Hyperreality

Hyperreality is a concept in post-modern philosophy; Jean Baudrillard is infamous for his investigations into this idiom.  According to him America for use of a better example, has constructed itself into a country of which is more real than ‘real’, people living there are infatuated with perfection and self wellbeing therefore they are rapped up in a false impression of what ‘real’ actually is.

I have been looking at media and its representations of this ‘real’ life. Audiences interact with this through different methods although the outcome is mostly the same, whether it be the internet, video games or the silver screen the viewer is unintentionally transformed into a physical character of the ‘story’ /  ‘scene’. 

“Within academia, this perspective has become known as ‘media effects’ and is associated with ‘hypodermic’ models of audience in which the meanings of media messages are transmitted to audiences in a relatively uncomplicated way offering little or no opportunity for interpretation or resistance. The media, therefore, are credited with an enormous power over society to influence behaviour and thought”. Teaching Videogames (page 48).

In some instances this can warp the mind of some people, stereotypically and ironically  americans are mostly involved in these media evoked massacres. Huge blame and outrage has been put onto the video game industry, with many heated parents holding it personally responsible for these 'happenings' it has been treated as if it where an instructional tool for devastation.

Personally i think with the video games out today its both the manufacturers and the participants liability, the games themselves are hyperreal to a point you can confuse the boundaries between imagination and reality. They allow there 'audience' to carry out behavior and actions that are completely alien, that they wouldn't have thought of in the first place. Games like this give the impression to people that are not all there in the head that its ok to go around and commit these vicious and unthinkable acts.

http://www.davidoreilly.com/

http://vimeo.com/5699275

David and an illustrator named Jon Klassen

Worked together to create the new

U2 video - I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight

http://www.jonklassen.blogspot.com/

http://www.burstofbeaden.com/

The Futureheads - DecentDays and Nights music video

Also downloaded from http://stardust.tv

I have found this futureheads music video

PGA Animation

Downloaded from http://stardust.tv



I found this Video/animation advertising IBM.
the thing that really stands out is obviously the facts,
figures and general information. I really like the way it's
composed and animated. the american sports fans are
obssessed with these figures so the animator has played
along with this, greatly and yet simply.

Pulp Fiction - Kinetic Type

Jarratt Moody



I found this video on youtube, its designed around the famous 'Ezekial' scene from pulp fiction. The creator is Jarratt Moody. http://www.jarrattmoody.com Ive been over his site and found quite a few good animations he has worked on for Stardust design company, most of the projects they have done are extremely high profile and very impressive.

In this piece I liked the personification and attitude he has given the type, not only the way it has a different font and colour based on each character but the movement and identity.
The large white font is dominating and very threatening just like 'jules' the character it is depicted on, where as the small, nervous, panicy light blue is a perfect addition expressing the 'Brett' character who is being verbally attacked.


When the argument gets phsycal and jules shoots brett the type explodes, a spatter effect is added to the type to assist in the violence. When you watch it you feel the imagery without seeing the visual aid of the real footage. The background colour is changed also to fit with the dramatically increased scene, A dark dangerous red has replaced the abusive brown and changed the whole feel to the piece.

Space Invader

whilst researching for a project a couple of years ago a came across a certain Frenchman, ‘Invader’ as he likes to be called is a street based artist from Paris. He is renowned internationally for publicly ‘displaying’ characters from and inspired by the Space Invaders game. Made from beautifully vibrant coloured square tiles these mini mosaics come in the thousands.

The mosaics depict characters not only from Space Invaders but other video games from the late 1970s also. At the time the images in these games had to be made with fairly low-resolution graphics, because of this they are extremely suitable for reproduction as mosaics. (The tiles representing the pixels) Being outdoor pieces they have to be durable and weather-resistant, the Tiles used as media are perfect for this.

He does this in cities all around the world and documents them as "Invasions", spreading the ‘invasion’ to 35 estimated cities in the world being: PARIS LONDON AIX EN PROVENCE ANVERS MONTPELLIER TOKYO AMSTERDAM GRENOBLE LOS ANGELES NEW YORK BERN AVIGNON LAUSANNE GENEVE PAU CLERMONT FERRAND LYON HONG KONG ROTTERDAM BERLIN BARCELONA AUSTRALIA ISTANBUL DHAKA MANCHESTER MARSEILLE BANGKOK BASTIA MOMBASA LJUBLJANA NEWCASTLE VIENNA COLOGNE COTE D'AZUR BILBAO KATMANDU VARANASI (BENARES) if you click on the name of city you will be directed to the index of his works in that designated city.

Starting in 1998 with his home city of Paris, it is the most ‘invaded’ city to date, totalling a massive 704 pieces. He really has been busy. Whats best is say you want to see some of these mosaics yourself around a city like.. Manchester or Newcastle for instance, well if you look on http://www.space-invaders.com/gmap.html you can download a free map! Alternately purchasing one of his awesome books which feature detailed images, information and the maps of every single piece’s location also.

