ARD406 Creative futures 1 - Influence Boards

Sophie Stelfox

First Category (Movies/films)

1.       Lord of the rings

The first time I watched the series was when I was around 15/16 years old. My thoughts were of amazement. The cost of producing masterpieces like this... must have a precarious amount to say the least. However; I still hold those thoughts to this day. The craftsmanship shown within every scene and object was staggering. A perfect movie for someone who is situated within the art and design industry. The battle scenes were a pleasure to watch and I hope they consider producing an artbook covering the series and other projects relating to the series.

http://www.impawards.com/2003/lord_of_the_rings_the_return_of_the_king.html

2.       The Hobbit ( Winter 2012)

The standard has not faltered. Great use of film language and use of environments. The art and design department have done it again! Beautiful textures and genius techniques in creating everything we see. The performance of the actors was flawless; sound complimented the film with ease. The cast and film crew had great directors, guiding their visions through their actions and study areas.

http://cdn.amctheatres.com/Media/Default/images/crop-the-hobbit-dwarves-poster.jpg

3.       Ripper Street (Jan 2013- present)

Similar to Sherlock, still a welcomed addition to our TV channel. Taking place just after the Jack the Ripper murders, there is a tense atmosphere among the people of Whitechapel with the police desperate in hunting the serial killer down. I believe there was great use of acting and storytelling, with a unique set of characters and actors. Susan (Brothel Owner) is my favourite character. She has a business mind, independent with an intelligent mind and can handle herself in confrontations. There is mystery surrounding the death or disappearance of the inspector’s daughter. From watching the same episodes numerous times; I could see that as the program progressed, the further away they drift apart. The costumes are a great source of inspiration too, reflecting upon the era. Well scripted and carefully thought out. There have been some complaints against the show due to the perception of women (seen as house wives and prostituetes mainly)

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/33100000/Ripper-Street-ripper-street-33162060-1997-2000.jpg

4.       Warm bodies (February 2013)

This is a very inspirational movie to me because Isaac Marion has created a masterpiece that isn’t predictable or cheesy. Some may argue that this is just Twilight all over again. I have to disagree with these views. Marion’s take on an “intelligent” zombie is very different compared to most literature. Instead of it being the lead females view, we have a refreshing side that reflects the males. So in my opinion, I believe we have something unique here. Very different in terms of points of view, racial and prejudices occur, simple structure yet cleaver within his writing.

http://www.apnatimepass.com/warm-bodies-movie-poster-1.jpg

5.       The Hunger Games

An interesting take on our future and slavery. There is a strong mix of strong and weaker characters. A great sense of character turmoil through trying times. There are mysterious areas surrounding Katniss Everdeen and Peeta relationship, again adding tension to it’s audience. Yet despite such mishaps, Katniss shows compassion towards selected members of the tributes but shows determination and malicious elements of her character against the others. I was also inspired by the culture of district 12 and the capitol, showing strong contrasts between rich and the poor.

http://novelnovice.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/hunger-games-movie-wp_katniss-and-peeta.jpg

6.       Avatar

The CGI (Computer Graphic Imagery) was very impressive. I admire Cameron’s involvement during the project as well as hiring the world best artists and programmers. Few describe this movie as alien “Pocahontas.”  Again this frustrates me as this type of audience refuses to look at it from a different perspective and study it further. First of all, the artwork was stunning!  The story is very complex, studying a large variety of themes and beliefs e.g. hatred and racism.

http://rosamondpress.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/avat3.jpg

7.       Narnia

A good adaptation of the book, showing two main themes throughout the film: Summer vs winter. Along with mythology; fantasy elements and warfare appear, making an intriguing combination. CGI is shown but used carefully to which I was grateful for (e.g. Aslan and the blossom trees.)  I was inspired by the production of the weapons and armours (Polystyrene, leather etc) and just how realistic they appear on camera.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1366&bih=618&q=warm+bodies&oq=warm+bodies&gs_l=img.3..0l10.1198.4404.0.4654.11.7.0.4.4.0.59.362.7.7.0...0.0...1ac.1.5.img.N5HucHt5Q3Y#hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=Narnia&oq=Narnia&gs_l=img.3..0l10.12148.14229.0.14679.6.4.0.2.2.0.68.218.4.4.0...0.0...1c.1.5.img.Z_qy5vv6owI&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&fp=54da351bbfbb6fac&biw=1366&bih=618&imgrc=nNpD6lIdQE7MYM%3A%3BMjI6g61MM8qXNM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fimages.fanpop.com%252Fimages%252Fimage_uploads%252FNarnia-5-the-chronicles-of-narnia-241401_1024_768.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.fanpop.com%252Fclubs%252Fthe-chronicles-of-narnia%252Fimages%252F241401%3B1024%3B768

