Charles Clifford BA1 1400556
For my BA1 project i have been asked to look at Christian Andersen's http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa277/amagayami/samurai_dog_armor_2.jpg'The Tinderbox'.
I have been asked to look at this short story with a time period to create the environment and characters. For me to for fill my aims, i will have to show a wide range, variation and understanding of my 2D skills. I have been given the Edo Japanese period (1603 and 1868), I am looking forward to this as I respect the simplicity yet detailed art style of this time. At the end of the project I hope to gain a better understanding of this period and their culture, I also hope to learn new techniques and shortcuts on this project as I am new to the digital side.
Edo Japan-
The Edo period , also know as the Tokugawa period, is the period between 1603 and 1868 in Japan. This was a period where Japanese society was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country's 300 regional Daimyo. This period was known for the economic growth of Japan where strict social order, and strict foreign policies with popular enjoyment of arts and culture. The shogunate was officially established in Edo on March 24, 1603, by Tokugawa Leyasu. The period came to an end with the Meiji Restoration on May 3, 1868, after the fall of Edo.
Tokugawa Leyasu was the most powerful man in Japan in this period, and after Hideyoshi had died in 1598. Against the promises that he had made with Hideyoshi to protect his successor who would be brought up to rule. Tokugawa went on to struggle with this obligation he had promised, and lost respect from a lot of Hidetoshi's people as he went against the agreement as he wanted to become the absolute ruler of Japan.
1603, Leyasu was appointed Shogun by the emperor and established his government in Edo, today known as Tokyo. The Tokugawa shoguns continued to rule Japan for a remarkable 250 years.
Leysu was a very smart man who had studied strategy for years and if needed to would play the waiting game. With Leyasu ruled as shogun, he brought the whole country under tight control. He cleverly redistributed the gained land among his daimyo. Leyasu also required his his dimyo to spend every second year in Edo to show their devotion, and commitment to their shogun, were they would have to leave their families behind in their regions as they made the journey for Edo. This allowed Edo to blossom into a city rich with culture , this was due to there being a higher influx of money coming into Edo as the money the dimyo were spending would be put into Edo instead of the over regions. This meant a huge financial burden for the daimyo and this moderated his power at home.
Leyasu continued to promote foreign trade during his rule. He established relations with the English and the Dutch on a contact with a English man, who gained the trust of Leyasu, were he knew the English man had no involvement in the spread the name of the lord. On the other hand, he enforced the suppression and persecution of Christianity from 1614, where before when Portuguese traders and missionaries arrived in Japan they were deemed to have exotic goods, and would be profitable, Leysu didn't like how much power these traders where gaining, he also didn't like how much power the missionaries had over his population. After the a trading restriction had been put in place for the traders, this changed the social ladder, where traders where seen as the lowest of class.
Leyasu also didn't like how the Christians had gained a lot of power in his country and had changed the beliefs of his people. He wanted to regain power and to go back to the old ways of their people and the belief of Buddhism. Leyasu deemed that the Christian belief had cursed his lands.
As of 1615, Leyasu and his successors had practically no rivals anymore, and peace prevailed throughout the Edo period, this was a new side of Japan, as christian missionaries who had arrived in 1597 had written about how the Japanese people being barbaric but also cultural and elegant with a deep understanding of respect . Since Japan had been at civil war for centuries for the control from different clans to prove that they where worthy of becoming shogun. But since this was a time of peace, many of the cultural norms would change in the way traditional Samaria where treated and seen in society. Samaria who had been seen as subjects of war for centuries between the factions.
Culture -
The Edo period of the history of Japan is the setting of many works of popular culture. These include novels, stage plays, films, television shows, animated works, manga, and video games.
'With peace came a growing problem: a large population of warriors with nothing to do. The official class system sanctioned by the bakufu placed samurai at the top, followed by farmers and artisans, with merchants at the bottom.
But social reality contradicted this hierarchy. With growing boredom and shrinking stipends, lower-ranking samurai often found themselves borrowing money from wealthy merchants. Although traditional ideas of status still held, the actual balance of power was beginning to shift.'
Daimyo-
The Daimyo were the powerful Feudal lords. in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings.
Subordinate only to the shogun, daimyo were the most powerful feudal rulers from the 10th century to the middle 19th century in Japan. From the shugo of the Muromachi period through the Sengoku to the daimyo of the Edo period, the rank had a long and varied history.
The term "daimyo" is also sometimes used to refer to the leading figures of such clans, also called "lord". It was usually, though not exclusively, from these warlords that a shogun arose or a regent was chosen. Daimyo often hired samurai to guard their land and they paid the samurai in land or food. Relatively few daimyo could afford to pay samurai in money. The daimyo era came to an end soon after the Meiji restoration when Japan adopted the prefecture system in 187.
