Ji Woon Kim Rhetoric 105 Professor Mary Hays 15 March 2016 Loss Of

Ji Woon Kim Rhetoric 105 Professor Mary Hays 15 March 2016 Loss of Original Intention: Budget for Art or Art for Money? A Review of Alter Ego by Laurence Green, mainly focusing on the movie Ryan by Chris Landreth *Blue-Revised As the title of the movie suggests, it is all about Ryan, who was a notable animator and an Oscar nominee back in 60’s and early 70’s, contributing greatly to moving arts. This movie was made by Chris Landreth, who got interested in him after he got to know that a big figure in animation industry was now living in a street in Montreal. Interestingly, the movie is based on an actual interview, and it is dubbed within the animation. This actually made the movie realistic, as we can hear real voices of the two animators. However, the notable point of the movie is that all characters in the animation have distorted looks. The reason is because Chris wanted to show psychological status through physical attributes. Chris uses surreal CG imagery to show the psychology of each character from his technique called “Psychorealism”(Chris Landreth). The use of “psychedelic CG animation” elucidated the life and unstable mind of the legendary animator, Ryan Larkin. In the movie, their relationship was beyond one-way sympathy toward the wrecked life of Chris’s hero, Ryan. Especially, it shows through the embodiment of “colorful chains” around both of them after the success in their career. When Ryan achieved the climax of his career with “Walking” and “Street Musique,” colorful chains wraps around his face. This is a clear metaphor of Ryan’s obsession for creating innovative art and a signal for disastrous life. However, as Chris talks with Ryan, he was also chained. As I interpret this particular scene, I believe that Chris was also in the pressure of making sensational works but the pressure intensified as he saw the dreadful life that Ryan was living. Especially, when Ryan says, “Who is going to buy my creation” (Ryan, National Film Board of Canada), I believe that Chris was feeling some kind of fear— of losing the fame and creativity. Even in an interview, he says, “not having anything to say and failures lie in the same path,” (Singer, Animation World Network). Therefore, Chris believes that having no inspirational ideas is a failure as an artist and the fear stems from such deprivation. The warrant of this movie can be inferred from Alter Ego, where there is an interview with Ryan after he watches the documentary animation about himself. He was surprised and was disappointed in his performance; especially, when he realized that he was living a life for a means not a purpose. The reflection of Ryan teaches us that we are deeply vulnerable when exposed to our faults. The confusion and embarrassment make us to grow and realize that our goals have been displaced. Success intoxicates vulnerable entities like us. Since we want to keep exuberant feeling from success, we switch the goal with the mode. We begin to live for success and forget the essence of what we were pursuing for. Ryan drew to prove his creative works, not for the glory of art. As for me, the goal as a college student was to explore different fields that I could not encounter when I was a high schooler. Thus, I wanted to learn and figure out what my true interest was through various experiences in the campus. However, when I started taking classes, my goal switched to get all A’s and to satisfy my parents. I completely forgot the essence of education and why I was here for. Therefore, I believe that this movie shouts to the audience that we should focus on what we have intended and reflect ourselves so that we do not forget the purpose of our actions. Works Cited Alter Egos. Dir. Laurence Green. Perf. Chris Landreth and Ryan Larkin. Copperheart Entertainment, National Film Board of Canada, 2004. DVD. Landreth, Chris. "Me: About Chris." Christ Landreth: Home. Web. 10 Mar. 2016. <http://chrislandreth.com/about.html>. Ryan. Dir. Chris Landreth. Prod. Steven Hoban, Mark Smith, and Marcy Page. Perf. Ryan Larkin, Chris Landreth. National Film Board of Canada, 2004. DVD. Singer, Gregory. "Landreth on 'Ryan'" Animation World Network. Animation World Network. Web. 10 Mar. 2016. <http://www.awn.com/vfxworld/landreth-ryan>. .

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