8.       Hot Fuzz

Makes a change from fantastical themed films. The first time I was this movie, I thought it was well done in terms of structure and pace; the actors played their parts beautifully while adding comical tensions in certain parts. Apart from “The Bill” I do not recall any other TV program or film that situates from an officers perspective. Like Warm Bodies, I believe this was a nice change in script writing and isn’t predictable to the audience. Good use of stunts and CGI during confrontations.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnwkG3m6HdL30I0KiCscwswT_kklnqUMvwer4ivBmj0LfiF-gv_F168mev6Wvz8PWKijEZW9QuscMm_v_ZDqHEP6f7uW7ckmjhBoohqFHdlRCBwYQ0By7mlNqKAi1RmNjM8sJCxksb6Wy/s1600/hot_fuzz.jpg

9.       An idiot Abroad (2010 – Present)

What could be better than watching a grumpy old git being forced to travel around the world? The answer is not alot in my opinion. Compared with precious favoured films, there is no CGI here. The focus is Karl Pilkington. This is someone who doesn’t like mixing with others and hates travelling and doesn’t pretend to be a different person. There are occasions where he appreciates his surroundings but remember, he has been placed in these situations/ surroundings against his will. And it’s the creators that place him in unhygienic accommodations and not very... great tourist attractions. There is comedy through his misery and explanations which is what inspires me as he reminds me of a family member.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1IX4GpkdFePhI5sIukkPQdVGUo_YzCaXXvEFJaEykqmbmKhAeBi6udhD6_CbuJq8sY_CmtOKAAEyBRx0aM0swmOBLFQTBspLTe2LVn846gbiHJ9f4cro6uQzqFpQXRuG_gNUsbxkDZrr/s1600/An-Idiot-Abroad-Sneak-Peek-Photos-Karl-in-Peru-11.jpg

Second Category (Artists)

1.       Bethesda Studios (Lucas Hardi)

Original background was engineering but opportunities meant he could enter the game art industry. Recent works were Skyrim and Dishonoured (Bethesda.) The artwork can be seen in the Skyrim collector’s edition. Within it’s contents are some of the best pieces of artwork work I have ever seen. I believe that they would have used a wide variety of media from mixed media to digital art, and different forms of filters. These images inspire me because there are very strong occurrences of history (Vikings and Nordic culture.) Colour palettes and textures include abstracts, dark tones of blue and greys with occasional areas of lush greenery and misty textures.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8488/8185021992_382ba07dbb.jpg

2.       Andy Goldsworthy

Goldsworthy’s work is very inspirational to me because he works with a wide variety of 3D materials and prefers to create reasonably sized sculptures. What more interesting, he uses water within his creations, capturing them being taken away by the currents. Incredibly, he records their dying state as well as showing how they developed through time and climate conditions. Works include Bright Sunny Morning Dec 1987 in Japan and so on.

http://amazingstuff.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/goldsworthyIcicles1_op_592x600.jpg

3.       Jenny Saville

“Bodies fascinate me. I find having the framework of a body essential. Having flesh as a central subject, I can channel alot of ideas.” – Jenny Saville.

An abstract fine artist who is inspired by the female body. Working in installations and oil paints, these pieces are painted in an abstract manner. I adore Seville’s work because of the detail she shows using certain types of brushstrokes and then enhances these using oil paints and the amount of paint applied to the area of interest. Her use of colour creates beauty, even in some of her grotesque studies of the human body. However: I admire her dedication towards human anatomy to which I believe I can improve myself on. Works and exhibitions include Rosetta 2 (2005-06) and “Sensation: Young British Artists from the Saatchi Collection” at the Royal Academy of Arts, London 1997.

http://michellevaughan08.wordpress.com/2011/06/03/jenny-saville/

http://www.gagosian.com/artists/jenny-saville/

4.       Faith 47

A graffiti street artist who expresses herself often using women in her work. I believe she uses a mixture of media from paper to spray cans and acrylics. In many of her pieces, I have noticed that she prefers spirituality and ruined buildings rather than the new and modern. I believe she prefers her work on those walls because they reflect her love for spirituality and like Goldsworthy; she situates them on an area that’s only temporary and in danger of being destroyed forever. Overall, her work is very fluent and graceful showing beauty and stature.