Samurai-
The samurai were the warriors of premodern Japan. They later made up the ruling military class that eventually became the highest ranking social caste of the Edo period (1603-1867). Samurai employed a range of weapons such as bows and arrows, spears and guns, but their main weapon and symbol was the sword.
Samurai warriors followed a code of ethic from a young age, where they would train in the art of kendo, the way of the sword. Only samurai would be able to carry two swords, and it was their duty to protect their family, the people and their leaders, and if caught without carrying at least one sword could be punished for not upholding their duty, many of which sleep with their swords by their side. Although many samurai during the Edo period where not as active during these peace times, their true glory was on the battle field, ready to be killed in battle at any moment, they would perform a ritual before battle by washing themselves with cold water and put incense on their heads to show honour. Samurai where very honourable, they would challenge an opponent individually and on fair grounds, following the practices of Bushido (the way of the warrior). Bushido stressed concepts such as loyalty to ones master, self discipline and respectful, ethical behaviour techniques of code of honour. Many samurai were also drawn to the techniques of Zen Buddhism.
Relative peace prevailed during the roughly 250 years of the Edo Period. As a result, the importance of martial skills declined, and many samurai became bureaucrats, teachers or artists. Japan's feudal era eventually came to an end in 1868, and the samurai class was abolished a few years afterwards.
When Portuguese traders came to Japan, they brought exotic goods with them, including guns, this changed the tides on the battle fields, battles which where once honourable tuned into slaughter, disrespecting years old culture and honour.
Samurai where honourable, and if they broke their honour, they would perform a ritual of suicide, where they stabbed themselves in the stomach as they believed the heart belonged to the stomach. They would not fear death as they tore themselves open.
Folk Storys-
Kintaro-
Kintarō often translated as "Golden Boy", is a folk hero from Japanese folklore. A child of superhuman strength, he was raised by a mountain hag on Mount Ashigara. He became friendly with the animals of the mountain, and later, after catching Shutendouji, the terror of the region around Mount Ooe, he became a loyal follower of Minamoto no Yorimitsu under the new name Sakata no Kintoki. He is a popular figure in noh and kabuki drama, and it is a custom to put up a Kintarō doll on Boy's Day in the hope that boys will become equally brave and strong.
Samurai inspiration-
I like the traditional Japanese art style in the piece as it uses thick black lines to create detail.
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Samurai Warriors would behead of their enemies to show their victory in battle. |
I have learned that samurai warriors were honourable in battle, and very decorative, their armour shows a lot of vibrant colours, masks where also used to try and scare the enemy.
I hope to use what I have learned and implicate it into my work.
Character sketches-
I have used a mask in this drawing, as many samurai warriors when going to war decorated themselves in elegant yet intimidatingly scary masks which would hide their emotion from the enemy.
I have drawn different variations of characters and samurai warriors, I have tried to use different techniques much like the Edo Japanese art with thick black lines, I have also taken some inspiration from the traditional tattoo style. I have tried to implement simplicity in some of the drawings from my inspirations Studio Ghibli and games such as Journey and tried to mimic these techniques.
character sheet and variations-
This is my character sheet for the warrior and the different variations on his aesthetics, I have decided to go with colours that contrast with each other, much like traditional Japanese art, with heavy black outer lines with colourful armour and masks, hiding their emotions with a costume to intimidate the enemy. I have also put my own twist on it, using present day Japanese trends, since Edo Japan kept up with the latest and finest trends. I decided to go with the warrior from 'The Tinderbox' as i felt that it would give me different scenes that i could play out and use in my final pieces, this is because the warrior is the main character, researching the brutal but also cultural past of the samurai also intrigued me, and that is why I decided to pick the warrior as my character.
I have chosen the warrior as one of my final characters as i feel that i can show the brutality but also peaceful side of the samurai warrior.
Witch-
For my variation on the witch, I will try to include styles from the Edo period, with inspiration from current art styles from different media and resources, I hope to create a witch that is fitting to the story, from what I read of 'The Tinderbox', if I were to choose the witch as one of my characters, I would hope to create emotion in the transition in where the solider and witch meet, and where it ends, to show two different extremes.
I will also research the folk tales surrounding this period with suspicions of dark powers and cursed witches.
