IDAT 211 - Concept overview

For this perception video project we were asked to create a video for the IVT that explores an aspect of perception and representation.  The concept I have chosen for my video as shown in my storyboarding below is related to the idea that our perception is based on our experiences and knowledge of things and that we apply this to what we see in order to find some kind of meaning.  I therefore decided to explore this by providing the viewer of my video with a chance to test how much information is needed to trigger their recognition of objects.  It occurred to me that fluids such as water, due to their fluidic properties, can mould around objects and give an idea of the shape underneath, without the shape necessarily being visible.  My concept therefore relies on a hidden-revealed narrative where shapes are originally only visible in how the water reacts. This allows viewers to see if their perception can find meaning in the scene before the reveal. The object is then revealed to the viewer either confirming or falsifying their perception.

My video uses this as its main concept, focusing on water and how it can be used to provide a suggestion of a shape.  The environments in which I set my scenes are also important for the viewers perception.  Although the main environment of the scene is basic, the events and objects in the scene link with each other to enable the viewer to more easily gain recognition of what they are seeing before the object itself is revealed.  This is as follows:

• The invisible umbrella is located in a scene where it is raining.  Umbrellas are closely linked with rain due to their usage and so the rain should narrow the viewers perception to a limited set of possible objects to find the meaning of the scene.
• The invisible rubber ducky is placed under an inflow system like a tap.  Rubber ducks are used in baths - baths use running taps to fill them, and so again the type of water situation used helps to narrow the viewers perception and hopefully make the object easier to recognise.

As well as making the visual scene more representative of the object the sound I have chosen for the scenes helps to support the different environments I am trying to portray. This gives a more realistic feeling to the scenes making it easier to find meaning.