http://jibberingart.co.uk/files/2008/06/faith47-paste-up.jpg

5.       Leonardo Da Vinci

An exceptional man who excelled in inventing, painting, maths, science etc. His attention to detail is truly breathe-taking. In his notebooks, despite them being written in a different language, I can understand his dedication in his studies through the pages he wrote on. Works include Virgin on the Rocks and Mona Lisa. His talents heavily influenced the renaissance era and the lands situated within them.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Leonardo_da_Vinci_-_Female_head_(La_Scapigliata)_-_WGA12716.jpg

6.       John Hicklenton

Most accomplished work was 100 months, detailing the story of a goddess whose revenge slaughtered the world showing mercy in the end.  The images were one of horror yet displayed such incredible detail through his media and brilliant storytelling and character development. Sadly he died in Mar 2010 after a lingering disease. I believe 100 months, reflects global warming because during a press conference, David Cameron warned that if we don’t alter the course of global warming, then there is no chance of stopping what is to come. The links between these two are strong and show a high level of intelligence and creativity.

http://www.hypergeek.ca/wp-content/gallery/press5/screens_johnnyhicklenton3.jpg

7.       Thmnstr (Olly Stephan)

I am inspired by this artist’s work because he shows a different yet interesting perspective on how an artist/ designer can work and reflects this in his works.  Themes include sex and violence, history and superheroes. Working mostly in mixed media and Photoshop, Stephan shows high degrees of knowledge within using either a brush or Photoshop. He inspires my work because I feel as though I can relate to him through mixed media and gives crucial advice to those artists who aim to improve their skills.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7231/7352246730_9118614f5e_z.jpg

Category 3 (Actors/Directors)

1.       Cate Blanchet

Blanchet’s performance during Elizabeth and Elizabeth: the Golden Age and The Hobbit was breath taking. In the first two films, we see her character changing emotions of anger, compassion, charisma, independence, leadership, sadness etc. I believe these films firmly explore survival and power, which hundreds of years ago took a lifetime to achieve. If we compare this to the Hobbit, her composer is alot more graceful and calm. Here we see her holding counsels between three different races, each granting them advice and shows some abilities in mental communication. Her voice is exceptional yet no dought must be enhanced using voice editing. Neither the less, during her appearances, I believe in what she says and how she reacts, her performance is very real which few actors manage to master. 

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbez5xI0rR1HAYTtBgI8Gp7ryCOhh-IpK9ynkd3ipav8L0ABfDB3tmxjE5Mcrx57FepSh2e0-j33yM2b_iyA4yJF1l_7RB_R3abY73RN4d1QHCCHzfU6ptXo1nzasah3livEYcRhBPOZZ/s1600/cate_blanchett_image.jpg

2.       Jeff Dunham

Mining the Monsters (recent work winter 2012) was the Halloween show where the characters were allowed to dress up in what scared them the most. All in all, the performance was brilliant. Characters include Walter as Frankenstein, Bubba J as Count Dracula, Peanut as Batman, Jose as Robin, Little Jeff as The Loser and Achmed as an American woman. Dunham is very inspirational because he aims overstep the limits making each shoe different and unique. I appreciate the way he tends to bully himself through his characters, a more welcoming edition to stand up shows.

http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2012/08/09/9784672/jeff-dunham-tickets.jpg

3.       Andy Serkis

A master actor who is mainly known for his role in Lord of the Rings and Enslaved and the Hobbit. During the production of Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit, Serkis performed as Gollum, has been seen as leader of certain set divisions and acting on behalf of the creators/ directors.  I’ll be honest, it isn’t very often we come across actors who can pull off such weird yet distinct character and voice.

http://www.serkis.com/images/kong/DSCN0028.jpg

4.        James Cameron

Cameron is famous for his creations on Titanic and Avatar. These films have taken the world by storm, out rivalling many other feature films. The contrast between these films couldn’t be more different. For example, Titanic is a historical period drama situated in April 1912 whereas Avatar is hosted in the future where we are mining for the earth’s survival and are able to transfers our sub conscious to certain bodies. His writing and visions are masterpieces! Changing from historical to futuristic surely displays how creative his mind can adapt and still show perfection within his projects.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WRtMK-jhsVY/UNX907duTZI/AAAAAAAAlPw/oHLPFEa5Pbk/s1600/James-Cameron-Rolex-Submariner-0011.jpg

