Just found an ancient 4pack CD at a jumble sale - it's called Summer of Love. Maybe I should listen to it back to back and it'll inspire me in some way. The music from the Sixties have always been encompassing the revolutions, the changes and the issues of the decade in their songs. So I thought, what better way to get an insight into the sixties than listening to it's music.
Voila!
30 November 2010
28 November 2010
HA!
Just realised there's a 10 day gap between my two most recent posts (not this one). Must've been a whole lotta thinking, look how my idea's changed (evolved, hopefully?)!
The next post will hopefully be a rough script and basic storyboard (if i can manage to scan them). Looking forward to this...
The next post will hopefully be a rough script and basic storyboard (if i can manage to scan them). Looking forward to this...
An alternative concept
After several meetings with my tutors and pestering friends and family about my idea and how I can make it better, I sat one day and realised that I didn't need to do all of that at all. I kind of got lucky because I'm making a film and as far as I know, films are personal business. As long as I have a good justification of why and how I'm going to make the film, it really doesn't matter what the audience thinks. But that doesnt mean I just make a film without any concept or research. That would be taking the audience for granted, something that a film maker or just any creative person should never do!!
And since it is a personal thing, I thought why not make it on a subject that's been in my head for I don't know how long. It is still sort of based on my initial idea of dreams and how it is a vehicle of the sub conscience- but this time - It's MY sub conscience. I have always had a recurring dream about having a past life (pre existing) in another era. And the era (from what I see...) is the 1960's.
Now the 1960's for some reason is always associated with hippies and drugs and various escapist theories. Although this was a major part of the 60's, I always wondered what it was that these people escaped from? What was so radically different in the 60's as compared to the previous decades that made it such a vibrant, almost decadent era to be in.
There are good things and there are bad - I here have a list of things that I believe may have changed the course of the world that we live in forever. And the poor hippies, they had no clue what was hitting them when they were in the throws of blissful ignorance!
The list (in no particular order) is as follows:
- The Art
- The Music
- The Movement
- The Change (Science and Technology, Medicine and politics)
In terms of art, the Sixties was a revolutionary period of 'double consciousness' - both cultural and counter-cultural. The Beat Generation which cropped up in the 1950's paved the way for a general reaction system in the sixties. Poets like Allen Ginsberg, William Burrough and Jack Kerouac are among the best known examples of Beat literates. Central elements of Beat culture included experimentation with drugs and alternative forms of sexuality, an interest in Easter religion, a rejection to materialism and the idealizing of exuberant,unexpurgated means of expression and being. In turn, these Beat poets developed a reputation as new Bohemian hedonists, who celebrated non-conformity and spontaneous creativity.
Beat Poets
The music in the Sixties was mostly the voice of many scattered individuals who'd been through a tumultuous 50's or jut woken up one day to find themselves bang in the centre of a changing world. Artists like Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane and Grateful Dead arose from the sunny state of California or from far off England in order to raise a common concern - that the world as of that decade, was changing for the better. And although this wasn't easy, they were not going to give up. Movements like the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement etc caused massive unrest and prejudices amongst people. These musicians therefore had a common purpose to unify these massive and drive them towards peacy and harmony.
The Doors
As aforementioned, the Sixties was a period of turbulent times - what with The Vietnam War and Civil Rights Movement among others. The 60's was a sort of decade long time warp caught between the drag that was the 50's with it's violent wars and racism and the euphoric, idealistic beginnings of the late 60's Summer of Love. With the rise of more than 20 state level universities came about an influx of many revolutionary and hard headed youth - ones who were strongly against war and demanded only peace. It was a year of cultural recognition and affluence (with the birth of TV and radio) and also, a uncontrollable flow of information. The youth became more and more involved in putting an end to the existing conflict and had relevant music to back them up. Thus started a series of the biggest and often violent revolutions that America had ever seen.
And finally - the changes. There were many changes and shifts in ideas during the Sixties, which may or may not be defined as counter-culture. On the one hand, where most of America and the world were experiencing civil wars, destruction and mass violence; there was a section of people busy neck-deep in research. Where on one side, the birth control pill was invented, on the other side muscle cars came into shape. Where one branch of the country developed their space missions and sent men on the moon, there was another branch carrying out successfully, the first heart transplant ever. The Underground Press came into being during this very period, after being suppressed for the longest time under threats by commies and anti-revolutionaries. Noted politicians such as John F Kennedy came into power and although they didn't stay much long, made a positive impact on the people of the state. Activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. made tremendous efforts in making America a color blind society.
