Looking into styles relevant to 18th Century Arctic when Frankenstein is based

 

As part of my research for this project I am looking for visual references related to when the novel 'Frankenstein' is based. In particular I am looking at areas from the novel that are poignant in potentially implying climate change. As a result these images show an arctic landscape which could be interesting to explore within my animation with the ice melting. 

The drowned world

Found this illustration on google arts and culture and I really like the use of colour and bold shapes. It’s a really well and cleverly explored illustration and I might use this book illustration as inspiration for my book cover of the novel ‘The Uninhabitable Earth’. I feel like this kind of illustration would resonate with the style required for Penguin Book covers as its bold and clever and I feel like the colours would resonate with a reader from across the room. However, for the book although the subject matter is relevant I feel as though the colour scheme might not be quite as relevant as the book is non- fiction. Due to this the book features heavy subject matter which would not match with such a light hearted book cover. On the other hand I feel as though this could potentially work in my animation which can afford to be more light hearted.

It also makes me contemplate whether I could do my own kind of version of this. Mine will be more heavily involved with the Arctic so it could be “The Frozen World”. 

Mine could also feature the multiple aspects of global warming that are discussed in the book 'The Uninhabitable Earth'. Such as, flooding, fires, freezing and famine.

 https://vimeo.com/21132701

This is a short giff also inspired by the novel 'The Drowned World' which is really good inspiration for my animation. Its interesting to see the multiple different ways that I can explore the impact of global warming and how the climate will be changed as a result of our actions.

Additionally, I think one good way to explore my animation initially will be to create it in a sequence of gifs and then put them together. Especially if I am limited to procreate because of the pandemic restricting our access to workshops.

Ideas/ notes

Within Frankenstein a key part is the nature vs science

This contrast should feature heavily in my animation

Potentially everywhere the monster goes and everything he touches could die as symbolism for man made science destroying natural life

The monster should either represent man or the result of mans pursuit of science, either way the monster will be seen in a negative light through no fault of his own. As a result he should probably be quite a negative force within the animation to things surrounding him.

I plan to explore the combination of the Novel's 'The Uninhabitable Earth' and 'Frankenstein' therefore I wonder how much I should feature the monster himself within the animation. I would like to explore climate change and its consequences essentially through the metaphor of the monster.

How heavily should I feature the monster next to the novel?

- I am tempted to explore the monster but limited next to the novel and to have him only portrayed in quick flashes and through the actions of his hands 

Wanderer above the Sea of Fog

Wanderer above the Sea of Fog

An oil painting c. 1818 by the German Romantic artist Caspar David Friedrich.

For some reason I cant quite get this image out of my head. I almost imagine my own animation ending with Frankenstein or his monster looking out across the melted arctic in the same way that the individual in this painting looks across the landscape. Potentially I could have the animals that are now out of their element as a consequence of global warming roaming the landscape in despair.

Spoof?

Steve Cutt's

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaFRheiGED0

The turning point 

Steve Cutt's

The Turning point 

Places humans in the position of animals, in the situations that are a direct consequence of humanity. This is an attempt to shock but also to make people empathise with the situation that animals are forced to live in as a consequence of our actions.

Man

This animation highlights the consumerism culture by having the main character slowly consume every animal he comes across. It highlights the unnecessary need to eat and kill every animal we come across in quite a satirical and disturbing way with quite caricature undertones. The main character comes across as extremely pompous and entitled and represents ‘man’ therefore this could be Cutt’s way of making us realise that are culture is entitles and frankly ridiculous

Lynd Wards Frankenstein

 

Lynd Ward is quite poignant to look at because her adaptation of Frankenstein is so unique. Lynd Wards adaptation is very different from its on screen counter parts following an approach that aligns itself with the book. Unlike film adaptations, illustrations can stay true to the text because they sit along side it. Wards illustrations a very thought provoking as they provide a totally separate insight into the creatures appearance. Its particularly poignant that Ward illustrates the creature ‘covering or shielding his face from the viewer and other characters’, however when perceiving his own appearance in private it is not what is expected in that he’s not a monster at all. This comments on underlying themes within the novel for although the creature is treated like a monster because of his appearance he is hardly one within his soul. Additionally, unlike its movie counterparts being inspired by the 1931 Frankenstein film for there depiction of Frankenstein, these illustrations bare no similarity to Boris Karloff’s monster. Instead this is a unique portrayal of the creature which I plan to attempt to do.

Bernie Wrightson's Frankenstein

 

 

I have chosen to look at Bernie Wrightson’s illustrations essentially because he illustrates Frankenstein which is what I plan to do but also because he has portrayed the story in a considered and detailed way 

 I personally really enjoy the style and it has been a source of inspiration to me since my foundation year at art college aswell as being similar to my own drawing style of pen and ink

Usually my initial drawings are done with pen directly on to paper and as a result I see allot of similarity in where my style can progress to and Bernie Wrightson’s style

 The technique of not having any actually outlines and instead having the shades and tones in line work create the shape is really technical and impressive to me and I would really like to make my illustrations just as 

Green Peace advert initial inspiration

 

Green Peace adverts about protecting the environment 

• Green Peace animations tend to offer a perspective of the animal/issue in order to create empathy from the audience. In  the case of this advert the goal in particular is to prevent the burning of rain forests for palm oil. 

• Green Peace animations all highlight different elements of how we can protect the environment. Instead of just highlighting the issue they also suggest ways in which we can actively protect our environment 

•  This has inspired me to highlight environmental issues I think are important using Frankenstein to present an allegory that can make the story more prevalent to a contemporary audience

• In particular Frankenstein begins and ends in the arctic where currently the ice caps are melting due to global warming, a direct consequence of man.

•  I also love the style and the use of colours and shapes to reflect moods and emotions that the artist wants to portray