Description:
This allegory presents the idea of the importance of choice during the coronavirus and how every action, small or big, has the power to change our future. The allegory focuses on an individual who decides to take a journey out of her house. Every choice made results in the emergence of a parallel reality; a dark dystopian reality and an alternative positive reality. This allegory aims to show how right now during the coronavirus even one person making the wrong choice has an impact, therefore we all need to work together in order to see a better future.
Script:
Frustration has built up in the minds of the people, as our movement has become limited.
Four months into this pandemic, our only desire is to leave our homes.
But should we?
There are so many steps and precautions that have to be taken in order to ensure our safety and that of others.
And although most follow these steps, many choose against it.
Should I wear a mask or should I not?
Do these masks really help?
Questions we all asked ourselves at the beginning of this pandemic.
The decision is ours to make.
But so are the consequences ours to bear.
To think about myself, or to think about others.
That is the guiding force behind our choices in these unforeseen times.
What would a selfish world look like versus a selfless world post-pandemic.
What do I want the world to look like?
As individuals we hold more power than we think.
The power of change, a power that starts with you.
The choices we make now, drastically affect our futures and that of the people around us.
Every choice opening up another possible future reality.
However, at some point we realise.
We second guess ourselves.
Am I doing the right thing?
Going back in time, we question what we could’ve done differently.
What if this? What if that?
And then we come to a standstill, upon realising the gravity of even the smallest of choices.
Normality is something we all have to sacrifice for now.
Otherwise we will never be able to return to it.
This is time where we all have to stop and think.
What choice should I make?
Text Messages:
(All Screens)
Received:
Hey are you free?
We are thinking of going to the beach?
There’s like five of us…
Can you come?
(Top Right)
Sent:
Yes
(Top Left)
Sent:
No
(Bottom Right)
Sent:
Yes
(Bottom Left)
Sent:
No
(All Screen)
Sent:
Actually I can’t
We really shouldn’t be going out it’s not safe.
References:
1.Rick and Morty Split Screen Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrNI5bIIN5U
2. Timecode (2000)
3. Groundhog Day (1993)
4. 500 Days of Summer (2009)
Erika Anna Fernandes
3035718395
As an allegorical piece that questions how individual actions impact the future, this is a good beginning point to explore these ideas. Appreciate the experimentation with camera and editing techniques. However, it is not clear what you intend to achieve with the split screen, aside from being a visual metaphor of parallel reality (briefly mentioned in your writing). What is the difference between the two / four split screens aside from the noticeable slight difference in contrast and color tonality? Also, could you explain also the importance of speed editing (slowing down, reversing, speeding up) in the context of your video work tries to achieve?
In terms of content and theme, your video has the potential to develop into a stronger narrative with the same thesis – that examines choice and consequences of the self in a larger context with the internal/external space, the city, and the world at large. It would be helpful in developing your thesis, that you read into other fields of study, that examine perhaps the psychology of choice! We encourage students to form cross-disciplinary knowledge and relate it back to our collective study of architecture throughout this semester. At the moment, it is difficult to understand the correlation between your references and how they have influenced or informed the thematic conceptualization of your video work. The problem is that the references have no relationship nor contextualization value to the locale. Some resourceful places to begin this search include reliable news sources (e.g. The New York Times, Financial Times, The Atlantic, Caravan Magazine), online articles (e.g. DOMUS, ArtReview), published journals, etc. – there is so much to be explored that could really benefit your current list of references!