In all fairness it is right to say that America and slowly the world was moving into becoming a brave, modern society. What I have seen in several recurring dreams or just apparitions if I may, is that 1960-70 wasn't just a decade. It was a Petri dish for post-modern civilisation. For a civilisation that broke barriers of race, sex and gender. An era that gave the F to fear and made man a noble citizen with a cause. To me it's not just the hippies or the free sex and drugs that drove the decade. They existed as an escapist fantasy for most of their time there but what is it that they were escaping from?
My project will hopefully answer this question.
References:
Bizot, J. Free Press: Underground & Alternative Publications, 1965 - 1975
Krugman, P., The Conscience of a Liberal (2007)
Charters (1992) The Portable Beat Reader
Caen, H. (1997-02-06). "Pocketful of Notes. San Francisco Chronicle
And since it is a personal thing, I thought why not make it on a subject that's been in my head for I don't know how long. It is still sort of based on my initial idea of dreams and how it is a vehicle of the sub conscience- but this time - It's MY sub conscience. I have always had a recurring dream about having a past life (pre existing) in another era. And the era (from what I see...) is the 1960's.
There are good things and there are bad - I here have a list of things that I believe may have changed the course of the world that we live in forever. And the poor hippies, they had no clue what was hitting them when they were in the throws of blissful ignorance!
The list (in no particular order) is as follows:
- The Art
- The Music
- The Movement
- The Change (Science and Technology, Medicine and politics)
In terms of art, the Sixties was a revolutionary period of 'double consciousness' - both cultural and counter-cultural. The Beat Generation which cropped up in the 1950's paved the way for a general reaction system in the sixties. Poets like Allen Ginsberg, William Burrough and Jack Kerouac are among the best known examples of Beat literates. Central elements of Beat culture included experimentation with drugs and alternative forms of sexuality, an interest in Easter religion, a rejection to materialism and the idealizing of exuberant,unexpurgated means of expression and being. In turn, these Beat poets developed a reputation as new Bohemian hedonists, who celebrated non-conformity and spontaneous creativity.
The music in the Sixties was mostly the voice of many scattered individuals who'd been through a tumultuous 50's or jut woken up one day to find themselves bang in the centre of a changing world. Artists like Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane and Grateful Dead arose from the sunny state of California or from far off England in order to raise a common concern - that the world as of that decade, was changing for the better. And although this wasn't easy, they were not going to give up. Movements like the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement etc caused massive unrest and prejudices amongst people. These musicians therefore had a common purpose to unify these massive and drive them towards peacy and harmony.
In all fairness it is right to say that America and slowly the world was moving into becoming a brave, modern society. What I have seen in several recurring dreams or just apparitions if I may, is that 1960-70 wasn't just a decade. It was a Petri dish for post-modern civilisation. For a civilisation that broke barriers of race, sex and gender. An era that gave the F to fear and made man a noble citizen with a cause. To me it's not just the hippies or the free sex and drugs that drove the decade. They existed as an escapist fantasy for most of their time there but what is it that they were escaping from?
My project will hopefully answer this question.
References:
Bizot, J. Free Press: Underground & Alternative Publications, 1965 - 1975
Krugman, P., The Conscience of a Liberal (2007)
Charters (1992) The Portable Beat Reader
Caen, H. (1997-02-06). "Pocketful of Notes. San Francisco Chronicle
18 November 2010
Velo Theatre!
A new life via table top puppetry. A cancerous addiction, this website :)
http://www.velotheatre.com/
Great visual journey through the website, almost inspiring. Still haven't been able to completely view the website for it's better deals but a pleasant experience so far!
Another great inspiration and possibly key reference point (from New York)-
http://www.basiltwist.com/productions/index.html
Sigh.
Puppetry on board!
Currently working on integrating puppetry into my project to add a dimension of life (or an absurd version of it) into the sequence of dreams.
