Tag Archives: Week 11

Week 11: Horror for Whom?

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Watching Emilija Skarnulyte’s short film “Sirenomelia” reminded me of found footage, a subgenre of horror movies that heavily involve cameras and employ a first-person point of view (POV), which also reminds me of why found footage movies are a thing. In found footage movies, a group of characters use cameras to record their “discovery,” which happens to be the home or resting place of a monster or a deadly nature spirit. Often, one of the members of the group will disrupt the monster’s home or break a rule, which will understandably upset the monster and give them cause to come after them. We always view the movie from the disruptor’s/enabler’s POV, but never from the monster’s POV. Perhaps the monster is going through a horror movie of their own, seeing someone disrupt their home and break their rules so brazenly.

“Sirenomelia” is an interesting short film because it feels like a found footage horror movie, but instead of being from the POV of a human exploring the decommissioned submarine base, we get it from the point of view of a “monster”–a siren. If this found footage film was made from the POV of a human, we would only get a view of the base at the beginning of the film. We’d see the mountains, the surface of the icy sea, the inside of the base, and the lonely expanse of the land. Without the siren’s POV, we wouldn’t be able to see the underwater rail and the sea life that has made its home on the metal poles holding up the base. Exploring the submarine base from the siren’s point of view essentially turns us away from our terracentrist, anthropocentric view and asks us to explore another POV that is not human and not land-based.

Sirenomelia

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Eerie. Liminal. Isolated. I can only imagine that someone with Sirenomelia must feel isolated with the condition that they have. What piqued my interest is that when I looked up the word “sirenomelia”, Google told me that not only is this mutation extremely rare, but the likelihood of survival past childhood is even more uncommon. Therefore, I wonder if Škarnulytė purposefully created an isolated character to display how someone who has sirenomelia might feel. I like this piece because it explores a more modern form of art that we haven’t looked at yet in class.

Another aspect of the film I think is cool is the fusion of documentary and fiction. Part of the film observes the natural environment. The sound recordings from a quasar and the slow panning of the desolate landscape. On the other hand, there are depictions of a mermaid in a warmer climate.

Škarnulytė draws an interesting parallel between the deep cosmic and the deep water. I like how the shots of the deep ocean are combined with the cosmic soundtrack and the galactic sounds. It seems like the filmmaker is trying to emphasize the similarities between the Ocean and Space. Somehow this short draws the curious eyes and ears through suspense and the uncanny environment. It starts by showing a place at 2 above freezing, a temperature humans can’t survive in, and I only reluctantly experience for short periods in my ice bath. Although there are people who live above the Arctic Circle, it is for the most part abandoned by humans. Even the word “decommissioned” adds an element of spectrality, making the space seem more liminal. I’d like to hear what my classmates think of this film, and if it reminds them of anything.

The use of variable white balance also makes me question the choice of warmer colors towards the end of the film. Could it be to emphasize a warmer climate? Invoke intimacy with the character? Why did it go black and white for a moment? Was that to make it seem like a long time ago? Galaxy far far away?

