Friday 30th September, 2016
Overview/Introduction to Spencer's Lectures
The beginning of this lecture was used to introduce all of the topic heads that are going to be discussed spanning the whole year. Spencer touched on pieces of information for each of the subjects as to help us get a wrap around what we could go and read in preparation for such lectures we were yet to have.
The list started with Histories of Animation and Histories of Graphic Design, and spanned through many different topics before finishing with topics such as; Animation and Gender. He'd also mentioned that there is a possibility that not all of these subjects will be discussed as they may over-run the year. Each one does look just as interesting if not more so than that of its preceding one.
After we had been shown what we had to expect, we were shown the rest of the lecture. This was basically the first lecture meaning; Histories of Animation. The section started with a clip from Tim Hope's 'Wolfman'. This small animation was filled with psychedelic narrative from about halfway through and on-wards. This particular clip had used various methods of animation from different parts of history to construct the final piece and was used as a playstation advertisement. The narrative of the clip follow's a male character, someone who is residing inside of an observatory and lusts after becoming a werewolf. This lust starts with his comments about the look of the moon, how beautiful it looks and some other comments, then after this the fast paced segment begins.
The scene follows through with him becoming a 'Wolfman' as per the name of the clip and see's him going through the forest after a child, then follows him going through space dashing by planets and through asteroids. Importance of this style of animation at this time (1999) was that it was very much out of the norm. Realism in animation at the time was following along with technology, where as this short did very much the opposite. Simple cartoon drawings in a 3D studio are what constructed the basis of this animation.
Following on from this point that was discussed, going against realism or as we were told 'Anti-Realist'. Roberts talked of designers like Emile Cohl's 'Fantasmogorie' (1908) which is largely considered as the first ever animation. Cohl, a member of the Avant-Garde movement, had created a very confusing animation to the majority, and follows the narrative of a clown in various positions and each frame having different meaning - making it extremely hard to follow.
Cohl was to be considered alongside Stuart Blackton, who created 'Numerous phases of funny faces' (1906). This animation was very similar in its art style, both animations first drew their animated characters before the short began. However in contrast to the last animation, Blackton's was very centered and had stable characterisations throughout.
Following on from this point that was discussed, going against realism or as we were told 'Anti-Realist'. Roberts talked of designers like Emile Cohl's 'Fantasmogorie' (1908) which is largely considered as the first ever animation. Cohl, a member of the Avant-Garde movement, had created a very confusing animation to the majority, and follows the narrative of a clown in various positions and each frame having different meaning - making it extremely hard to follow.
Cohl was to be considered alongside Stuart Blackton, who created 'Numerous phases of funny faces' (1906). This animation was very similar in its art style, both animations first drew their animated characters before the short began. However in contrast to the last animation, Blackton's was very centered and had stable characterisations throughout.
Much of early animation was not created with the intention of being watched, as it was very experimental and new to the design community. Other interesting names were brought up through the lecture; Tony Fry, John Whitney, and Bruce Bickford (particularly for the 'Prometheus Garden' psychedelic piece).