Books I am reading:
The Puppetry Handbook, Anita Sinclair
The Complete Book of Puppet Theatre, David Currell
Also, working with materials and possible options of collage elements. Reading:
Material World 2, Materio
Working in Collage, John Portchmouth
Books I am reading:
The Puppetry Handbook, Anita Sinclair
The Complete Book of Puppet Theatre, David Currell
Also, working with materials and possible options of collage elements. Reading:
Material World 2, Materio
Working in Collage, John Portchmouth
Research Questionnaire - Rough model
General:
How many dreams do you estimate you recall per week? ___________________
How much interest do you generally take in dreams? very little___ reasonable____ much___
Reactions:
If you have, how old were you when you had the most vivid or impactful of such dreams?
What were your physical and/or emotional reactions upon waking from this dream?
How long did your feelings upon awakening last?
Did you write this dream down?______ If so, how long after you had it? ______
Did you do anything differently that day because of the dream? ____If so, please describe what you did
Did you ever have this or a very similar dream again?___ If so, how many times, and at what intervals did the dream recur? __________________________________________________
Did this dream have any long-term significance in terms of your beliefs, feelings, or life plans, or in any other way? ____ If so, please elaborate:
Physical memory:
Do you remember certain objects/colours/people that stand out constantly in your dreams?
Are you partly conscious during the course of your dream? If yes … elaborate on your state of mind?
If there was ONE word to describe the sensation of your dream, what would it be?
What do you remember most from your dreams? Rate on a scale from 1 to 6 (1 being least memorable)
Faces
Colours
Objects
Places
Sound
Dialogue/Words
Cognitive:
Did you ever have a dream in which you felt you had special powers or miraculous abilities?_____
Did you ever have a dream in which you experienced feelings of great sadness? ______
Did you ever have a dream in which you experienced feelings of great anger? ______
Did you ever have a dream in which you experienced great fear or apprehension? _______
Did you ever have a dream in which you experienced feelings of great confusion? _______
Did you ever experience a dream that caused you to feel great guilt on awakening? ______
Did you ever experience a dream that caused you to feel great shock on awakening? _____
Did you ever experience a dream that you feel was a mystical or religious experience? _____
Have you ever had a dream that led to the solution of a problem for you? _______
Have you ever had a dream that led to an artistic creation by you? ______
Did you ever experience a dream that you feel was in some way metaphoric, and struck you as such at the time?_____
Have you ever had any other kind of dream that was emotionally or intellectually important for you, but is not covered by our questions? _____ If so, please describe the dream and its impact:
REFERENCES
Bulkeley, K. (1999). Visions of the night: Dreams, religion, and psychology. Albany, NY, US: State University of New York Press.
Busink, R., & Kuiken, D. (1996). Identifying types of impactful dreams: A replication. Dreaming, 6, 97-119.
Knudson, R. (2001). Significant dreams: Bizarre or beautiful. Dreaming, 11, 167-177.
Knudson, R. (2003). The significant dream as emblem of uniqueness: The fertilizer does not explain the flower. Dreaming, 13, 121-134.
Knudson, R. M., & Minier, S. (1999). The on-going significance of significant dreams: The case of the bodiless head. Dreaming, 9, 235-245.
Kuiken, D., & Sikora, S. (1993). The impact of dreams on waking thoughts and feelings. In A. Moffitt & M. Kramer & R. Hoffmann (Eds.), The functions of dreaming. (pp. 419-476). Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.4 November 2010
What dreams are made of.
Dreaming is so basic to human existence, it's astonishing we don't understand it better. It consumes years of our lives, and no other single activity exerts such a powerful pull on our imaginations. Yet central as dreaming is, we still have no idea why we dream. Freud saw dreams as convoluted pathways toward fulfilling forbidden aggressive and sexual wishes; frightening dreams were wishes in disguise—wishes so scary, he believed, they had to transmute themselves into fear and masquerade as nightmares.
Later came the idea that dreams are the cognitive echoes of our efforts to work out conflicting emotions. More recently, dreams have been viewed as mere "epiphenomena"—excrescences of the brain with no function at all, the mind's attempt to make sense of random neural firing while the body restores itself during sleep. As Harvard sleep researcher Allan Hobson puts it, dreams are "the noise the brain makes while it's doing its homework."
