Formative vs Conceptual Abstraction
This week we were exploring the history of experimental and abstract animation, and within this the difference between Formative and Conceptual abstraction.
From my understanding, formative abstraction refers to the visual language and aesthetics, whereas conceptual abstraction refers to the narrative and storytelling methods. With both, it is important to consider why and how something might be abstract.
Activity
An activity for this lesson was to choose a short film we think is experimental, and consider how we might argue for it being either or both formatively and conceptually abstract.
I chose the short film ‘Scavengers’ (2016), later turned into the series ‘Scavenger’s Reign’ (2023). I would argue that while it feels different, the narrative isn’t actually abstract or experiential. While the environment of both the short film and series, planet ‘VESTA – 1’, can be considered a character in its own right by the narrative, this isn’t a new or rare concept to see. I would look at iconic films and series to draw examples of this, where the way the characters interact and are impacted by the environment present the environment as a character itself.
Instead of being Conceptually Abstract, I would argue that the film is a piece of Formative Abstraction that is so successful it transforms the audience reaction to the narrative and tricks the viewer into thinking the narrative is unique. With the short film, we are repeatedly shown brutal and visually uncomfortable behaviours from the humans towards the planet, all so they can experience a moment of the feeling of their home planet. The visuals are like that of a nature documentary, holding on to the details and causing discomfort and sorrow for the planet and its creatures as they suffer the brutality of its own existence and the further impact of its human invaders.
The genre of “Scavengers” would traditionally be science fiction, however as previously mentioned the visuals represent that of a documentary, following both the planet and how it copes and suffers and adapts to the humans. In “Scavenger’s Reign”, this is explored further and we see how, in turn, the human characters react to the planet. I feel the focus on the planet being at mercy to the humans in the short film is representative of how the series as a whole explores the environmental character first and the human characters second. I would argue that the short film isn’t science fiction at all, it is a visually experimental, explorative, documentary of what lengths humans will go to survive and cope with their surroundings, and how in turn the environment suffers from these lengths when the environment isn’t considered as its own being to be respected.
My Research Topic
An activity for this lesson was to choose a short film we think is experimental, and consider how we might argue for it being either or both formatively and conceptually abstract.
I chose the short film ‘Scavengers’ (2016), later turned into the series ‘Scavenger’s Reign’ (2023). I would argue that while it feels different, the narrative isn’t actually abstract or experiential. While the environment of both the short film and series, planet ‘VESTA – 1’, can be considered a character in its own right by the narrative, this isn’t a new or rare concept to see. I would look at iconic films and series to draw examples of this, where the way the characters interact and are impacted by the environment present the environment as a character itself.
Instead of being Conceptually Abstract, I would argue that the film is a piece of Formative Abstraction that is so successful it transforms the audience reaction to the narrative and tricks the viewer into thinking the narrative is unique. With the short film, we are repeatedly shown brutal and visually uncomfortable behaviours from the humans towards the planet, all so they can experience a moment of the feeling of their home planet. The visuals are like that of a nature documentary, holding on to the details and causing discomfort and sorrow for the planet and its creatures as they suffer the brutality of its own existence and the further impact of its human invaders.
The genre of “Scavengers” would traditionally be science fiction, however as previously mentioned the visuals represent that of a documentary, following both the planet and how it copes and suffers and adapts to the humans. In “Scavenger’s Reign”, this is explored further and we see how, in turn, the human characters react to the planet. I feel the focus on the planet being at mercy to the humans in the short film is representative of how the series as a whole explores the environmental character first and the human characters second. I would argue that the short film isn’t science fiction at all, it is a visually experimental, explorative, documentary of what lengths humans will go to survive and cope with their surroundings, and how in turn the environment suffers from these lengths when the environment isn’t considered as its own being to be respected.