5.       Seth McFarlen

Known for his work on Family Guy, American Dad, TED and the Cleveland Show, McFarlen shows creative yet controversial writing, adding jokes that often demean women or racially. Twice fox cancelled family guy and twice they decided to continue the show due to sale figures and fans contacting FOX. McFarlen is a firm believer in guy rights and women’s rights. To some people, this can be seen as confusing and contradicting. Not only is he the creator but he also voices certain lead characters such as Peter Griffin, Brian Griffin, Quagmire, Tom Tucker and several other male roles. Each voice is very strong and distinct to which is very unique and irreplaceable.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbvmaY7DJiubQ1jQ9q_jZcpOUvvy4Zq1aYcs8tAGUYnDM91FcLoaoWZLQrZyqypYlvKvYmAFdhtCCSZSc3Vtz1zJ8tQbcXFHWEUoM3NA8fKRnPC_q6sR8kRNTgkjXXuNRdLRGWTgq4ciw/s1600/Seth_MacFarlane.jpg

Category four (Periods of history)

1.       The Renaissance

This era was dedicated to science, religion and art. The term Renaissance means “rebirth,” an era where education was one of the highest priorities and even enabled women to take part. Inventions were also taking a toll at this time, For example, Printing was becoming popular as it’s alot cheaper then hand written manuscripts. Carnivale was also a very inspirational source where masks were used to cover the individual identity, prostitutes or courtesans roamed the streets and games were creative as well as dangerous. Artists around this period include Leonardo Da Vinci and Marcello.

http://english-text.ru/image/The_Renaissance.jpg

2.       The Battle Of the Boyne

A key moment in acquiring Britain’s independence during a time of religious strife.  This was the first time that a civil war was settled in another country between two men who have been crowned king of England. “An exiled king in search of a lost throne” (Peter Snow- Battlefield Britain.) This period of history inspires me because this was the starting point where the Irish people grew wary of English occupancy. Despite their differences; both sides had some very inspirational leaders (King William and Sir Neal O’Neal for example) leading their men into battle and showing mercy towards the enemy. Under equipped, lacking in numbers and kingly leadership, James II fled the battlefield way ahead of his army who were still fighting the Williamites at the river Boyne.  James spent the rest of his days under the protection of the French king and died there. Upon learning of how poorly James behaved as a military leader, the Catholics in Ireland resented James and his cowardly leadership nicknaming him “James the shit.”

http://subversify.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/battle-of-the-boyne.jpg

3.       Medieval/manuscripts

This era was all about Christian and knightly virtues and exerting their power and leadership through illuminated manuscripts. The books were crucial tools for a sovereign, so there are no surprises if I was to inform you that these were luxury goods. The process of which these manuscripts were made truly fascinates me as an artist. Several weeks of processing involve soaking the skins (Animal) into urine, drying and scraping. The aim of the process was to remove the hair without marking the writing surface. Overall this was very labour intensive. Binding was the next stage once the vellum pages were ready. Once that was completed, the manuscript was then handed over to the scribes and artists. For something to meet the standards of the royal court, more than one artist was employed during this project. Historia Anglurum by Matthew Paris took over 6 months to write and illustrate.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_hVOW2U7K4-M/SUwfNESYDpI/AAAAAAAAvgo/Z3VYCjG1ZcQ/s640/5eyewgdfgvdfvd.jpg

4.       Ancient Egypt

Egypt’s history dates back over 3,000 years ago. From then till now we saw them as hunter gathers from various tribes emigrating from the desert. And as the ages passed, their lands became prosperous and rich in jewellery making along with strong religious influences. Their mythology and art inspire me the most. For example; they are known for being the only country that invented folding furniture, their understanding in medicines excelled roman methods. The Egyptian queens were a huge part of their history but women in general were considered equal. They could control their husband’s lands if he was away on business, she has the right to divorce and she could keep her property.

http://www.onthegotours.com/repository/AbuSimbelBoltonEgypt--48051241701356_800_600.jpg

 

5.       Vikings/ Saxons

Christian warriors like Athelstan built the first foundations for the English nation. At this time, the future of a ruler was very uncertain. Uprisings were common, that demanded not just military leadership but diplomacy aswell. This was also the beginning when manuscripts were becoming a necessity for a monarch; these books enhanced the king/queens profile for the right to rule. Rulers such as Queen Emma used the power of the manuscripts to their full advantage, enabling them to rule peacefully. Wife to two kings and mother to two kings, perhaps this explains why Queen Emma was such an important historical figure. Vikings were seen as bloodthirsty, thieves, rapists and violent. However records and historians prove that this was not always the case. In fact, they liked personal hygiene, their laws were fair, and they were quite sophisticated in terms of architecture and literacy.

http://medievalfragments.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/bayeux-tapestry.jpeg

Category five (Games)