Week 11: Sirenemelia Video Analysis Tangent

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This week we had to watch a video called Sirenemelia, a six minute video of ominous clips of icy lands, dark waters, and a mermaid-like creature swimming around. There was no audio or much context to go off of. One thing I did pick up was that we do not know much about the ocean and its inhabitants so that feeling of not knowing what the video was about or it having context may have been trying to emulate that same lack of knowledge we have with the water. When the mermaid showed up in the short film, I thought about the mystery or mermaid and that highly debated question of if they truly exist or existed at some point. I feel like when you watch this video someone might feel uncomfortable by it or even a bit scared of the water or unknown, but instead this video made me curious. While watching this video, due to the lack of structure and context, I let my mind fill in the gaps and began to relate it to a TikTok I saw the other week; it was a video of a preacher going back and fourth with a woman in the crowd as to why she should believe Jesus was resurrected if there were no medical records to prove it. His rebuttal to her was that “they did not keep medical records in the first century.” She then exclaimed how convenient that was there was no such thing back then. the preacher than uses her frustration and flips it explaining how it was “convenient” I’ve her to create a condition that she knew was impossible to meet in order for her to become a believer of Jesus’ resurrection. He then goes on to name many well known philosophers, such as Helmer, Aristotle, Sophocles, and so on, that she provide medical records for them. He argues how historical knowledge is not based on medical records, but instead trustworthy eyewitness testimonies; that those philosophers really did live because there’s historical evidence that says that they did therefore the historical evidence that says Jesus resurrected from the dead should be treated with the same willingness to accept as truth. Although I am not trying to equate legitimacy of Jesus and Christianity with mermaids, I thought that the idea of eyewitness testimony from days where there were no records or film to capture information to pass it on, poses the idea that maybe there once was real mermaid and sirens but society just all agreed their literary records were made up entirely. We accept some things as truth in the old dusty books we read, yet other information that is too unfamiliar we deem untrue, but what if it was all real? I say all of that to say that the SIrenemelia video made me revisit the idea that our society as a whole knows very little about the ocean and what may reside in it; perhaps the image of the mermaid was constructed for human beings to learn from and she is made up to fit an agenda, or maybe someone really did see a mermaid or siren at one point and shared that knowledge through books and eyewitness testimony.

Week 11: Sirenomelia

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While watching Sirenomelia, it felt very off-putting and almost uncomfortable to watch. The sounds in the background and visuals in the beginning definitely contributed to this feeling. It reminded me of watching an episode of Black Mirror where you are so drawn in but you’re not really sure why. It’s simultaneously familiar, while also unsettlingly surreal. The juxtaposition of the mermaid figure against the backdrop of a decommissioned NATO base in the Arctic Circle creates the surreal atmosphere, similar to the unsettling scenes often seen in the Black Mirror episodes. When the camera panned to the mermaid swimming in an industrialized area, it created a contrast that shows the clash between nature and human intervention. It kind of made me feel uneasy as there could easily be mythical creatures living among the ocean and coexisting with the manmade. I think this scene portrays the consequences of industrialization on ecosystems and the intrusion of human activity on natural environments. The inoperative site once filled with activity and human presence now stands abandoned and still, serving as an obstruction among the surrounding natural environment. This sense of desolation, isolation, and decay of the abandoned landscape adds to the overall uneasiness that I felt and I’m sure other viewers felt through watching the film. I feel as if the mermaid and the decommissioned base serve as constructs of past and present, as well as imagination versus reality. The mermaid is a timeless presence, as they have been ingrained across numerous cultures and time periods. They tend to symbolize the untamed forces of nature and the lure of the unknown. The mermaid exists beyond time constraints and can transcend boundaries, or even the lack thereof.

The ending of the film shows the mermaid swimming, on the open ocean from an aerial view. To me, I think this truly shows the endless possibilities and unknowns that may lie in the ocean and beyond the known world. Just as the ocean offers a limitless amount of opportunities, so does the human imagination. Knowing how vast the ocean is truly scares me and maybe it should. Maybe we weren’t meant to explore the ocean, but I still find myself questioning what we are missing by not diving deeper.

week 11? Sirenomelia

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professor where did you even find this

anyways it was really uncanny, with all of those shots from under the surface of the water. And then the mermaid(?) swimming amongst the human structures, and then later in the middle of the ocean… it felt so out of place and yet so natural..

I think it speaks to how humans are somewhat out of place in nature, just as the mermaid was out of place amongst the structures. All of the shots of the quiet stillness in the ocean and in that tundra area sort of spoke to how nature sort of coexists with itself. That mermaids are a sort of extension of nature in a way, because we see the mermaid in the water almost all the time (naturally).
the film kind of implies that mermaids are indeed the link between humans and the ocean because the mermaid interacts with bare, isolated nature and the equally empty human structures. There’s also a bit of curiosity as the mermaid explores the structures, it could be a nod to how humans are curious about the ocean and explore it slowly.

Week 11: Sirenomelia

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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

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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

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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

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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.

The “Emptiness” of the Ocean

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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.