Category Archives: Week 11: Cinematic Monsters and/as Environmental Crisis

Sirenomelia

Posted on by
Reply

Sirenomelia left me with many questions.
The video was a bit strange, but the first things that came to mind were the following:

What does NATO do? Why is that operation “decommissioned”? What were they doing there? Is this video real or staged?

So according to google, NATO’s purpose is to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means. Security in the ocean… from what??

This video made it more apparent to me that we really don’t know what’s going on in the ocean , but also politically. Politics are also part of the environment, but our access to information is very limited. There are many classified things that isn’t revealed to the public and this video is sending me down a conspiracy rabbit-hole. 😭

Mermaids are probably real and the government probably knows this too…

Week 11: Sirenomelia

Posted on by
1

This week’s video left me confused, interested but also a bit scared in a way. It was hard to forget about the audio because it sounded like screeching noises but it had taken me back to a certain day in class in which we listened to the theme song for a mermaid tv show. I thought it was interesting to use that noise as the history of sirens that I have learned showed that these mythical beings used their song to lure sailors which made it feel almost intentional to use as it would lure in viewers to continue watching. The opening scenes were a bit confusing as I didn’t know what I was supposed to be seeing from the kaleidoscope scene but what really caught my attention was the amount of snow and ice there was. It makes me think about how this is also a different form of nature that is a bit more neglected and ultimately doesn’t get the attention needed, the area in which this was filmed in has most likely changed as global warming continues to be an issue but it continues to not be a public issue as it is a place that is out of our nature element and seems extraordinary. There was a scene in which the mermaid was swimming between two pieces of land and it kept taking me back to last week’s class in which the big topic that was talked about was not being able to claim the Ocean. In a way for me it continued to show the idea of flow and flexibility that the Ocean has as it is a constant moving place that is touched by so many things but yet there is no clear indication that countries have full claim over parts of the water. The closing scene in which the mermaid was swimming through the Ocean also resinated with me as it showed how small humans are in comparison to the Ocean but yet there’s this belief in humans that they are the most “powerful” being on Earth, so if we’re this “big” and “powerful” why don’t we take up 71% of the planet? Why is it that the Ocean does? And why is it that the Ocean is continued to be portrayed as a small part of our world when in fact it is something huge?

Week 11: The Sounds of Sirenomelia

Posted on by
2

While there were many aspects of this film project that stood out to me, the audio was the one thing I could not ignore. It was unsettling at times and loud, but there were times where it was also very peaceful. The sounds of the ocean and the waves lapping against the ice was a stark contrast to the high-pitched and occasionally distorted frequencies that would play soon after. This contrast signifies the unnaturalness of humans being so involved in the ocean. The more peaceful audio shown with the natural scenery of both the ocean and the land showcase how the environment is at peace when it is untouched by humans. When there are no buildings or roads placed into the natural formations of the land or sea, the environment is at equilibrium. However, when there are man-made satellites, ports, passageways, etc the audio becomes more uncomfortable to listen to, signifying that the environment is uncomfortable when humans start to interfere with it. Even though the base has been decommissioned and seems to be abandoned, the structures still exist and create a lasting mark on the environment. The ocean and the land surrounding it has been disrupted for human gain, so the audio forces viewers to be uncomfortable in the same way that the environment is after being altered. 

The audio of this video project also reminds me of the discussion in class we had about what a siren song would sound like. The ending scene contained audio that was almost hypnotic. It was both a little unnerving but also peaceful at the same time which made me think about what would be in a mermaid or a siren’s song. The sample of the mermaid song we listened to in class was a bit more melodic and sounded a little more human but the audio here was a little more animalistic, in that it reminded me of whale calls. This reinforces the idea that the ocean is so vast and unexplored that we, as humans, cannot fathom all that exists in it and we cannot imagine what a mermaid song could sound like. Does it lean more towards the example we heard in class or does it sound more like the audio in this short film? I think the basis of a siren song would be that it makes humans uneasy and intrigued. 