1.       Elder Scrolls: Skyrim

Released in autumn 2011, this was a huge step up from Elder Scroll: Oblivion. With a wider range of voice actors, NPC’s, environments, characters and enemies, it’s no surprise when Skyrim was made game of the year. There are strong elements of history (ice wraiths,) mythology and fantasy within the game. The game offers the player freedom in terms of exploring and decision making.

http://www.gamewpp.com/wallpapershd/skyrim-dragonborn-wallpaper-hd.html

2.       Assassins Creed Series

From the crusades to the Renaissance and the American Revolution, this series has become a huge hit around the world. This game offers the player the chance of reliving your characters past memories using the animus. The affects of misusing this can prove fatal. It all begins with the “bleeding effect” where the character can detect codes or certain memories that were devasting or secret, further misuse will bring lingering hallucinations, headaches, then madness and eventually death. The concept the developers have come up with, is brilliant to say the least. However; they realised that they had to be careful as they weren’t certain that gamers would play a history game, so that’s when they decided to bring modern day touch and some elements of the future.

http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/32300000/Assassin-s-Creed-III-assassins-creed-32346288-1920-1200.png

3.       Borderlands 2

A strange yet surprisingly addicting game. Computer graphics theme a more illustrious style rather then something you would see on Call of Duty or Fallout.  I would describe this as fantasy/ sci-fi western game. There are strong elements of murder, loot and bandits. You can choose one character from five whom as follow: Axton as the Commander, Maya as the Siren, the girlfriend as the Technomancer, Zero as the Assassin and Salvador as the Gunzerka. On the whole, Sirens fascinate me not only as an artist and gamer but also a sci-fi fan. According to the population, there can only be six sirens at only one given time (generation possibly) and women are the only ones who can posses these supernatural abilities. Their powers originate from the various vaults located around Pandora and blue tattoos are visible completely on one half of the body. When their powers are activated, the tattoos glow intensely.  So far, we know that three sirens appear in the game (Lilith, Maya and Angel.) Overall, this area of borderlands fascinates me.

http://images.vg247.com/current//2012/04/Borderlands2_handson_screen9.jpg

4.       Bayonetta

Imagine using your hair and clothes to summon demons and using the guns on your shoes to attack your enemies? I know it sounds odd but at the same time, pretty exciting. I believe there is no other game that’s similar to Bayonetta. In this game you play as a witch who practises in the dark and bullet arts (acrobatics and guns.) Her aim is to track down “the right eye” and keep sending angelic souls to hell everyday or they will kill her. An intriguing concept in terms of gameplay, graphics, story and exploration. The environments are very intricate yet abstract and the combat is very... thrilling.

http://uk.playstation.com/media/gsVgmHsG/BayonettaHero.jpg

5.       Far Cry 3

A game based on how far our minds and bodies can go to. In some ways this game is similar to Borderlands 2 what with most of the inhabitants being somewhat insane themselves i.e. Tiny Tina. I can understand that not everybody will like this game due to how some people treat animals (Blowing up monkeys DLC,) destroying drug crops and torturing your friends and family. Although these are very controversial actions, I still believe that this could reflect real events and adds originality to the game.

http://allthingsxbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Far-Cry-3.jpg

6.       Tomb Raider: Reboot

As the game hasn’t been released yet, I cannot comment on the gameplay. However, I can discuss demos and artwork. It’s quite refreshing to see our playable characters placed in survival type situations or games. So far we see Lara getting impaled, getting attacked by cannibals, packs of wolves and getting sexually assaulted.  Many would criticise the developers for these choices. However; to me these are very inspirational. These situations are designed to make us think... whether we like it, these situations happen to those unlucky individuals. I can understand people’s concerns about this but all the time, gamers want a realistic experience, something that isn’t repetitive or predictable. Mythology appears here aswell. I will review this game on my blog as soon as it’s released.

http://www.gametrailers.com/side-mission/files/2013/02/TombRaider_OST.jpg

7.       God of war 3

A game where, mythology, sex, violence and revenge collide. Betrayed by all those around him, Kratos (the former god of war) embarks on a series of missions in taking out his revenge on the gods of Olympus. This is a very inspirational game to me because the attention to detail is in depth in terms of history and mythology. The idea of a former god killing his kin is a fun idea to say the least. Character illustrations and gameplay overall are brilliant, a true demonstration of what artists in the games industry are capable of.

http://www.videogame247.it/media/2010/01/15/image_god_of_war_3-12091-1708_0004.jpg

Category six (Authors)

