Experimental Animation
One of the unfortunate side effects of moving away from LA is losing touch with the weird and twisted world of UCLA's animation department (and its super talented graduates). I'm currently unemployed and have spent the past two days vegging out to the experimental stylings of Jan Svankmajer, Adam Jones and Fred Stuhr (of Tool fame), and the Brothers Quay. All have built on a general theme of despair and Gothic style decrepitude in the rather demanding medium of stop motion animation.
I wonder what psychological trait the creators of these broken worlds share. Masochism, obviously, for choosing an incredibly difficult form of self expression. But what else? A habit of consuming vast quantities of mind-altering drugs? Dysfunctional childhood? Too much Nietzsche? Or in Svankmajer's case, too much Communism?
Whatever the cause, I aesthetically appreciate the result. Like Tim Burton, only less tongue-in-cheek and way less commercial. Despite being nominated for an MTV music video award, Tool's "Prison Sex" video was taken off the MTV playlist for its disturbing references to child abuse. Svankmajer was banned by communist authorities in 1972 from making films entirely. The Brothers Quay live in London, so they can do whatever they want. (Ah, the moral laxity of the UK art scene, where graffiti (Banksy) and heroine use (Oasis) are hallmarks of artistic spirit.)
And speaking of the British Isles, the Macbeth cast was amusingly appalled at our celebration of St. Patrick's Day. They went to the parade in Manhattan and returned with memory cards filled with photos of leprechauns and shamrocks. Then they all trooped off to tell their Irish friends.
I wonder what psychological trait the creators of these broken worlds share. Masochism, obviously, for choosing an incredibly difficult form of self expression. But what else? A habit of consuming vast quantities of mind-altering drugs? Dysfunctional childhood? Too much Nietzsche? Or in Svankmajer's case, too much Communism?
Whatever the cause, I aesthetically appreciate the result. Like Tim Burton, only less tongue-in-cheek and way less commercial. Despite being nominated for an MTV music video award, Tool's "Prison Sex" video was taken off the MTV playlist for its disturbing references to child abuse. Svankmajer was banned by communist authorities in 1972 from making films entirely. The Brothers Quay live in London, so they can do whatever they want. (Ah, the moral laxity of the UK art scene, where graffiti (Banksy) and heroine use (Oasis) are hallmarks of artistic spirit.)
And speaking of the British Isles, the Macbeth cast was amusingly appalled at our celebration of St. Patrick's Day. They went to the parade in Manhattan and returned with memory cards filled with photos of leprechauns and shamrocks. Then they all trooped off to tell their Irish friends.
posted by Amy at
9:19 PM
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