This document provides an overview and analysis of Joshua Etienne's project to create three digital paintings based on excerpts from H.G. Wells' book "The First Men in the Moon." It includes background on Wells and the book, descriptions of the three scenes to be depicted, visual concepts and initial thumbnails for the paintings, and an introduction to the analysis essay.
This document provides an overview and analysis of Joshua Etienne's project to create three digital paintings based on excerpts from H.G. Wells' book "The First Men in the Moon." It includes background on Wells and the book, descriptions of the three scenes to be depicted, visual concepts and initial thumbnails for the paintings, and an introduction to the analysis essay.
This document provides an overview and analysis of Joshua Etienne's project to create three digital paintings based on excerpts from H.G. Wells' book "The First Men in the Moon." It includes background on Wells and the book, descriptions of the three scenes to be depicted, visual concepts and initial thumbnails for the paintings, and an introduction to the analysis essay.
This document provides an overview and analysis of Joshua Etienne's project to create three digital paintings based on excerpts from H.G. Wells' book "The First Men in the Moon." It includes background on Wells and the book, descriptions of the three scenes to be depicted, visual concepts and initial thumbnails for the paintings, and an introduction to the analysis essay.
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UNIT 2: Space
Online Green-light Review
JOSHUA ETIENNE
FOLDER 1 The First Men in the Moon by H.G. Wells
Contents Page 3: - Introduction Page 4: - About the Author Page 5: - About the Book Page 6: - Existing Adaptations: Film Page 7: - Scene Breakdown Page 8: - Visual Concept Page 9: - MIM1 Influence Map & Thumbnails Page 10: - MIM2 Influence Map & Thumbnails Page 11: - MIM3 Influence Map & Thumbnails Page 12: - Essay Introduction
Introduction I have been tasked with producing 3 digital paintings based on the book, First Men in the Moon by H.G. Wells. Each of these pieces will relate specifically to one of three excerpts from the book and contain specific elements from the scenes detailed by the Author. Of course, each piece will contain my own interpretation of the Scene through re-imagining it. This OGR slideshow will show the thought process behind what I am doing and present justification for my choices.
About the Author
H.G. Wells was a prolific science-fiction Author, born in Kent in 1866. Known almost exclusively for his Novels, Wells was also an outspoken socialist who lived through the turn of the century, experiencing the social and economic changes that new technology brought with it. Wells was extremely dissatisfied with the way that Parliament worked and could be seen as an escapist, escaping through his own Novels and fantasies. Wells resigned from the Fabian Society in 1908 but continued to be active in the campaign for socialism. His book A Modern Utopia expressed a desire for a society that was run and organised by humanistic and well-educated people. Wells, who was extremely critical of the role that privilege and hereditary factors in capitalist society and in his utopia, people gain power as a result of their intelligence and training. http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Jwells.htm
Wells died in 1946, age 79 but not before inspiring numerous Authors, notably C.S. Lewis and Alan Moore. His work continues to be some of the most revered examples in the genre of science-fiction.
About the Book
Written in 1901 by H.G. Wells; The First Men in the Moon (MIM) is a Scientific romance Novel (the previous name given to the genre now commonly known as, Sciencefiction or, Sci-Fi) in which a business man (Mr. Bedford) and a brilliant scientist (Dr. Cavor) travel to the moon. Mr. Bedford and Dr. Cavor travel to the moon in a spaceship which uses Cavorite a mineral which Dr. Cavor made himself and Mr. Bedford sought to capitalise on. While on the moon the two of them witness fantastic sights and encounter an Alien race known as Selenites who capture them. The two escape and fight their way to the surface so they can return to the space-ship and then, Earth. The story is told with information from one-way radio communications by Dr. Cavor after he is recaptured by Selenites. Unfortunately his last transmission which seemed to detail how to make Cavorite is cut off half way. Overall, the book delves into the fantasy that was spacetravel. Now, much of it is reality, but the book is told in such a way that it paints a vivid depiction of a place, worlds apart from the Moon we know (and love) today.
Existing Adaptations: Film
There have been 4 (reasonably well-known) adaptations of MIM. These are they: A Trip to the Moon Georges Mlis (1902) This adaptation of the book is actually more of a tribute to it, as it seems to draw from only two aspects of H.G. Wells Novel; the Selenites and a peculiar form of travel to the moon.
The First Men in the Moon Bruce Gordon (1919)
This adaptation of the book was cowritten by H.G. Wells himself for the big screen. The film follows the same story of the Novel but with a key difference. The Film paints Mr. Bedford as a villain as he abandons Dr. Cavor on the moon, travels back to earth, attempts to deceive Dr. Cavors niece into marriage and make a fortune from Cavorite on top of it all.