1.       Trudi Canavan

Canavan’s works include Novice, The magician’s apprentice, The High Lord, the Traitor Spy trilogy and Traitor Queen etc. To me, these novels are in depth in terms of the politics, lessons in magic, the magician’s surroundings, storytelling, laws and characters. There are elements of renaissance (Alchemy, war, science, bookshops) which are a pleasure to read about. The intricate lifestyles and ever changing laws demonstrate through paper that the rules are always changing where alliances must be made.  The books were a pleasure to read.

 https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=John+Hcklenton+prints&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&biw=1366&bih=618&wrapid=tlif136206563568611&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=7XgvUa7jJquR0QW6zIGwAQ#um=1&hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=trudi+canavan&oq=trudi+canavan&gs_l=img.3..0l2j0i5j0i24l7.16878.20440.0.20893.13.13.0.0.0.0.284.975.12j0j1.13.0...0.0...1c.1.5.img.ASsY9rpCh4M&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&fp=54da351bbfbb6fac&biw=1366&bih=618&imgrc=96zDjwhyh2C6MM%3A%3BMh1F_FhJOgUUrM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fmedia-cache-ec3.pinterest.com%252Favatars%252Ftrudicanavan_1333603427_600.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fpinterest.com%252Ftrudicanavan%252F%3B300%3B300

2.       Dan Jones

Jone’s take on the Plantagenet kings and Queen of England is a welcomed edition to the history books. When I was at school, all we are really taught were the six wives of Henry VIII which to me was basic stuff. The focus was based on how he was desperate for a male heir and how unfaithful he was towards Anne Boylen.  As you can expect, this gave me the impression that women on the whole were regularly abused through a man’s will or law. The Plantagenet’s explores both the male and female sides and how they played their roles through-out history. From reading this huge document, I was relieved to know that Queens such as Isabella, Matilda, Phillipa (mother to Edward III) were very strong, independent and adored by their husbands. These Queens acted as regents if their husbands were away at war, and occasionally some Queens take the advantage and conspire against the king himself, allying themselves with the king’s enemies. Thrilling in terms of storytelling, fast passed but brilliantly written.

http://www.summerofblood.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dan-headshot-300x273.jpg

3.       George .R.R. Martin

Creator/writer of the Game of Thrones series. This is a world where every inch of land and the people who inhabit are brutal, often cruel hiding behind dark secrets. A darker alternative to Xena: The Warrior Princess. A great variety of evil and naive characters but at times the series can get repetitive. The conversations are often long and dull, but when we get to other parts, in some way, this makes up for the lack of “thrilling” feeling. Overall not a bad series, there are good and bag qualities.  The Most intriguing character for me is Sansa’s younger sister; Arya. She is the complete opposite to her sister. Sansa is very naive, vain and tends to image things as a fairy tale, shows high degree of knowing the right thing to say and manners. whereas Arya; despite her age shows strong degrees of seeing how the world truly is. Adored by those around her; the people are more than willing to aid her instead of Sansa thus gains respect. Even one of the young fighters teaches her how to use “Needle” effectively. When her father discovers this, I see that he is generally touched by his daughter’s interest and permits her to keep it. Personally, I would say that this area of the book inspires me the most. The relationships that Arya has with her peers are very touching and genuine.
 

http://filmcrithulk.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/george_rr_martin_-_credit_karolina_webb_1_jpg_627x325_crop_upscale_q85.jpg

4.       Sarah J. Maas

A rare take on the life of a young female assassin. This book has similar qualities to that of Cashore’s Graceling in terms of a strong-willed, independent and intelligent lead female. But here the character faces more peril and deadly negotiations.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DvufJSNEIqs/T-lI3BE2dvI/AAAAAAAABf4/P9-P6u9yqt4/s1600/SarahMaas.jpg

5.       Kirstin Cashore

Graceling: A discreet world where secret societies operate under the noses of corrupt rulers. Onto of this, imagine certain young men and women possessing special abilities or graces (e.g. Killing, Survival etc. Some become assassins, some become slaves... and some make themselves free. In Cashore’s novels, Graceling’s are feared because of their abilities, as many of these skilled men and women use them for evil means. Politics, love, battles and assassinations are a pleasure to read and analyse.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=John+Hcklenton+prints&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&biw=1366&bih=618&wrapid=tlif136206563568611&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=7XgvUa7jJquR0QW6zIGwAQ#um=1&hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=kristin+cashore&oq=kirstin+c&gs_l=img.1.3.0i10i24l2j0i24j0i10i24l2j0i24j0i10i24l3j0i24.7652.12752.0.14776.9.8.0.1.1.0.104.694.5j3.8.0...0.0...1c.1.5.img.CICAto7VCmo&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&fp=54da351bbfbb6fac&biw=1366&bih=618&imgrc=BdDBC8xaKzkiuM%3A%3B2uKsc7KvfPO5zM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252F3.bp.blogspot.com%252F-wqH1kY_shDM%252FUA6MA-H99eI%252FAAAAAAAAAqk%252FO4jBB1WzywA%252Fs1600%252Fkristin-cashore.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Ftrac-changes.blogspot.com%252F2012%252F07%252Ftuesday-muse-kristin-cashore-on.html%3B460%3B687

