In the article, Marilyn Rivchin was quoted saying that, "the Quays meticulously shoot one frame at a time for their films, distinctly non-narrative pieces that pull the viewer along into unique metaphorical worlds." Although heavily metaphorical, the piece also exemplifies the experimental and curious nature of the Quays' work. This idea is clear in the video "Street of Crocodiles." Rather than examining the potential symbolism of such props as screws, dust, string, and wind-up monkeys, many shots seem to focus on the movements and inherent characteristics of the materials. It is also clear in the video that the Quays are communicating through motions. Along with motion, there is not really a plot. Timothy Quay was quoting in the article saying, "If you had to write a legitimate script, you'd succumb to a whole process that's just terrifying." "Street of Crocodiles" is definitely a unique video that makes you think due to its interesting composition.
It was very interesting to read the article about the Quay Brother's time at Cornell prior to watching the video "Street of Crocodiles". The article described the Quays' work as being "finely detailed miniature sets [that] create moody, evocative environments from found objects and reused materials, such as fabrics, paper, wood and metal". From this explanation it was interesting to see how my own imagination compared to what was actually shown. While I had prepared myself for an eerie environment, the clip went beyond simply depicting an environment. There seemed to be no real plot or method to each shot except to show movement and design. It was very raw and reminded me almost of being in a tool box. I also enjoyed how the Quay Brothers assign each other roles within the clips. Whoever builds the puppet, works the puppet while the other works the camera. This statement made me feel like there was a suggested connection between the artist and his puppet. The combined efforts of the two artists make a really unique piece of work that is different from anything i have ever seen previously.
Watching the Quay Brother’s clip before reading the article was definitely a backwards approach because I didn’t fully understand what I was seeing. After reading the article on the Quay Brothers filmmaking, I learned that the film I had watched was made from mini sets involving small puppets. They are stop-motion animation films, which seems to be a very difficult type of filmmaking because they shoot one frame at a time. Even though their film didn’t have a narrative, unique elements like the sets were enough to engage any viewer. This type of film is far different from many films I have seen before because it is created in a very unique way.
After reading the article and watching the Quay Brother's clip I was impressed by the way they were able to use the array of "found objects and reused materials, such as fabrics, paper, wood and metal." The small hand made sets portrayed eerie, and evocative scenes. These scenes were all very detailed in color, puppets, objects and light use. It amazed me that this was a stop motion film because there is no indication or hint each scene is comprised of hundreds of frames. I agree with one of the students comments that "there's something very sincere about it” especially knowing that the Quay Brothers made everything by hand and produced it all themselves. It is inspiring to see a stop motion film done so well and in such a way that created such a distinct style of its own.
After Reading that the Cornell Chronicle article and seeing the Quay Brothers film, I could not stop thinking about how much time it must have taken them to make that 3 minute long film as well as the dolls. The movements were so smooth that sometimes I forgot that it was stop motion. You could really see the influence of European Literature in this film because the puppets, setting and emotions reminded me of a Russian or German play. The main puppet reminded me especially of European puppets and masks that are made in Eastern Europe.
I thought the quay Brothers piece was very impressive. Their ability to create an overall feeling with the movement and look of their characters was in itself worthy of all their esteemed acclaim. Another element that stuck out to me was how the use of lighting and set design seemed to create a congruent and expanding world. It seemed it was a world that expanded outside the frame. The film “street of crocodiles” reminds of a combination of Tim Burtons “nightmare before Christmas” and Nickelodeons “AHH real monsters.” Both of which are some what gothic, fictitious takes on modern society.
The Cornell article made me intrigued to the process and approach of the Quay brothers. Described as "finely detailed miniature sets [that] create moody, evocative environments from found objects and reused materials, such as fabrics, paper, wood and metal," I could not properly conceptualize what the Quay brothers were setting out to do. However, once I watched "Street of Crocodiles," the dots were connected and I understood the meticulous precision of the operation. Not only was the stop motion animation highly detailed and meticulous, it explores unrealistic, metaphorical worlds that seem disconnected from reality. The eerie weirdness about the animation may cause the viewer to overanalyze the use of objects, for instance nails & screws, but nonetheless the animation is up for interpretation.