Week 11: Sirenomelia

Posted on by
1

The short film assigned for this week’s blog and in class discussion was honestly quite confusing at first but the word I would use to describe the film is eerie and/or haunting. I think that this film shines light on the idea that the human population truly does not know what lies in the depths of the ocean. The idea that there could be something possibly there in the water with you and you not knowing is something that frightens many individuals, I included at times, and I think that the film only displaying murky unclear water emphasizes this fear. As well, aids in enhancing the fear that many individuals can have about the ocean because our senses are being stripped away when being under the water, when out in the open ocean an individual can neither touch, smell, taste, anything and the only sense available is sight but even then it is affected by the salt water. So the only sense present under the water is hearing, which honestly is the worst of all because the idea of being in the middle of the ocean and randomly hearing sounds like in the video would send chills down anyone’s spine. I think this aids in answering the idea and question as to which scientists are not exploring the deep ocean and why we do not know as much about the ocean compared to everything else we know about this planet and even space. It’s the idea and fear of the unknown, the idea that you are going into “new territory” and not knowing what is there. I think this video displays that humans will truly never understand the complexity that is of the ocean whether that is because they choose not to because they physically cannot or whether fear is hindering them, but I find it amusing because humans are so “territorial” and want to claim everything so that makes me wonder why they choose not to explore the ocean. Or even question if maybe there is something in the water that they do not want to discover out of fear because after all NASA’s original purpose was to discover the ocean, so it make me wonder if maybe there is something hiding in the deep murky water. 

Week 11 — Sirenomelia

Posted on by
1

After watching Sirernomelia for the first time I was thoroughly confused and remotely scared to be honest. I had a wide variety of mixed feelings and was surprised it didn’t show a mermaid until the latter half of the video. I wasn’t quite sure what I was looking at during the kaleidoscope scene, but I would imagine it was a satellite or a telescope of some sorts. This made me question what it has to do with mermaids or the video in general, which made me realize that the same level of fear and confusion I am feeling about these above-water shots of manmade structures is similar to how many people feel about the ocean. This goes back to what we were talking about last week in that so much of the ocean is unexplored and unknown, it is a foreign entity in our backyard that we don’t know much about. I believe this video was trying to instill this same mindset in the viewers, while at the same time relating that feeling to random man made structures that are above water; simply because it is unknown does not mean that it has to be intimidating. On the other hand, I felt like the ocean was portrayed as a bit scary, especially with the scene where all the water went black and looked like oil spilled (although I believe it was just editing). This reminds me of some of the old and original paintings we saw in class of the ocean being a scary mess that did not appear inviting. Being that I try to get in the water everyday I like to think of the ocean in a bit different light, but all things considered I am normally in much warmer water with more people and more marine life around me. Another thing to consider too is that although it’s cold, dark, and scary, there is obviously plant life existing along the structures there. I can’t confidently say whether it’s kelp or a type of algae, but either of those typically serve as the bottom of the food chain for larger fish and animals. This means that as barren as this undisclosed location seems, there is probably a much larger ecosystem at play that is not being captured in the film.

Week 11: Sirenomelia

Posted on by
1

After viewing this video I was honestly left slightly confused but also interested. Analyzing the video led me to realize that it exemplifies how humans tend to only look at the surface and not dive into “the deep” or what is below the surface. While there is a lot to explore on the surface, as seen through the mountain ranges and roads, there is so much below the surface that humans have not yet discovered. The mermaid in the video represents this unknown world. Through developing technology and investing in research humans can learn so much about the ocean and what life is like below the surface. Whether it is because of fear, disinterest, or lack of technology, humans have not put the effort into learning about the ocean as they have in learning about space and all things above the surface. The mermaid in the video is seen swimming through a river and looking up at a bridge. They are looking at manmade items and connecting themselves to the human world. The camera angle of the mermaid looking up represents their interest in the human world. If humans would look down, we would be much more connected to what makes up over 70% of the Earth, the Ocean.

Sirenomelia

Posted on by
2

When watching Sirenomelia, the visuals and sound effects in this were quite interesting. I was intrigued by the interaction with the glaciers and human-made disk. I feel this represents the relationship between the Ocean and humans, and how we interact with it does affect it. Just because we only see the surface doesn’t mean the deep isn’t important, or doesn’t have its own history. The underwater shots the camera got, versus the above ground shots of the glaciers were really interesting to me. I felt that they paralleled each other and the underground shots felt more intimate and scary. When we saw under the Ocean it felt more sort of ominous and alive, then the top of the Ocean where we see the glaciers. I believe this is represents our own relationship with the humans, and how it might be easier to disregard something when you can only see the surface. I think this video was trying to show this parallel, between the surface of the Ocean and the depth of it. I think it is showing that the Ocean has history, and us humans usually disregard it because OUR history is not in the depths of the Ocean. Yes we have history with exploring the surface of the Oceans and using it as transportation, but our own history does not include the Ocean. I thought it was interesting to think about this aspect when watching that video.

Not only this, but the underwater shots from the water, looking up at human made balcony or bridge, is also showing the effect humans have on the Ocean and the water. The relationship between the two in important, which is what this video/artwork is trying to show. We might not notice it because we are not underwater or looking up: We only see the surface. I also believe that this video , when underwater is in the perspective of the Sirens, as we see snippets of them swimming underwater. The curiosity they have of us humans, and the surface. This shot towards the end not only reminded me of the relationships between humans and the Ocean, but also humans and the unknown. I thought this depiction of Sirens and their perspective of looking through the surface of the water was very interesting to see shown, changing the narrative of only seeing the surface- as us humans do.