6.       Brandon Sanderson

(Very Similar reasons to Graceling and Game of Thrones)

7.       Elizabeth Lev

From reading the contents of this book, I feel empathy for Sforza as Caesare Borgia imprisoned her in Castel St Angelo with rumours of rape involved. Caterina Sforza was widely known as “The Tigress of Forli” She earned the respect and fear of her soldiers and people, not only through how she governed but also through how she treated her enemies. Her strength is very inspirational to me as she nearly succeeded in gaining her independence from the Borgia’s. She was willing to sacrifice her own children to protect the lives of her men and people; this shows her determination and courage. Something of which we could look up to. Her characteristics inherit from her family as they were from a mercenary background. On the whole, it’s no surprise to see why she remains as one of my idols.

8.       Isaac Marion (See No.4 in Films/movies Category)

 

9.       Stephan Baxtor

Baxter’s work on the Science of Avatar was not only intriguing but also convincing. Not only does he explore the movie content but he explores the scientific aspects where he provides solutions and questions with the uncertainty of our future. The structure of his writing is easy to grasp even if the reader isn’t familiar with science. The Ozone layers, bringing farms into the cities and cloning water and environments are only a few of suggestions Baxter mentions through-out his book. And what makes it inspirational... is that all of this is possible. Just imagine the discoveries we can uncover through research. Even a minor discovery can alter the major ones in the future. Through Avatar, the scientists have trusted artists to create an artist’s impression of all these possibilities.

10.   Dave McKean

Upon reading Batman: Arkham Asylum, I was extremely impressed with the mixed media type textures McKean used for the graphic novel. They reflect a moody and dark atmosphere and very little use of light. I believe McKean has used a combination of mixed media of graphic design. I have used techniques similar to this when I was attending college at Mid Cheshire, where I made certain areas of the paint illuminate. I hope to continue using this technique in future assignments at university.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Today, I thought I write about my visit to the Bradford Animation and Game Festival.

It was my mission to wake up at 7:00am everyday and somehow drag myself home at midnight onwards the following day for 5 days. XD

 

 

Now as an Game and Animation student, I couldn't resist purchasing passes to both catagories. Marisse (tutor and mum of our lot;) thought I was nuts but then the rest of my classmates wanted to join in on the fiasco aswell haha. All in all £160 was the total cost for the trip which I thought was ok at the time.

 

It was a great city to host an event like this, so me and my friends decided to explore! There was a huge bookshop with my name on it, however I decided for my friends sanity not to venture inside. :D These five days were a pleasure to attend... And the goodies we recieved was a welcomed edition to the trip... well that and the free wine they were giving away in the evening:D

 

So who did I meet?

 

 

 Christina Phelan from Valve

At the conference she was great to talk to, a talented hard working young woman. But she advised me to stop using mixed media and instead focus on digital art and animation. So as you can imagine, I was horrified at the prospect of giving my fine art abilities so I turned to the other developers for advice...

 

 

 

 

 Mark Shipiro from Coraline and ParaNorman

Brilliant talk, we ended up watching ParaNorman which was great, a pleasure to talk to. I showed him a few of my rough sketches in my sketchbook and even signed them for me! XD

 

 

 

Lucas Hardi from Bethesda

During the talk, Lucas wanted to educate us on identifying inbetween Reality and imagination. Mentioning Skyrim only a couple of times (understandibly) the talk very very in depth to which i found interesting to listen to. At this point... My classmate Les decided to fall asleep during his talk, abit too close to the shoulder haha. After getting beaten up several times, he tried to nod off on someone else who then joined me in beating him up haha

My favourite Speakers



Joel Smith from Sony Entertainment



David Brown, Phillip Gray and Bill Martin from TT Games

 

   

                                      Lucas Hardi from Bethesda Game Studios

                              

 

 Christina Phelan from Valve

 

 

Neil Thompson from BioWare

 

He was giving away free collectors editions for mass effect 3!

