Project 3: Impossibilities of Being

 

Critique:

Positive

  1. Good and intentional choice of colours
  2. Bold attempt to tell a story within 1.5 mins
  3. Presence of a storyline that works as a metaphor for oppression in reality

Improvements

  1. The ending could be clearer
  2. Lesser reliance on text; it’s disconcerting when the audience has to vacillate between listening and reading in the film.
  3. Lesser reliance on a single soundtrack to convey the setting of the film

 

Project 2: Subversion

We were tasked to subvert objects in this project and the object assigned to me was, broccoli. I subverted the broccoli into marijuana. Since both objects are typically consumed by their users, I drew similarities between the two processes of consuming the broccoli and marijuana. This is explored in component 1 and 2 respectively.

 

Component 1.1: This image shows florets of broccoli laid out on the kitchen countertop and features a knife in the background. By portraying the broccoli in florets, its form and texture were better explored and captured.  Moreover, placed in a kitchen setting, our interaction with this object and the tools used were also conveyed.

 

Component 1.2: This picture shows the broccoli florets baking in the oven and captures the method of preparation in the consumption of the broccoli. It documents a change in the texture of the florets, in which it begins to char.

 

Component 1.3: Finally, this picture features the consumption of the broccoli and highlights the charred textures of the baked broccoli. It also captures our interactions with the broccoli.

 

Component 2.1: The broccoli is subverted into marijuana in this component. Marijuana was given the nickname, broccoli, due to the similarity in texture and colour.

Drawing parallels to component 1.1 which depicted the preparation of the broccoli for consumption, I laid out the broccoli as one would in preparation of smoking marijuana. This is seen in the shredded up tiny florets which resemble the act of breaking up weed clusters. The tools used for consumption also gives the viewer clues of the process – lighter and joints. This image also features the typical belongings of an elderly such as the ointment bottle, comb and medication. These objects are placed in this manner so as to challenge the audience presumptions of a stereotypical user of marijuana and the intents of consuming this drug.

 

Component 2.2: This picture shows the broccoli florets being rolled up into a joint. It captures mainly our interaction with the subverted object and the preparation for consumption. This image also affirms the notion that the consumer of marijuana, from the 2.2, might be an elderly due to the loose skin and wrinkled fingers; as well as the colourful ornamental beaded bracelet on the wrist in the background.

 

Component 2.3: This picture shows a joint of the subverted object, marijuana, being smoked and consumed. It captures the interaction (the act of shredding up) and tools (paper, fire & metal) used for oral consumption which is similar to the consumption of broccoli as seen in component 1.

 

Component 3: This poster features an elderly lady smoking on marijuana (“zoomed-out” picture of 2.3). The poster emulates a typical poster seen in clinics, with its solemn and serious treatment, so as to convey the importance of this grave situation.

The message of this poster was to rally support from the general public by informing them of the health benefits of marijuana for Alzheimer’s patients. This is a pitch from the Alzheimer’s Disease Association in Singapore.

The anchorage of the poster is, “Picture of Health” which plays on the paradox of health and drugs. Since the act of smoking marijuana is commonly perceived as an abuse of drugs by delinquents, the image challenges this preconceived notion. It reveals the health benefits of smoking marijuana for the elderly, and champions that “health” for the elderly has to be supplemented by the use of this drug. Moreover, the subversion of broccoli adds to the irony of the message. The relay is the paragraph of text following it, which informs the audience of the cause.

Critique:

  1. Could have emphasized more on the object, broccoli.
  2. Relay message should have included the mention of broccoli. For instance,”Marijuana is as healthy as brocolli”.

Submission