjuppidentity2019]

i have been reading extracts from this book in order to gain insight into Thomas De Quincey’s deeply interesting views on the subconscious and unconscious states and now it effects us without us without us knowing.

[hjuppidentity2019]

My idea is starting to develop further, however due to lack of time i will not be able to achieve the new developed ideas i have had, which are:

i would create an instillation where i would have the super 8 visuals digitally projected onto a wall with live music being played responding to visuals. Around the room i would have 8 of the stills from the visuals printed out and hung on walls like paintings. 

because i don't have enough time i will continue with my initial idea of the split screens combining as i think it still conveys a clear message, however this would be something that i would love to expose with this take on identity and the its relationship with sound.

[hjuppidentity2019]

Some stills from the super 8 i have distorted then projected. (not full quality). Can start to see how they look like abstract pantings, they are reflective of the music i made. Resemble the subconscious identity.

The abstract nature of them allows one to construct an identity for the image. 

[hjuppidentity2019]

Some stills from the super 8 i have distorted then projected. (not full quality). Can start to see how they look like abstract pantings, they are reflective of the music i made. Resemble the subconscious identity.

[hjuppidentity2019]

karel appel’s paintings.

Further inspiration for the right side of the screen. Karel Appel was part of a moment of lurch painters called the cobra movement. He was famous for painting g large paintings with an aggressive and unpredictable approach, he would not plan what he was going to paint he would just attack the canvas and what came out was a reflection and a somewhat abstraction of his subconscious state. 

I want to reflect this in the visuals on the right side of the screen that reflect the subconscious and its interaction with the left side of the screen; the counscious and the identity of the subject.  

[hjuppidentity2019]

Willem de Kooning’s Paintings. 

I have been drawing inspiration from these for the right side of the screen. the chaotic lines and colours create imagery that is subjective for the viewer, meaning anyone can choose to construct whatever image they see out of these paintings. Similar to the subconscious state in the human mind, something we can't make sense out of or try to undertand but sometimes influences our identity and our conscious state. I feel it also reflects the style of music and sound I'm have made. 

[hjuppidentity2019]

short story board for when i start shooting

[hjuppidentity2019]

An incredibly important piece of inspiration for my sound and visuals

[hjuppidentity2019]

I have been reading this as research drawing from the idea of the separated consciences and subconscious and how they can overlap. 

[hjuppidentity2019]

art from various artist at Bethlem, from the 1800s onwards.

i have been drawing inspiration from the chaotic colours, and patterns and faces formed in the confussion.

[hjuppidentity2019]

from archives at Bethlem