 

 

Tomasz Zawada from CD Projekt RED S.A.

 

This was a vital talk as Tom explains the pros and cons with the animation and game art industries. From this talk it would appear as though my skills as an artist would fit in perfectly in the Game art industry rather than animation. Don't get me wrong animation is a valuable asset to have but  personally, my heart is not in it which is why I greatly admire those working in this profession. Tom explained that some companies will often aim to soley make a profit rather then showing their passion and talent through the games. I was very saddened to hear this. Ontop of this; your colleges arn't very supportive of your work so there will be some negative rivalry and overtime will be daunting. wheras the games industry differs greatly. Yes there is rivalry but these guys will help you and educate you to what they know etc. Joel Smith confirmed Tom's opinions and was one of the few people to offer advice and work experience opportunities:) Smith explained that they don't want someone with all the skills and standards, instead they look for someone with talent, passion, personality and eagerness to learn and improve their style and standards.

 

After each talk, I would sneak off from my dear colleges (Dan Lowrie, Dave Thomas and Gareth Evans) to talk to everyone in the talk to ask:

 

1. Do you offer work experience?

2. What inspires you as artists?

3. Would my skills be an issue for your comapny?

4. What advice could you give me as a person who uses unconventional media rather than digital?

5. Do you have a buisness card?

 

All companies except VALVE, were very supportive of my differences as an artist and gave me buisness cards so I can apply for placements. I couldn't thank them enough for their help and understanding.

 

I know this may seem like I'm ambushing them but let me explain, it's getting harder and harder to get into the games industry because everyone applying is doing the same standard and of style of work (brilliantly I might add:) so I need to make myself different from the others. As an artist, I am desperaste to learn, that's why I ask about work experience. By doing this; I will make myself more attractive as an artist to work with. I recognise that experience and knowlegde will serve me well.

 

 

It's all very well producing beautifull peices of work, but if your one of the guys who wants to get into the Game or Animation industries, here are a few tips from me:

 

1. Attend Game and Animation Festivals- these will be vital help to you!

2. Apply for work experience (Make sure you show your enthusiasm)

3. Ask questions and speak with the game developers. (Their advice is like gold dust)

5. Publish some of your work on a blog (They have people looking out for new talent all the time)

6. Be yourself and don't be afraid of your diffrences:)

 

 

Dishonered Review

We have something special here! 8.5 / 10 ...

 

Next up on reviews is Dishonered. Before the game was released, I was very interested not only in the story but with also the concept of the environments, characters and othe attributes. Now I must be honest here... I thought "they are imitating the Assassin's Creed series" How wrong I was.To be honest, I was reluctant in purchasing the game mainly because of just how short gameplay actually was (10.5 hrs.) What made me change my mind were what my classmates were discussing about it. They applauded the gameplay, characters and NPC's etc. However; they believed that charging customers over £40.00 was quite steep for something that gave little in duration while troducing a new form of assassination. So I am in half agreement with them.

 

 

So what were the good points of the game you may ask? Well first of all I couldn't believe how rich the environments were. Take for example, the Boyle estate, the flooded district and the brothel. The colour scemes compliment each other beautifully, from the walls of the brothel and the fittings to the high standard of living and festive pleasures at the Boyle estate. Let's compare this to the flooded district. Mostly dark and flooded, I could still see the interesting and beautiful areas of the water and swamps and half destroyed buildings. Despite being a dark dismal place, there is beauty among it's features. Gamplay is astounding, it certainly resembles a breath of fresh air. The variety of powers are a treat to use, you can match them to you as the player which I believe was very considerate of Bethesda. The ability of striking aggressivly yet gracefully while dipatching a large variety of attack combinations was very... entertaining :D

The tallboys were a welcomed edition to combat, adding a challenge to those experienced players:)




Characteristics of NPC's were a pleasure to understand. Slackjaw and Granny rags were the most entertaining to say the least. The sounds that feature in the game, accompany the game with ease from the high standard of voice acting to sound mixes. As for the cons, game duration was the main issue however this depends on what type of gamer you are. If your the run an gun type, although this is the most fun way of completing a game, will end quite quickly. If you are a stealthy and cautious gamer, then the games duration excedes easily to 3 - 5 days. The second issues are the side missions... I wanted more! :D When I delved deeper into the methods of assassinations on each target, the number of options available were certainly numerous and clever. On the whole I believe this is was one of the best games of 2012 and I hope Bethesda consider developing a sequal.

I hope you guys have enjoyed the review. If you have any questions about the game, feel free to ask!