With this art form you’ve got to think, where’s the money? But that’s just the beginning, he exhibits a lot of work also. His most recent exhibit being

Mr Scruff

Mr Scruff / Andrew Carthy is a DJ, illustrator, animator and self made Tea Connoisseur. Most famous for his djing he has been on the scene since 1994-5. Starting on a small Manchester based label; Robs Records with his first 12” 'Hocus Pocus'. Moving to a larger label 'Ninja Tune', he subsequently released his wider known albums 'Keep it Unreal' and 'Trouser Jazz'.

I found this Interview on the Independent Website:

The 5-minute Interview: Mr Scruff, DJ and producer
'I introduced tea tents at my DJ gigs because I'm obsessed by tea'
Thursday, 26 June 2008

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be...
On my way to the studio. I've been recording a new album for about three years – just slowly getting my arse in gear.

A phrase I use far too often...
"Morning" in a West Country accent – at any time of day.

I wish people would take more notice of...
The way British lifestyle and culture affects other people's lives. By-products of our comfort cause poverty overseas.

The most surprising thing to happen to me was...
Getting asked to make a record for the first time in 1994, after a mate sent a demo to a label. I was 22, working in Kwik-Save, spending my £30 a week on records and making mix tapes.

A common misperception of me is...
Everybody thinks I'm really scruffy – that was how I got the name – but in the past 15 years I've learnt to iron and got married.

I am not a politician but...
I can waffle for hours and never get to the point.

I'm good at...
Making records and making good tea. I introduced a tea tent at my gigs because I thought "If I'm that obsessed about it, then maybe other people are too". It's gone down really well. If you're at a club and not drinking alcohol, the alternatives are pretty disgusting. I've got my own tea company. It's one of those odd things that just happened. It's brilliant because now I get loads of free tea.

I'm very bad at...
Tidying up after making a brew. I'm 36 but I have the tidying-up sensibilities of a 14-year-old.

The ideal night out is...
Good company, good food in a relaxed environment then off to the pub for some good ale.

In weak moments I...
Get the kettle on. It's my reaction to everything.

You know me as a DJ but in truer life I'd have been...
In another human existence I would have definitely been a tea-taster.

The best age to be is...
Whatever age you are, make the most of it. Relish the moment.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is...
Believe in yourself and be nice to other people. Just keep it simple, really.

Interviewer: Ben Naylor.

The thing I like most about Mr Scruff is the animations he creates for his gigs, I found this out first hand by going to see him at the Warehouse Project in Manchester a couple of years ago. Upon entering his set I was approached by an extremely deep pumping bass line tickling my stomach, moving round to the stage I immediately looked up at the screens surrounding and witnessed these magnificent little cartoons that were accompanying his music. These drawings were extremely playful and clever, synchronised perfectly in time to the music. He uses these cartoons for singles and album cover art, music videos and merchandising also.
The thing I like most about Mr Scruff is the animations he creates for his gigs, I found this out first hand by going to see him at the Warehouse Project in Manchester a couple of years ago. Upon entering his set I was approached by an extremely deep pumping bass line tickling my stomach, moving round to the stage I immediately looked up at the screens surrounding and witnessed these magnificent little cartoons that were accompanying his music. These drawings were extremely playful and clever, synchronised perfectly in time to the music. He uses these cartoons for singles and album cover art, music videos and merchandising also.

"Art was the one academic subject I enjoyed whereas music was something I did from a DJ perspective - I never did music lessons. When I left school I did A Levels, a foundation course and a degree that were all art-based. I've been drawing longer than I've been making music but I've never quite taken it seriously."


Scruff's illustration technique may appear simple but, it's not as straightforward as it appears.
"People try and copy my style thinking it's just a five year old's drawing with some sloppy writing," says Andy, "I've seen some ridiculous copies on flyers for club nights. It looks really terrible, like someone wearing oven gloves trying to forge your signature. That's the serious aspect of it for me - trying to maintain my signature through my images. It's odd, I never get asked in-depth questions about my art - I suppose because I don't really consider myself an artist..."

"It's an instrumental tune which meant I could go anywhere with the video. We ended up working with Cosgrove/Hall who are the legends involved with cartoons like Dangermouse. They're a mile or two from where I live so it was very convenient as well as an opportunity to work with people at the highest level of animation. There were six or seven cartoon boffins working on my video which is basically about people running around after pies. My humour is quite British and eccentric - tea and pies are very British things which pretty much everyone likes so I can't really go wrong there. People bring pies to my gigs. Cosgrove/Hall were quite excited about it as they'd never done a music video before. It was a real dream to work on and a learning experience."



I like the mellow music teamed with the simple and elegant animation, the cool slightly muted colours fit perfectly to create a somber element relaxing the viewer. I enjoyed this video and would find it hard to find someone else who didn't, this is Mr Scruff all over.