The Film details the dangerous Journey of 6 explorers to the moon and their safe return from the hostile Selenites that inhabit it.
The First Men in the Moon Nathan H. Juran (1964)
Perhaps the most known adaptation of the Novel, the 1964 version tells a very similar story through a shocking discovery by UN astronauts who believed they were to be the first men on the moon. The Selenites are believed to have died off from the common cold (having no immunity), caught from Dr. Cavor. The adaptation notably includes a female role, Kate, who is accidentally transported up to the moon with the men.
The First Men in the Moon Damon Thomas (2010)
In the recent 2010 version, the story is told by an aged Mr. Bedford to a young man about how he was one of two men to first tread the moons surface. He recounts the peril that was averted by the heroism of Dr. Cavor. Cavor sacrificed himself to protect the Earth from the Selenites who determined Earth a threat to the Moon. His actions transform the Moon into a barren wasteland, setting the scene for the 1969 Apollo program moon landing.
Scene Breakdown Here are the breakdowns from my interpretation of the excerpts, they are slightly vague so as to let my imagination roam within boundaries as I produce the final thumbnails and digital paintings. Scene 1: The two men are watching in awe through a telescopic lens as the snowy desert before them melts away to reveal a vibrant and lush landscape of plants visibly grow as the icy tundra disappears, all the while under a purple sky.
Scene 2: Mr. Bedford defends Dr. Cavor with a crowbar as the Selenite butchers advance upon them inside a cave dimly lit by glowing mushrooms and blue light refracting off Selenite crystals. In the background are skinned and butchered Mooncalves as the two back their way up towards a blue light.
Scene 3: The two are bound loosely in gold chains and being escorted by the Selenites leader to a machine from which there is a magnificent glow emanating around its liquid coolant. A tall elephant nosed Selenite walks alongside them while the Selenite soldiers form a path leading towards the great machine.
The scenes themselves will not be entirely faithful to existing adaptations of the book, but will draw heavily from them in terms of inspiration and design.
Visual Concept Here is my overall influence map for the project, I have chosen to mix designs from different time periods seeing as I want it to keep in line with my own tastes. The style I am aiming for is quite dark, similar to Dead Space in terms of creepiness and vibes. I want to keep my colour palette quite dark if at all possible. I have chosen to use the Steam punk type designs as the book was published at the turn of the century, steam power was still useful back then and I feel that it would mix well with modern designs, as it has proven to do so in many other examples. As for the space suit, Im using the old Russian high altitude suits to base my own designs on as they have a distinct feel of practicality about them. Nothing is really hidden away and the colour scheme is extremely basic. I feel that for two men on an unfunded expedition, theyd not be wearing sleek and snazzy space suits. The Assassin from Mass Effect 2 has been chosen to influence the design of the Mooninites... Ahem, Selenites. His design is already similar to the eye and brow structure of the 1964 adaptations envisioning of them.
MIM1 Visual Concept & Thumbnails
The two men are watching in awe through a telescopic lens as the snowy desert before them melts away to reveal a vibrant and lush landscape of plants visibly grow as the icy tundra disappears, all the while under a purple sky.
MIM2 Visual Concept & Thumbnails
Mr. Bedford defends Dr. Cavor with a crowbar as the Selenite butchers advance upon them inside a cave dimly lit by glowing mushrooms and blue light refracting off Selenite crystals. In the background are skinned and butchered Mooncalves as the two back their way up towards a blue light.
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MIM3 Visual Concept & Thumbnails
The two are bound loosely in gold chains and being escorted by the Selenites leader to a machine from which there is a magnificent glow emanating around its liquid coolant. A tall elephant nosed Selenite walks alongside them while the Selenite soldiers form a path leading towards the great machine.
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Essay Introduction Introduction The Video Game, Abes Oddysee is part of the Oddworld universe (developed by Oddworld Inhabitants and published by GT Games) and arguably has strong references to the cruel exploitation and treatment of native Americans by American settlers. The protagonist (Abe) learns that his kind are to be turned into a new and tasty snack by his corporate owners and must save all 99 of his co-workers (slaves) to prevent them being ground up for profit. The visual style of the game relates well to the Steam-Punk genre and is full of uncanny machinery and environments while maintaining its own unique quirks. Ranging from the cold and harsh mechanical wastelands of RuptureFarms to the vibrant and unspoiled lands of Oddworld; the game is distinctly, Odd. SteamPunk [steem-puhngk]
Noun 1. A subgenre of science fiction and fantasy featuring advanced machines and other technology based on steam power of the 19th century and taking place in a recognizable historical period or a fantasy world. 2. A subculture inspired by this literary and film subgenre: the fashions and gadgets of Steam Punk.
