Results

Day One Results of my Research Project.

My project is a huge success. My theory has been proven correct as, when I spoke to some patisapants of my project, they all come up with different and unique reasons for the characters relationship being what they viewed it as. Here are the current results and percentages.

Friendship 46 - 27%
Brotherhood 45 - 26%
Bromance 39 - 23%
Romance 42 - 24% (Maybe)

I have been made aware that the results for the 'romance' category has not been taken seriously, as both others and myself have seen my own class mates (who strongly believe in them being gay) taking a large handful and dumping it all in the romance jar. This gives off incorrect results. I had eye witness notify me that the jar had about 6 or 7 marbles inside, then one minute later magically has about 30. This is disappointing but its OK.

Also, here are some comments from some of the partisapants for two different category's (different from my classmates)

Friendship - "Of coarse their just friends, it's the most logical answer. First off, their both guys, and second off, one treats the other like how I treat my best friend. Coldly for a joke. I mean, I am not being cold to my friend to be mean, it's just who I am and my friend is a close friend of mine. It's more for a joke or something. But how could these two be anything else really? They do not seem to be in a romantic relationship at all, like, their not kissing or looking happy with each others presence, well one kinda is. I don't know. Them being friends is the most logical answer you see. Ya? Good."

Brotherhood - "I can tell. They must be bothers. I mean, one is obviously the annoying one. The other one seems to be having to be putting up with the other one. The only reason the smart one wouldn't kick him to the curve is because their brothers. Siblings will be siblings and more often than not, my sibling is annoying me at some point, and that character has the same face I used to have when they did. Their close, but not close enough. If they were romantically involved with each other, they would both have to be happy with each other, and looking into each others eyes and stuff like me an my hobby does some days. Nah, they are diffidently brothers. No other reason."

Extra information I found

These random people were asked by myself if they interact with the internet often, played a lot of video games, or watched a lot of YouTube/anime. Both responded, no. I asked this because I am aware that my classmates do interact with the internet a lot, game and watch anime, etc. This makes me think about if the people who are influenced by the internet have been given a new prespetive of how people 'should' interact and if they have relationships. These classmates introduced me to what they call 'Shipping' and 'Canons'.

Basically, 'shipping' is when two characters are 'shipped' together as, probably having a romantic relationship. They can 'ship' anyone together, when they don't have that kind of relationship. People will even 'ship' two male friends together for interacting a lot. A 'canon' is when the authors of the series that contained the two 'shipped' characters reveals that the two character have just started or are in-fact dating/romantically involved. So have a canon, the two characters announce that their dating, 'kiss' on screen or get married.

This is an interesting idea that I could dive into on a different day

Exhibition

I have set up my exhibition space in the RAW Gallery. This was very exciting for me, and also watched a few debits about which category was the 'logical/right' one. Every jar, last time I checked, already had quite a few marbles placed inside.

This excites me greatly as this already seems to prove the theory I had created. This is because different people have multiple different interpretations of what the characters relationship is. I look forward to checking the results I gather later. 

Here are some photos of my set-up.

Concept Art Poster

I have finished the Concept Art Poster.

Also, I was thinking about where I am going to exhibit my project.

After thinking for a while, I emailed the set-up organiser, Tyler Baikie. This is what I emailed to him:

_________________________________________________________________________________

Hello Tyler. I am emailing you about some space in the Raw Gallery I hope to have my BVA-103 research project. (sorry for the long email)

I have looked around and would like to notify and get permission to claim a space near the elevator, by the main entrance sliding door. This space would be really ideal for my research project, as my project has a survey/voting system. More people will see my work if it is near an entrance way.

My work is an A2 size (594.02mm - 420.03mm). I have already requested a table with my submission form for 4 jars and marbles to be placed upon and to be interacted with. I am also, to give you a better idea of where I am thinking of placing my work, going to place some sort of notice or note on the wall with the size dimensions of my project (the paper size).

Can you let me know if this space I am hoping to have is OK to claim?

Regards

Bethany H

With this email sent, I accidentally met up with Tyler and showed him the space myself, to give him a better idea about what I was thinking, also while telling him more about my project. When I checked my email, after this encounter, I discovered this email in response from Tyler:

_________________________________________________________________________________

Having an 'audience participation' aspect to the exhibit sounds like a lot of fun! This is a job specific for the install committee so I'll forward this request thought to Phil who's dealing with the layout. I hope everyone goes well and you're able to be accommodated for!

Regards,

Tyler

This is a good step forward with organising how my project will be presented and seen.