Week 11: Sirenomelia

Posted on by
2

This short film left me with wonder and confusion while it also demonstrated a great sense of complexity. I felt that it was a bit difficult to follow, but the key idea is the depth of the oceans and how much is left unknown. It brings forth examples of climate change by showing the warming temperatures affecting climates around the world. It is a common idea that we know the effects of climate change, but it reality we only know bits and pieces. Sirenomelia reminded us how big the ocean is and how much life can be held within. Hard to say that humans will ever fully comprehend the ocean and all the organisms that come with it. With that being said, I think this film strives to encourage proceeding with caution and be intentional in our involvement with this underworld.

We often discuss how humans intend to dominate, maintain control and are of a higher power than nonhumans. The constant comparison, especially in literary work we have studied, goes to show how humans comprehend this power dynamic. When really there is clearly a lack of understanding, and maybe even misunderstanding when it comes to other creatures. This can be demonstrated through mermaid, but also through ocean dwelling animals. There is a lot to understand in this film that can surely be brought back to the relationships with climate and humans.

Week 11: Sirenomelia

Posted on by
2

Watching this video reminded me of one of the terms we discussed last week, distortion. This ocean centric language proposal in Deterritorializing: Preface mentioned switching from clarity to distortion, as many things underwater are distorted and how this distortion should be a baseline condition. I saw this distortion in the video we watched this week, as there were both visual and auditory distortions when the camera was underwater. Looking up at the land, one could not see as clearly as one should be able to, and there were light distortions through the water. When an audio clip of someone talking played, it was muffled and incomprehensible. It was interesting to see the world from what a mermaid’s perspective might be, and how separated from the human world this perspective is. When the camera was underwater and pointed up at the surface, the land beyond seemed so far away. If we did switch our language from clarity to distortion, it would allow us to consider other perspectives, and perhaps understand that our personal perspective is not truly clear; rather that it is distorted, as is everyone else’s. 

I also thought the locations chosen by the director were interesting. There was a sharp contrast between the snowy land, that was just nature for miles and miles, untouched by man. Then, where the mermaid was swimming, there was concrete and industrialization. As it states in the description, the mermaid is exploring an old, decommissioned NATO base, which also goes to show that even when humans think they need land, they are willing to just abandon it after it has served its purpose. Perhaps this contrast is making commentary on mankind’s effects on the environment. While some parts are unscathed, others are dominated by the effects of industrialization and humans’ need for land. And by changing the raw environment, it makes it more difficult for the natural world to navigate. Instead of this mermaid having the ability to roam in an open space (as shown in the video at 4:53), the mermaid is confined to tunnels and canals. As humans, we are able to manipulate the world in a way that affects many more species than just our own. 

The “Emptiness” of the Ocean

Posted on by
1

The Ocean is a expansive world that contains multiple different dimensions that we have not yet allocated the resources to explore. This wide mass holds mystery, beauty, and overarching powers that defy our slightest comprehension of the Ocean’s potential in the world. As stated the Ocean heavily surpasses our comprehension as we, at first glance, may perceive the ocean as an empty void yet these infinite expanses, contain life beyond human understanding. In humanity’s typical approach to Earth we perceive ourselves as the masters of the world and the rulers of our environment. Although this idea immediately crumbles when humans are confronted with the magnitude of the Ocean and face the struggle of being humbled by our own egos. We are nothing in comparison to the Ocean and its vastness, the depth of society has no comparison to the depth of the Ocean.

While we conquer society on land we have failed to conquer the ocean. In my opinion I don’t think we will ever have the potential to fully dominate the Ocean and unfortunately do not think that society will delegate the resources to do so. I include the image of the mermaid swimming in the Ocean because it barely scrapes the surface on how big the Ocean truly is, in comparison to our own bodies. The world is 70% water, in which we are surrounded and dominated by its power. The image is directly from the video and I think it is an emphasis of our position in the world, even all powerful mermaids do not compare to the size of the Ocean. While our comfort is in the land, we must force ourselves to explore the vastness that proceeds us as it is the bane of our existence. The Ocean serves as a timeless entity that is everything but “empty” as it is filled with every reminder of our creation and adaptations. Rather than view the Ocean as an empty vessel we should view it as a space of infinite potential and opportunity. We must allow ourselves to erase our egos against the Ocean and acknowledge our existence as “less than” in the face of the Ocean, as once we recognize the power the Ocean has, we can learn to join our powers and work in unison.