Your 'essay proposal' made me laugh - 'Freud's ideas + X = Y' Yes - this I'd pretty much figured out already :) When you've got a more clear idea of the specific purpose of your investigation, get an @Phil post on here.
In the meantime, I love the idea of the nuclear testing site stuff - it's got that weird, too-perfect Americana vibe that seems to so expertly set the imagination on edge; everything has that 'too new', 'too tidy' feeling. I think we can see where Bo Welch got his suburbs for Edward Scissorhands too. When we watch 'Blue Velvet' you'll see once again how that specific 50's America is used to unsettle, as opposed to reassure. So with this in mind, some other references for you that might prove enlightening:
Check out the paintings of Norman Rockwell too; also Levittown - postwar American suburb development: http://tigger.uic.edu/~pbhales/Levittown.html
There's something about the sunshine and blue sky in these perfect places that is unnerving too - and that's without spooky lighting or shadows - you could work, however, with long, long shadows, as the sun is setting - and suddenly you'll be getting a de Chirico vibe into the mix too. That image from Indiana Jones 4 is really evocative I think (shame about the movie, right? That sequel pretty much broke my heart - bloody ridiculous ending, bloody aliens, bloody stupid refrigerator!).
Thanks for the links Phil :D I was having a hard time finding a definitive direction but this should help. And yeah, the long shadows could also suggest a nuke going off on the distant horizon so that's a double whammy.
OGR 13/12/2011
ReplyDeleteHey Gabriel,
Your 'essay proposal' made me laugh - 'Freud's ideas + X = Y' Yes - this I'd pretty much figured out already :) When you've got a more clear idea of the specific purpose of your investigation, get an @Phil post on here.
In the meantime, I love the idea of the nuclear testing site stuff - it's got that weird, too-perfect Americana vibe that seems to so expertly set the imagination on edge; everything has that 'too new', 'too tidy' feeling. I think we can see where Bo Welch got his suburbs for Edward Scissorhands too. When we watch 'Blue Velvet' you'll see once again how that specific 50's America is used to unsettle, as opposed to reassure. So with this in mind, some other references for you that might prove enlightening:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA8z94MXo9M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dG76lkGC8w&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nop3tfseBqU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR1wo5s3Ua4&feature=related
In terms of 'Americana':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oko7qh7m0fc
Check out the paintings of Norman Rockwell too;
also Levittown - postwar American suburb development:
http://tigger.uic.edu/~pbhales/Levittown.html
There's something about the sunshine and blue sky in these perfect places that is unnerving too - and that's without spooky lighting or shadows - you could work, however, with long, long shadows, as the sun is setting - and suddenly you'll be getting a de Chirico vibe into the mix too. That image from Indiana Jones 4 is really evocative I think (shame about the movie, right? That sequel pretty much broke my heart - bloody ridiculous ending, bloody aliens, bloody stupid refrigerator!).
Thanks for the links Phil :D I was having a hard time finding a definitive direction but this should help.
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah, the long shadows could also suggest a nuke going off on the distant horizon so that's a double whammy.
Fridge vs Nuke= Fridge 1 Nuke 0