The first thing to strike me about the Quay brothers film was the overall feeling the environment and movement of the film brought about. As a viewer you are instantly thrown into a dark, uncomfortable , and in a way monotonous environment. As another student commented it has many similarities to Tim Burtons "nightmare before Christmas", while watching the film this was one of the first things I noticed. The similarity between these films can be seen in the empty eyes and generally dark impression the films leaves you with. While on that topic, the eyes were an incredibly fascinating metaphorical tool, showing the lack of soul, passion, and life, of a city that seems to almost turn it's people into lifeless tools. The impact of Eastern European lit. is obvious in the darkness and industrial aspects that extend throughout the film.
In this stop motion animation the Quay brothers present a frightful image with the usage of finely detailed puppets. These puppets interact with old used materials of the past. The partially disassembled materials create a dark atmosphere for the viewer. All of the movement in this short film is very precise and intentional. The motions within the film give off a sense of struggle and unhappiness. The film seems to be highly metaphorical with influences of an obscure nature. Interestingly, I found the focus of many of the Quay brothers shots seeming to capture the movement and the features of the involved materials, rather then the materials themselves. It is possible that one may interpret some form of symbolism from the employed props. Language was rarely involved besides for the soft, foreign voice that comes into frame for a short time. Yet besides that, language seems to be unimportant for the expression of the Quay Brothers. Instead they utilize music for the base depiction of emotion. Towards the end, a few blue sentences emerge explaining the further reasoning behind this film "The Street of Crocodiles was a concession of our city to modernity and metropolitan corruption".
I mentioned in class my favorite movie called "The Fall". There is a very short section of stop-motion animation that reminds me A LOT of this Brothers Quay film. I've looked online and can't find any information on this scene but i did find it on youtube: the specific scene is from minute 1:55 to 2:35
In the article, Marilyn Rivchin was quoted saying that, "the Quays meticulously shoot one frame at a time for their films, distinctly non-narrative pieces that pull the viewer along into unique metaphorical worlds." Although heavily metaphorical, the piece also exemplifies the experimental and curious nature of the Quays' work. This idea is clear in the video "Street of Crocodiles." Rather than examining the potential symbolism of such props as screws, dust, string, and wind-up monkeys, many shots seem to focus on the movements and inherent characteristics of the materials. It is also clear in the video that the Quays are communicating through motions. Along with motion, there is not really a plot. Timothy Quay was quoting in the article saying, "If you had to write a legitimate script, you'd succumb to a whole process that's just terrifying." "Street of Crocodiles" is definitely a unique video that makes you think due to its interesting composition.
ReplyDeleteIt was very interesting to read the article about the Quay Brother's time at Cornell prior to watching the video "Street of Crocodiles". The article described the Quays' work as being "finely detailed miniature sets [that] create moody, evocative environments from found objects and reused materials, such as fabrics, paper, wood and metal". From this explanation it was interesting to see how my own imagination compared to what was actually shown. While I had prepared myself for an eerie environment, the clip went beyond simply depicting an environment. There seemed to be no real plot or method to each shot except to show movement and design. It was very raw and reminded me almost of being in a tool box. I also enjoyed how the Quay Brothers assign each other roles within the clips. Whoever builds the puppet, works the puppet while the other works the camera. This statement made me feel like there was a suggested connection between the artist and his puppet. The combined efforts of the two artists make a really unique piece of work that is different from anything i have ever seen previously.
