APD wk12 Play & Stillness

Theme:
Play & Stillness

Context:
My response for this week is inspired by the contemplative game, Flower, by Thatgamecompany. I want to explore the contrast of stillness and movement. The gameplay of Flower reminds me of the visual experience sitting in a moving vehicle. While the passenger sitting still in the moving vehicle, the scenery outside of the window continuously moves forward or backward based on the vehicle’s speed and direction. The subtle humming engine in the moving vehicle and the moving scenery are combined into a meditative environmental loop, which often time creates a sense of calmness for the passenger. I want to simulate the experience of sitting in the moving vehicle with different video clips.

Method:
Create a video clip, based on the passenger view, in a vehicle, which is driving through different locations. 

Response:

1. Recording different scenery clips in a moving car
2. Take photos of passenger’s window in a car
3. Collect matching SFX for the clips
4. Combine window frame with different video clips and SFX

Project outcome: https://youtu.be/wzcB43WhLko

Reflection:
I enjoyed the short break and away from school work on the weekend. I tried to capture the sense of movements with visual and SFX from my trip. Like the potted flower seed from Flower, I moved through different locations and scenery. As a player, the game experience of flower creates a stillness of mind from a point of view of the flying seed. As a passenger, I physically experienced the stillness sitting in the car; and the contrast of the scenery movement outside of the window enhanced the sense of stillness, being in the car. Research shows that being in a moving car is similar to being in bed. Passenger is usually sitting relaxedly and not doing much in a moving car, which is what people usually do when getting in bed. The engine humming in the background is a kind of white noise. The visual and audio creates a calming and meditative experience.

References:

• https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-why-do-we-always-fall-asleep-in-cars-85909
• https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-25216601
• https://youtu.be/mk1-F5il_c8