Artist Statement

Artist statement

Bethany Hayes

Visual Arts

Year 1 Diploma in Animation

Friendship, Brotherhood, Bromance or Romance

Digital concept art, Photoshop

Friendship, Brotherhood, Bromance or Romance? What does it take to view others’ relationships differently?

Through artistic drawings, I am experimenting to see whether body language/positioning influences how the bond between these two characters are viewed. From working drawings to finished concept art, I want to find the factors that define what a friendship or a romantic relationship are. The key factors I like to focus on are the facial expressions of each character along with how the characters interact with each other though physical contact or posture.

The reason I am creating this experiment is to either confirm or disconfirm my own view about why other people will view the relationship between the characters differently. My own understanding is that the views of the different types of relationships seen are based upon the viewer’s own experiences/idea of relationships in general. Using myself as an example, I view the characters’ relationship as a close friendship/brotherhood. This is due to the very close relationship I have with my own triplet sisters. While others might view them as being in a romance due to the similar closeness that they have experienced with their partner, rather than a sibling or best friend.

With this viewpoint in mind, what relationship do you view the characters in… and do you know why?

Concept Art Poster

I have begun my Concept Art Poster for the upcoming exhibition 'Think and Create'.

Along with the poster, I have also requested a mini table from the people organising the event. This is so that I can set up 4 jars and marbles to have a voting system. 

The voting system is so that I can obtain the result of my question from the exhibition audience. Each jar will have a different possible relationship status: friendship, brotherhood, bromance or romance. After each day, I will gather and count the results from the marbles and calculate the percentages. This will give me daily percentages, plus an overall result. The poster is A2 size, which is not small.

Here is some images of the current process with the concept art poster:

Stage One, Lay out the poster

Stage Two. Clean and colour 3 main poses.

Plotting a plan

My game plan

Two weeks ago (I forgot to blog) I came up with a plan to get all my assignments finished on time, because at the rate I was going, it was too difficult and overwhelming to keep on track with all of my work at once. So, I decided to finish all my minor projects (BVA103 and BSA106) 'now' (before their due date) so that I could focus on my major projects. I noticed that my animation was taking up most of my time, so I then decided to focus on and complete my two other projects (BSA124 and BVA115). This was so that when the deadline came closer, I would not have to worry about the other projects so much and could focus on my animation (BSA127).

Pros: this game plan has been partially successful. I have finished and cleaned up my minor projects without too much stress. Also, I have finished building and setting up my stop-motion ready for shooting without much stress either. This makes me feel really happy and accomplished. :D

Cons: this plan has also been unsuccessful (due to stress). I have not completed my comic for I am currently only drawing up line-work for comic page 3, out of 8. I am (as expected) behind with my animation. Sadly, this has been causing me to get stressed (without my realisation) and sent me into my first panic attack during animation class on Tuesday (it's Friday now). It made me physically unable to work for a few a hours, even when I thought I was fine on Tuesday. Now, (since that occurrence) I have been struggling with constant panic attacks with everything I do. I know I am fine, and my body is just trying to cope with the stress I feel, but I am now getting even more behind in my work; it's a never-ending loop. :I

Now, I need a new game plan. I am meant to be finishing about 3 different animation shots per day. It has been 2 days now and I still haven't finished even 1. I have been telling myself that it's OK if I don't finish my animation on time for the deadline, that I will still finish it regardless. I also went to see a guidance counselor yesterday to get some help and was given really good advice. She confirmed that how I was reassuring myself was positive and helpful. Despite this, my body is still feeling really sick and uneasy due to stress. I learnt that if I act really happy and hyper to those around me, I seem to forget my stress-fulled body and feel healthy and happy once more. But this means that I am socializing instead of working.

I am not sure what to do, I was hoping to put my animation into an upcoming exhibition, meaning my animation is due on the 2nd of November at the latest. This means I have a good deal of time that I can use. I will not let the stress beat me yet. I will not plan to finish any specific number of animations, but to finish/start animating. Hopefully this will help me to get more work done. I wish to animate all day today, to catch up on my work. Tomorrow is comic day and then animation again the day after.

The stress will be long gone by the 9th of November. I will get though this :)

Reaserching

What I noticed when researching my subject area

When adding the word 'art' or specializing the gender in my search:

It seems to lean less towards friendships and more towards intimate relationships.

The only searches I would use in my work are those that did not include those key words.

This makes researching artist models for my subject area a large struggle. I will need to change my way of researching in order to obtain the results I want and will need to achieve.