Folk Tales-
Hannya-
Japanese folk tales:
'This paper discusses the nature of the yamauba and the transformation of its image over time through an examination of its appearance in literature, folktales and art, focusing on, but not limited to, the early modern period. Literally, “yamauba” means an old woman wlives in the mountains, an appellation indicating a creature living on the periphery of society. Medieval Japanese literature equates the yamauba to a female oni (ogre/demon), sometimes devouring human beings who unwittingly cross her path. She is, however, not entirely negative or harmful. She is also credited with nurturing aspects, though these attributes are not always at the forefront of her character. Indeed, the emphasis on attributes imparted to that character changes significantly over time. A portrayal of the yamauba in the medieval period is predominantly of a witch-like white-haired hag, but by the end of the seventeenth century, the yamauba had come to be considered the mother of Kintaro, a legendary child with Herculean strength. By the eighteenth century, with a help of favorable depictions of the yamauba in puppet and Kabuki plays, she is portrayed by ukiyo-e artists as an alluring, beautiful woman who dotes on her son. The paper concludes that the yamauba remains a familiar figure in present-day Japanese society, and is still identified as a character of the disenfranchised “other.”
Witch Inspiration-
I have searched for images of witches during the Edo period, there are limited photos, but the visual stick out and contrast, I like how it has a traditional tattoo style, and the thick outer lines, simple art like this can be very effective and detailed.
Studio ghibli is also one of my over influences, I like how they create characters that have emotion in their work, i am hoping to use this sort of style with my own twist on it, it also reminds me of traditional Japanese art with the contrasting bold colours and the thick black lines which make the characters pop.
I have researched different symbols and will try and incorporate different symbols in my work and try and use modern day fashion in my work as edo japan was very cultural and fashion trends were high.
I have studied different symbols of witch craft symbols, many are to do with satanic witch craft, and iIfeel like I will be able to incorporate these symbols into my work as their was a christian presence in Japan, and can use satanic symbols.
Witch sketches-
I have drawn a few images that i feel depict the witch in the story 'The Tinderbox' with the era it is set in. I have used thick outer black lines and have gone into detail to try and mimic my inspirational art, but put my own twist on it.
Witch character sheet and variations-
I have decided to show different variations in the witches facial features with eyes different noses that I could use if needed to change the aesthetic of my character. ive also included items such as keys which is a part of the lore i have added so that the dogs will not be accessed before meeting the witch.
I have shown different variations in which the witch will tranform from her innocent form, to her dark and evil self.
Reflective Journal Witch-
I have decided to go with a old witch as i felt that she would be able to strike the innocence of an old lady, and hide her true identity, also it says that she was a old hag in the story. i hope to show the different emotions and forms of the witch throughout my work and in my final piece.
Princess-
Princesses in the Edo period where elegant, and would follow strict rules, usually used to form alliances with different factions, they would avoid sunlight and wear thick white makeup, they would dress up in the finest gowns and attend different cultural events. since there where few princesses, i was hoping in the tinder box, if i do choose the princess may be one of the dimyo's wife's or daughter.
Princess inspiration-
Chikako, Princess Kazu -
'Chikako, Princess Kazu -1 August 1846 – 2 September 1877 (Kazunomiya) was the wife of 14th shogun Tokugawa Iemochi. She was renamed Lady Seikan'in no miya after she took thetonsure as a widow.
She was the eighth and youngest daughter of Emperor Ninkō and his concubine, Hashimoto Tsuneko - renamed Kangyouin after she took the tonsure. She was the younger half-sister of Emperor Kōmei. A few months after her birth, her father, Emperor Ninkō died unexpectedly. Born on 1 August 1846, her official birth date was changed to 3 July because the actual birth date was a bad omen date, and a double bad omen with the death of her father a few months later.
She was known as an excellent calligrapher and she was also highly regarded as a waka poet.'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chikako,_Princess_Kazu
From My research, I have decided that I am not going to pursue using the princess as one of my main characters as the scenes that she are in during the story don't excite me as much as the witch and warrior.
From My research, I have decided that I am not going to pursue using the princess as one of my main characters as the scenes that she are in during the story don't excite me as much as the witch and warrior.
Dogs-
For the dog character, I wasn't to sure how to view them, I wasn't to sure to go down the simple root of just doing dogs, but I feel like I could perhaps show them as samurai under the witches spell, brutal like a dog. I could also go down the route of Japanese gargoyles as they seem like they would be a good compensation for a dog.
If I could of I would of chosen to do the character the dogs from the tinderbox if I had enough time, i feel like I would be able to present them in the way I depicted the story.
For My Characters I have decided to research the witch and the warrior out of 'The Tinderbox.' I will hope to find out about the cultures that is in this time period for these characters.
Masks inspiration-
From my research I have looked various masks from the Edo period, many of which have a creepy or scary expression to try and strike fear into the enemies heart. I hope to use this research in developing a warrior who will have a mask that will try and evoke emotion on the person looking at it.
mask sketches-
I have drawn a variation of different mask types, using the masks of the period as influences, I have also put my own twist on them by adding different dimensions into the masks, adding more than one face, trying to create a mask that will create the emotion I am aiming for in my final piece. I have also tried to mimic the style of the era throughout my work with the heavy thick lines with small details. I hope to add modern day styles and symbols in my masks.
