Task 3 The Uncanny

Figure 1: The Uncanny (Original Source)

While looking for potential locations to find the uncanny, I was a bit stumped, I wasn’t sure what to look for and yet I had an idea of what it entailed. These are some of the locations I had in mind:

•    An abandoned building

•    Alleys at night

•    Paceville after New Year’s Eve

•    A wooded area at night (Buskett…)

I wanted my location to be organic and thus I chose to go with the natural side of street life in the end i.e. Buskett.

Figure 2: Buskett (Original Source)

When it came to lighting I wanted the scene to be dark but still have some light in it so I decided to take photos before or at dusk for dim lighting using only natural lighting if possible. As I mentioned before I wanted my shots to feel organic, that is why I chose the forest like setting which will give a  Rough, Organic and Unpredictable look.

I wanted to focus mainly on  the textures and the light, and so I decided to take the photos in black and white.

Mainly focusing on:

•    contrast

•    Light

•    Texture

I wanted to portray the feeling of being observed constantly that is generally associated with a condition known as Social Anxiety which affects the person in a way that makes them judge their own actions, thinking that they are being scrutinised by everyone around them. I also felt like this condition is similar to being trapped in a sort of purgatory since it makes you feel like you are trapped forever to suffer and be laughed at.

Social anxiety makes people retreat from social events thus isolating them in their own mind, here represented by the forest and anxiety by the eye. The Ghosts I thought could represent the isolation and inability to communicate that one feels when socially anxious.

Figure 3: Spiritus Silvam (Original Source)

Whilst browsing the internet I found some surreslistic paintings by René Magritte that inspired me to create the final piece that will be featured at hte end. The one that sparked my imagination the most is, "The False Mirror" because of the eye that is the crux of observation and thus scrutiny. I was really inspired by how he used the eye as a sort of window or "mirror" as he refers to it Specifically a false mirror signifying that whatever may be reflected in it is not entirely true or part of reality.

Figure 4: The False Mirror (rene-magritte.com)

Figure 5: Oculus (Original Source)

When I decided to create this image I wanted to convey the feeling that a socially anxious person feels. The eye is something that symbolises being seen in every culture but also bad luck in others, social anxiety revolves around the idea that what you think about yourself is known by others even though they had no means by which to gain that knowledge. Your mind thinks that you’re easy to read and that your every flaw is a beacon for the harpies of the world. The forest scenery is a metaphor for escape from urban life, a retreat to nature. However, the forest in its isolation also sparks fear, the socially anxious mind thinks it is being watched even when alone micromanaging every movement and action. The diagonal growth of some of the trees gives a sense of instability to the composition, while the dark black and white tones give the image a sort of detachment from reality. At last the opacity of the eye reflects the feeling of transparency that a socially anxious person feels. Overall the image gives a dream like state of paranoia whilst being trapped in a mental purgatory.


Presentation

References

•Rene-magritte.com, (2019). The False Mirror by Rene Magritte [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.rene-magritte.com/false-mirror/ [Accessed 6/1/2019]. 

•Art.com, (2019). Beautiful Rene Magritte artwork for sale, Posters and Prints | Art.com [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.art.com/gallery/id--a4304/rene-magritte-posters.htm?AIDCJ=11554813&PIDCJ=7861246&SIDCJ=&RFID=547673 [Accessed 6/1/2019].