First set of poses

I have drawn my two characters into the first set of poses.

From this, I can get started with asking different people what sort of relationship they have and why.

Back-to-back                                       Middle pose                                     Piggy-back

Others' thoughts when asked "Do you think these two are friends?"

• Yeah, they would be best mates. You should try drawing them sharing a bed together, friends have sleep-overs and share beds so you should try that to see what others think. You should also draw them wrestling and stuff. It'll be funny. - Age 20
• They're friends. When one person gives a piggy-back ride, they are two friends fooling around. The pose when they are back-to-back shows that they're two friends that have each other's back. The middle pose, is more so a funny joke or something but still friends. - Age 44
• It went from friendship, to bromance, to relationship. Back-to-back is more a friendship. The middle is kind of like an awkward friendship or bromance, more like a joke. The piggy-back one is more like a relationship to me with how close they are. - Age 18

Relationship poses base

I have drawn up some basic poses that I can draw my characters in.

I have also created two other characters that I could possibly use to get a different prospective with the results. I don't think that I will use the two other character options.

Now I can draw my characters into these positions and see what result others will think about my work on if they are friends, romantic relationship, of other possible relationships.

Artist Models in Depth

Artist Models

Frozen

More in-depth information

Notes about the film:

When Anna first meets Hans, she fell helplessly in love with him

Hans was first trying to have Elsa as his wife, but then moved on to take Anna instead

We think that Anna has found her happily ever after.

Notes about the creation of the movie:

·         Released on April 30^th in 2015

·         Directed by Chris Buck, head animator

·         Directed by Jennifer Lee

·         Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale ‘The Snow Queen’.

·         Written by Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee, and Shane Morris

·         Produced by Peter Del Vecho

·         Production company Walt Disney Animation Studios

Quote

An interview with the two directors of Frozen:

What were the biggest differences in the story, from when you first conceived this to what you see now?

"LEE:  It’s totally different, in many ways.  It’s easier to say what stayed, which was the end.  Chris pitched a very special ending that no one has ever seen before.  When I came on, they said, “If you can earn that ending, this will be something special.  If you can’t, it’s gonna suck.”  And to earn that ending was a huge undertaking that changed everything, really, including Elsa.  She was a villain, and she’s much more complex than that now.  In a good way, things have to evolve.  You expect the complexity of that.                

BUCK:  The theme didn’t change.  It gelled more, and then Jen articulated it so well later.  But, there was the love versus fear thing. 

LEE:  It shifted from romantic love, as a throughline, to fear versus love.  That was the biggest shift in it.  So, we had that ending, but everything else changed.  But, all the qualities of what Chris pitched initially that resonated are there.  I wasn’t there when he pitched it in 2008 or 2009, but we just re-read it."

_________________________________________________________________________________

Radish, C. (2013, October 7th) Co-Directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee Talks Disney’s FROZEN, Dividing the Workload, Creating a Grounded Princess, Changes to the Film, and More. Retrieved from  http://collider.com/chris-buck-jennifer-lee-frozen-interview/

Yuri on Ice

More in-depth information

Notes about the anime:

In the beginning, Victor had a loud and confident personality

Whereas, Yuuri had low self-esteem and a timid personality

Yuuri gains a lot more confidence in himself, while Victor become less self-absorbed
Very clear character development

Information about the creation of the anime:

·         The original TV series of Yuri on Ice aired on TV Asahi from October 6 to December 22, 2016.

·         The anime was produced by MAPPA

·         Directed by Sayo Yamamoto

·         Written by Mitsurō Kubo

·         Character design by Tadashi Hiramatsu

·         Music by Taro Umebayashi and Taku Matsushiba

·         Figure-skating choreography by Kenji Miyamoto.

Quote:

An interview with the Director, Writer, and Character design artist of Yuri!!! On Ice:

“ANN: When you first decided you wanted to make an anime about ice skating, did you also know that you wanted to tell a love story? At what point in imagining Yuri!!! on Ice did you discover that element?

SAYO YAMAMOTO: My intent with Yuri!!! on Ice was not to be a "love story" in the narrow sense of a "love affair," or "carnal love." At least when you say "rabu sutorii" in Japanese, that would be the context of those English words. The whole answer to this question is answered by Yuuri in his speech at the end of episode 5, leading into the Grand Prix Series.

MITSUROU KUBO: Our idea about love in the context of Yuri!!! on Ice, as expressed by Yuuri Katsuki in episode 5, was already written before production began. So the theme has always been there in terms of what love means to the context of Yuri!!! on Ice as a whole.

