Week 3 - Abstract Imagery

What is Abstract Imagery?

Abstract imagery removes objects from their 'realistic' state using elements of imagination, abstraction, surrealism, metaphor and creative interpretation. It is used to make a statement, evoke emotional responses and describes an object or action in a way that isn't literally true, but helps explain an idea or to make a comparison. In this project, using abstract imagery will be essential in order to portray the subtext within the title sequence.

Literal Representation vs Abstract

Fear

For my literal representation of fear I chose a straightforward image. Since fear is something we feel rather than actually see, I chose a image of a woman curled up in a ball on a couch as if she is hiding away from something, showing that fear is something we perceive on our own. Alternatively, the abstract, monochromatic image evokes a sense of fear through its swirling, chaotic forms and textures, it is still up to the viewer to attach their own meaning to it, just how fear can mean something else to different people.

Love

For the literal representation of love I chose the iconic scene from the Titanic. As Rose and Jack embrace themselves at the very tip of the Titanic ship, many consider that to be a literal representation what romance and love could be. In contrast, the abstract image represents love through heart imagery, harmonious colour palette and smooth flowing textures. Together, these elements create feelings of warmth, connection, and emotional depth, representing both the passionate and peaceful sides of love.

Subtext in Evangelion

Neon Genesis Evangelion has many religious undertones that I feel like I could explore, some of these include:

Postmodern retelling of Genesis

The series title implies a postmodern retelling of the Genesis myth, with its own apocalypse, deluge, Armageddon, and transcendence.

Tree of Sephiroth

The Tree of Sephiroth (Tree of Life) is shown in the opening title sequence and in Gendo's office. It also appears in The End of Evangelion during Seele's version of Instrumentality.

SELE's logo

In Neon Genesis Evangelion, SEELE is a secret organization with a very distinct logo that reflects its ominous and mysterious nature. The logo features an apple with seven eyes across its surface, a likely reference to the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, which represents the pursuit of forbidden knowledge or enlightenment. This biblical reference aligns with SEELE’s ultimate goals of transcending humanity and achieving what they consider enlightenment or evolution.

Message

The show, whether they want it or not, makes viewers think about God. Their purpose on Earth, and belonging to a community or family. The main message is that everyone is worthy of love because they are capable of loving others.

Subtext and Abstraction in My Project

Within my title sequence I believe I will mostly lean towards the actual message of the show. I want to explore the sense of belonging and the struggle of finding purpose within the world of Evangelion. Additionally, I find the postmodern reading of the show highly intriguing. I believe these themes of postmodernism make the show so unique in the eyes of many fans. However, in order to do that I need to consider imagery that will help me convey these messages in a visual way. So far, I am leaning towards simple visuals: for example the visuals of hands can represent the ideas of belonging and reaching out for a purpose. I also recall the title sequence to The Morning Show (2019) that we have looked at back during our early lectures. I remember its use of circles, and its abstract representation of people within them. Perhaps that is something I should look into myself while considering my own subtext, mostly thinking about the humanity focus in Evangelion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NLSvaGTGP8

Pinterest Board

By the end of todays session, I have decided to start a Pinterest board that will help me find inspiration for the visual theme of my project. I was mostly leaning towards simple imagery, as well as some visuals from the show. I was inspired by the ending of Evangelion, I believe I could do some interesting foreshadowing within my title sequence. Additionally, the subtext mentioned above has highly influenced my choice of imagery.