Dreams-which Sigmund Freud called "the royal road to the unconscious"-have provided psychologists and psychotherapists with abundant information about the structure, dynamics, and development of the human personality. Several theories attempt to explain why we dream. The oldest and most well-known is Freud's psychoanalytic theory, elucidated in The Interpretation of Dreams (1900), in which he suggested that dreams are disguised symbols of repressed desires and therefore offer us direct insight into the unconscious. According to Freud, the manifest content of dreams, such as daily events and memories, serve to disguise their latent content or unconscious wishes through a process he called dream-work, consisting of four operations. Condensation refers to the condensing of separate thoughts into a single image in order to fit the latent content into the brief framework of a dream. Displacement serves to disguise the latent content by creating confusion between important and insignificant elements of the dream. Symbolization serves as a further effort to evade the "censor" of repressed desires by symbolizing certain objects with other objects, as in the case of phallic symbols.
Not all dreams reflect daily life. Reports indicate dreams have foretold events upcoming in the dreamer's life, including death. One study reports that 70 percent of women successfully predicted the sex of their unborn child based upon dreams.
To summarise the entire article, it can be said that dreams are windows to the sub conscience, a mere vehicle of carrying across thoughts and interpretations that a person cannot or choses not to, when awake.
References:
Dixit, J., 2007. "The Dream Robbers", Psychology Today [online] Available: http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200710/dreams-night-school [Accessed 4th November, 2010]
Later came the idea that dreams are the cognitive echoes of our efforts to work out conflicting emotions. More recently, dreams have been viewed as mere "epiphenomena"—excrescences of the brain with no function at all, the mind's attempt to make sense of random neural firing while the body restores itself during sleep. As Harvard sleep researcher Allan Hobson puts it, dreams are "the noise the brain makes while it's doing its homework."
Dreams-which Sigmund Freud called "the royal road to the unconscious"-have provided psychologists and psychotherapists with abundant information about the structure, dynamics, and development of the human personality. Several theories attempt to explain why we dream. The oldest and most well-known is Freud's psychoanalytic theory, elucidated in The Interpretation of Dreams (1900), in which he suggested that dreams are disguised symbols of repressed desires and therefore offer us direct insight into the unconscious. According to Freud, the manifest content of dreams, such as daily events and memories, serve to disguise their latent content or unconscious wishes through a process he called dream-work, consisting of four operations. Condensation refers to the condensing of separate thoughts into a single image in order to fit the latent content into the brief framework of a dream. Displacement serves to disguise the latent content by creating confusion between important and insignificant elements of the dream. Symbolization serves as a further effort to evade the "censor" of repressed desires by symbolizing certain objects with other objects, as in the case of phallic symbols.
Not all dreams reflect daily life. Reports indicate dreams have foretold events upcoming in the dreamer's life, including death. One study reports that 70 percent of women successfully predicted the sex of their unborn child based upon dreams.
To summarise the entire article, it can be said that dreams are windows to the sub conscience, a mere vehicle of carrying across thoughts and interpretations that a person cannot or choses not to, when awake.
References:
Dixit, J., 2007. "The Dream Robbers", Psychology Today [online] Available: http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200710/dreams-night-school [Accessed 4th November, 2010]
3 November 2010
Light Fantastic!
To narrow down the concept of my project, I have decided to work on Dreams as a window to the sub conscience. Using a variety of research practices and surveys, I want to delve deeper into the way people dream and what they see and incorporate my own dreams into it - to create a visual treat for the audience. Through this film, the audience would be able to see and hopefully relate and react to my images as if they were their own. If not, at least feel some kind of connection to what dreams are made of and how our sub conscience works in mysterious ways. Styles of projection, lighting and music will play major roles in my project, apart from the actual set that I will be creating to film in.
Still not so clear on a shooting script as the contents of my film are still somewhat blurry but researching deeply into different cultures and the talk by ex student Donna Rumble-Smith (on embroidered handwriting etc.) has inspired me immensely. Although hers is a completely different medium of expression, she has touched the core of personal reflections through her work and I wish to do the same.
Some of my inspirations from her work are the use of glow paint and thread to depict mystery and an element of playfulness. Also, Susie MacMurray's dream like installations are going to be a good starting point for me. Check it out - http://www.susie-macmurray.co.uk/project_type.php?id=15
Book I am currently reading:
Light Fantastic,The Art and Design of Stage Lighting; Max Keller
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