Tatto and symbols-
I have decided to look into tattoo styles in the Edo period in a hope to look at over art syles. I am going to be using traditional tattoo style throughout my work as it reminds me of the Edo art style of the time with thick black lines and vibrant colours.
Since there was a christian presence during the Edo period, I have decided to look into the dark satanic powers, since this could be the source of the witches magic, I hope to incorporate religious symbols into my work.
Landscape inspiration-
I have looked at a variation of different Japanese landscapes, real or fake. I will hope to implement some of these techniques in my work. I hope to create a final piece which will have different dimensions and an accurate lighting effect.
Landscape sketches-
Since the entrance of the dogs is in the tree stump, I have drawn a variation of different tree barks, I am hoping to include a door in the tree trunk, and add lore to the story 'The Tinderbox' where the warrior will collect a key from the witch to open the door on the trunk.
This is a picture i drew of what could lie behind the door, through the key hole, potentially a set of tasks, traps, or mass land expansion. i feel that i have shown a wide range and variety of different styles, with the simplistic Edo art.
Landscape-
These are the various landscape pictures i have created, I feel that I have a wide range of different scenery, I have tried to use the traditional techniques using bold black and white contrast, with vibrant colours much like the landscape of Japan.
Inspiration-
These are some of my inspirations, I have looked for styles similar to the Edo time period, I hope to use these inspirations throughout my work, and try to put my own edge on it.
Silhouettes-
I have been asked to produce 100 silhouettes of different characters from 'The Tinderbox'. I have shown a variation of different characters within the story.
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I feel that I have enough variety of silhouettes and hope to use one or similarities from various sketches to help create a main character which will be fitting for the era it is set in.
The Tinderbox-
From my depiction of 'The Tinderbox' I hope to create two final pieces which will show two different types of emotion with different colour pallets to evoke different feelings. I hope to recreate a scene where the warrior and the witch meet up for the first time, I want to show that the witch is kind and warm hearted, innocent, with a Studio Ghibli feeling with a warm pallet of colours, I have not yet decided on which scene i will set this in, but I will have to research to try and enhance the environment I am trying to create. There are lots scenes I can recreate in the story the tinder box with my two characters, but I have decided to go with the over extreme of the warm hearted pallet and use traditional thick lines with a colourful but dark scenery.
Final pieces-
For my fist final piece i have decided to go with a Studio Ghibli vibe, with a warm feeling with contrasting colours ,I have tried to also upkeep the traditional thick lines for detail, implementing different colours to show light and shading. I also feel that i have shown dimension in the environment by adding shadowing and texture in the furniture. I have gone with a yellow coloured fabric for the witch to show her neutral presence to try and show a kind side to her to mask her evil.
I am trying to evoke a warm feeling, s that the witch will gain the trust of the warrior.
For my second final piece i have created the over extreme, using samurai methods in this piece. I have decided to go for a door on the tree trunk with a crawl space to make it more of an experience to test the fears of the player if I were to interrogate this into a game. I have decided to go with a simplistic main character taking modern day fashion in Japan, this is because in the Edo period, fashion was one of the most popular pass time to keep up with the latest trends amongst the higher class, but not give too much away to gain a sense of mystery, I have also chosen his outfit to contrast to try and implement traditional art styles I've been influenced by. I have defaced the warrior without his mask, and is hidden away to show that he doesn't need a mask to intimidate the witch. I have decided that the warrior should be carrying the witches head a a sign of victory over the witch, instead of using a warm pallet of colours for the witch, i have decided to go for darker colours, showing the transformation of her not so innocent self. I have tried to use a vibrant environment with contrast colours. In this drawing I hope to evoke the emotion that something brutal just took place.
In conclusion I've learned about a new culture that has helped me to create a strong portfolio of images, i have learned about the complex Japanese culture in its brutal past and honourable code of ethics. I feel that i have been able to complete my objective of creating two final pieces with two different extremes which strike different emotions. I feel that I have a wide range research that has helped me to organise and create different characters which i feel happy with their outcomes, as i have tried to replicate different styles from my influences. If i could of done things differently, i would of gone into more detail with the dog character as it also intrigued me as a character to study, i would of also liked to look in more depth in folk tales and demonic symbols, i would of also like to of looked at using different scenes in the story to create two different pieces which evoked different emotions. I would of done this by looking into different folk tales, or female criminals of the time to try and intertwine it into 'The Tinderbox.'
I feel that i have created a complex variety or content and for filled my objectives.
Other art:
Bibliography:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2128.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmTZnnbqfsc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmTZnnbqfsc
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edo_period_in_popular_culture
I also got information and inspiration through different forms of media, such as documentaries and illustration books etc.
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