ReplyDeleteWatching the Quay Brother’s clip before reading the article was definitely a backwards approach because I didn’t fully understand what I was seeing. After reading the article on the Quay Brothers filmmaking, I learned that the film I had watched was made from mini sets involving small puppets. They are stop-motion animation films, which seems to be a very difficult type of filmmaking because they shoot one frame at a time. Even though their film didn’t have a narrative, unique elements like the sets were enough to engage any viewer. This type of film is far different from many films I have seen before because it is created in a very unique way.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the article and watching the Quay Brother's clip I was impressed by the way they were able to use the array of "found objects and reused materials, such as fabrics, paper, wood and metal." The small hand made sets portrayed eerie, and evocative scenes. These scenes were all very detailed in color, puppets, objects and light use. It amazed me that this was a stop motion film because there is no indication or hint each scene is comprised of hundreds of frames. I agree with one of the students comments that "there's something very sincere about it” especially knowing that the Quay Brothers made everything by hand and produced it all themselves. It is inspiring to see a stop motion film done so well and in such a way that created such a distinct style of its own.
ReplyDeleteAfter Reading that the Cornell Chronicle article and seeing the Quay Brothers film, I could not stop thinking about how much time it must have taken them to make that 3 minute long film as well as the dolls. The movements were so smooth that sometimes I forgot that it was stop motion. You could really see the influence of European Literature in this film because the puppets, setting and emotions reminded me of a Russian or German play. The main puppet reminded me especially of European puppets and masks that are made in Eastern Europe.
ReplyDeleteI thought the quay Brothers piece was very impressive. Their ability to create an overall feeling with the movement and look of their characters was in itself worthy of all their esteemed acclaim. Another element that stuck out to me was how the use of lighting and set design seemed to create a congruent and expanding world. It seemed it was a world that expanded outside the frame. The film “street of crocodiles” reminds of a combination of Tim Burtons “nightmare before Christmas” and Nickelodeons “AHH real monsters.” Both of which are some what gothic, fictitious takes on modern society.
ReplyDeleteThe Cornell article made me intrigued to the process and approach of the Quay brothers. Described as "finely detailed miniature sets [that] create moody, evocative environments from found objects and reused materials, such as fabrics, paper, wood and metal," I could not properly conceptualize what the Quay brothers were setting out to do. However, once I watched "Street of Crocodiles," the dots were connected and I understood the meticulous precision of the operation. Not only was the stop motion animation highly detailed and meticulous, it explores unrealistic, metaphorical worlds that seem disconnected from reality. The eerie weirdness about the animation may cause the viewer to overanalyze the use of objects, for instance nails & screws, but nonetheless the animation is up for interpretation.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing to strike me about the Quay brothers film was the overall feeling the environment and movement of the film brought about. As a viewer you are instantly thrown into a dark, uncomfortable , and in a way monotonous environment. As another student commented it has many similarities to Tim Burtons "nightmare before Christmas", while watching the film this was one of the first things I noticed. The similarity between these films can be seen in the empty eyes and generally dark impression the films leaves you with. While on that topic, the eyes were an incredibly fascinating metaphorical tool, showing the lack of soul, passion, and life, of a city that seems to almost turn it's people into lifeless tools. The impact of Eastern European lit. is obvious in the darkness and industrial aspects that extend throughout the film.
ReplyDeleteIn this stop motion animation the Quay brothers present a frightful image with the usage of finely detailed puppets. These puppets interact with old used materials of the past. The partially disassembled materials create a dark atmosphere for the viewer. All of the movement in this short film is very precise and intentional. The motions within the film give off a sense of struggle and unhappiness. The film seems to be highly metaphorical with influences of an obscure nature. Interestingly, I found the focus of many of the Quay brothers shots seeming to capture the movement and the features of the involved materials, rather then the materials themselves. It is possible that one may interpret some form of symbolism from the employed props. Language was rarely involved besides for the soft, foreign voice that comes into frame for a short time. Yet besides that, language seems to be unimportant for the expression of the Quay Brothers. Instead they utilize music for the base depiction of emotion. Towards the end, a few blue sentences emerge explaining the further reasoning behind this film "The Street of Crocodiles was a concession of our city to modernity and metropolitan corruption".
ReplyDeleteI mentioned in class my favorite movie called "The Fall". There is a very short section of stop-motion animation that reminds me A LOT of this Brothers Quay film. I've looked online and can't find any information on this scene but i did find it on youtube:
ReplyDeletethe specific scene is from minute 1:55 to 2:35
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXi4XxqcM78