TADASHI HIRAMATSU: This theme would not be in the context of coupling specific characters together, but the very general concept of what love is for each character.”

_________________________________________________________________________________

Bridges, B. & Chapman, J. (2017, September 28th) Interview: The staff behind Yuri on Ice. Retrieved from https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2017-09-27/interview-the-staff-behind-yuri-on-ice/.120717

Presentation feedback

I have given my presentation. This is some of the feedback I recall receiving

During the presentation;
One classmate, as soon as he saw the artist model Yuri on Ice, bashed his hand onto his head multiple times in frustration in a (from my own view point and interpretation) 'are you kidding me?' moment. This action did not help my stage-fright and possibly made it worse.

A few classmates kept looking at each other as if to imply (from my own view point and interpretation) 'what on earth?' 'is she serious?' and also 'oh my god....'. This didn't help me much either.

I could be wrong about what they were thinking and why they exhibited those actions, but the faces they made appeared to be valid indicators of their reactions/feelings.

After the presentation
Yuri on Ice aimed comments:

Did two men kiss in Yuri on Ice?...because if they did they would be in a romantic relationship.

Are you drawing two characters in a relationship?
Friends kissing would suggest that they are involved with each other on a different level to romance.

Are you focusing on the romantic side of the relationships like in Yuri on Ice?

Constructive comments:
So have you looked into different ways to show communication? Or is it just your own thoughts and opinions on relationships in general?
How is your end project going to be presented?
Are you looking at different kinds of relationships in real life and real people understandings? Or more at a fictional characters' understanding?
With your drawings, I suggest that you look more to the director and writer from Yuri on Ice, as it would be a really strong aspect to achieve, with all this discussion already being brought up from this little presentation. I say, with all this debate, you have already done your job with challenging the audience.

With all these actions, comments and advice, I will upgrade and improve my research along with any further progress that will take place from now onward.

My presentation

I have my power-point ready at set for my public presentation. I'm nervous but I will get though this.

This is my power-point presentation I'll be presenting tomorrow at 11:35

I have some extra notes I'll also be sharing at my presentation. Here is my notes

Presentation Information/Notes

I want to examine the visual cues and clues between people who are intimately related.

How can I draw my characters to expose these social cues and clues in a way that tests the rules about how people relate intimately?

Yuri On Ice Information

In the beginning, Victor had a loud and confident personality

Whereas Yuuri had low self-esteem and timid personality

·         The original TV series of Yuri on Ice aired on TV Asahi from October 6 to December 22, 2016.

·         The anime was produced by MAPPA

·         Directed by Sayo Yamamoto

·         Written by Mitsurō Kubo

·         Character design by Tadashi Hiramatsu

·         Music by Taro Umebayashi and Taku Matsushiba

·         Figure-skating choreography by Kenji Miyamoto.

An interview with the Director, Writer, and Character design artist of Yuri!!! On Ice

“ANN: When you first decided you wanted to make an anime about ice skating, did you also know that you wanted to tell a love story? At what point in imagining Yuri!!! on Ice did you discover that element?

SAYO YAMAMOTO: My intent with Yuri!!! on Ice was not to be a "love story" in the narrow sense of a "love affair," or "carnal love." At least when you say "rabu sutorii" in Japanese, that would be the context of those English words. The whole answer to this question is answered by Yuuri in his speech at the end of episode 5, leading into the Grand Prix Series.

MITSUROU KUBO: Our idea about love in the context of Yuri!!! on Ice, as expressed by Yuuri Katsuki in episode 5, was already written before production began. So the theme has always been there in terms of what love means to the context of Yuri!!! on Ice as a whole.

TADASHI HIRAMATSU: This theme would not be in the context of coupling specific characters together, but the very general concept of what love is for each character.”

Bridges, B. & Chapman, J. (2017, September 28th) Interview: The staff behind Yuri on Ice. Retrieved from https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2017-09-27/interview-the-staff-behind-yuri-on-ice/.120717

Frozen Information

·         Released on April 30^th in 2015

·         Directed by Chris Buck, head animator

·         Directed by Jennifer Lee

·         Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale ‘The Snow Queen’.

·         Written by Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee, and Shane Morris

·         Produced by Peter Del Vecho

·         Production company Walt Disney Animation Studios

An interview with the two directors of Frozen

What were the biggest differences in the story, from when you first conceived this to what you see now?

