Meg Leslie Online Greenlight Review 03/10/11

Links Reviews
http://meg-leslie.blogspot.com/2011/09/kurt-neumanns-fly-1958.html http://meg-leslie.blogspot.com/2011/09/david-cronenbergs-fly-1986.html http://meg-leslie.blogspot.com/2011/09/jean-cocteaus-la-belle-et-la-bete-1946.html http://meg-leslie.blogspot.com/2011/10/neil-jordans-company-of-wolves-1984.html

Life Drawing and Hand Studies

http://meg-leslie.blogspot.com/2011/09/life-drawing-hand-studies.html

Thumbnails & Photoshop Work

http://meg-leslie.blogspot.com/2011/09/photoshop-experimentation.html http://meg-leslie.blogspot.com/2011/09/initial-thumbnails.html http://meg-leslie.blogspot.com/2011/10/more-drawings.html

Summary
At this point I feel that the only solid direction I have in which to take my project is the idea of remaining human in the wake of physical deformity. My main focus has been around the face and head, as this is the part of the body that makes us human changing that makes it seem as though it has become alien and unnatural, and by extension dangerous. In addition to the effects of the transformation on my humanity I will look at the transformations effect on my daily life and my inevitable attempts to continue living normally, again tying into the implication that a monstrous body does not make a monstrous mind. My current difficulty with the design of the body will be remedied by further anatomical studies of the shark I fear I dived into the character design element too quickly and neglected the basic anatomical knowledge necessary for the project.

These thumbnails and sketches are of particular interest to me as they show the orthopaedic and personal impact of the transformation as well as showing the actual design. I want the final design to be roughly equal parts shark and human, with recognisable elements from both, as well as the human elements being clearly mine. For this reason I have left in one of my most obvious features, my glasses, which also serve to add a touch of humanity to the design. In terms of the actual aesthetic, rather than practicality, my designs look rather too pleasant and symmetrical, so I will endeavour to make the result more monstrous and unpleasant to look at. I feel this will enhance the contrast between body and mind.

Essay Introduction
This essay will examine the cultural conceptions of animals in relation to folklore and particularly shapeshifting mythology, with particular emphasis on Celtic myth. Reference will be made to http://www.clarelibrary.ie/, Celtic Myths (Green, 1998), Celtic Beasts, Animal Motifs and Zoomorphic Design in Celtic Art (Davis, 1999), Mythology (Ions, 1997) and From the Beast to the Blonde (Warner, 1994). The essay will focus upon the interplay of daily life and mundane interaction with animals and the resulting superstition and cultural interpretations of animals and their behaviour.