LEE:  It’s totally different, in many ways.  It’s easier to say what stayed, which was the end.  Chris pitched a very special ending that no one has ever seen before.  When I came on, they said, “If you can earn that ending, this will be something special.  If you can’t, it’s gonna suck.”  And to earn that ending was a huge undertaking that changed everything, really, including Elsa.  She was a villain, and she’s much more complex than that now.  In a good way, things have to evolve.  You expect the complexity of that.                

BUCK:  The theme didn’t change.  It gelled more, and then Jen articulated it so well later.  But, there was the love versus fear thing. 

LEE:  It shifted from romantic love, as a throughline, to fear versus love.  That was the biggest shift in it.  So, we had that ending, but everything else changed.  But, all the qualities of what Chris pitched initially that resonated are there.  I wasn’t there when he pitched it in 2008 or 2009, but we just re-read it. 

BY CHRISTINA RADISH      OCTOBER 7, 2013

Radish, C. (2013, October 7th) Co-Directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee Talks Disney’s FROZEN, Dividing the Workload, Creating a Grounded Princess, Changes to the Film, and More. Retrieved from  http://collider.com/chris-buck-jennifer-lee-frozen-interview/

Dates;

Drawing concepts done

Questionnaire completed

Questionnaire handed out and recollected

Final art planning done

Final work is completed and cleaned up

Check with tutor

Done and handed in

Planning

Brain-Storming

Techniques

Question: Can the relationship between two characters be defined by the viewer's own experiences?

Rewording the question:

• ·         Can I manipulate the viewer's understanding of the current relationship between the characters?
• ·         Can the relationship between two characters be defined by the viewer's own experiences/influences?
• ·         Could I change how the viewer views the relationship between the characters?
• ·         Why did the viewer view the relationship between the characters the way they did?
• ·         Does the viewer's own understanding influence how they view the relationship between the characters?
• ·         Use questionnaire with concept art to find out reactions of two different audiences.
• ·         Figuring out the cues and clues about personal relationships and what taboos or social rules there exist about how people relate intimately.
• ·         What are the physical attributes and facial expressions that determine gender, relationship status, etc.

Medium:

Finished concept art for a presentation to be determined.  Could be comic, short animation. Want to engage an audience.  Testing concept drawing with different audiences in mind.

Concept:

 How can people assume a relationship without asking? Body language vs verbal language.

Influences:

• ·         Yuri on Ice - TV show
• ·         My own friendships
• ·         SIT student’s opinions on relationships
• ·         Church family’s opinions
• ·         My own understanding

Context:

Church environment vs SIT environment.

Technique:

Drawing, digital and paper-based (Photoshop or ToonBoom). Questionnaires (Survey Monkey).

Deeper Information

Theoretical Framework:

Social engagement.  Gender identity

Methodology:

Heuristic

Aesthetics:

Cartoon like. Blue/orange.

To get Information

Resources: How

Drawing and asking.

Audience: Who

Church and SIT fellow students

Site: Where

To Be Advised.

Brain-storming

Brain-Storming

Techniques

Question: Can the relationship between two characters be defined by the viewer's own experiences?

Rewording the question:

·         Can I manipulate the viewer's understanding of the current relationship between the characters?

·         Can the relationship between two characters be defined by the viewer's own experiences/influences?

·         Could I change how the viewer views the relationship between the characters?

·         Why did the viewer view the relationship between the characters the way they did?

·         Does the viewer's own understanding influence how they view the relationship between the characters?

·         Use questionnaire with concept art to find out reactions of two different audiences.

·         Figuring out the cues and clues about personal relationships and what taboos or social rules there exist about how people relate intimately.

·         What are the physical attributes and facial expressions that determine gender, relationship status, etc.

Medium:

Finished concept art for a presentation to be determined.  Could be comic, short animation. Want to engage an audience.  Testing concept drawing with different audiences in mind.

Concept:

 How can people assume a relationship without asking? Body language vs verbal language.

Influences:

·         Yuri on Ice - TV show

·         My own friendships

·         SIT student’s opinions on relationships

·         Church family’s opinions

·         My own understanding

Context:

Church environment vs SIT environment.

Technique:

Drawing, digital and paper-based (Photoshop or ToonBoom). Questionnaires (Survey Monkey).

Deeper Information

Theoretical Framework:

Social engagement.  Gender identity

Methodology:

Heuristic

Aesthetics:

Cartoon like. Blue/orange.

To get Information

Resources: How

Drawing and asking.

Audience: Who

Church and SIT fellow students

Site: Where

To Be Advised.