User:Ruben/RWRM/2 - Inspiration

‚De Stikvallei’ is a book by Frank Westerman. While describing his report on the tragedy at Lake Nyos in Cameroon, he researches how myths arise. He does that by distinguishing between myth breakers (scientists), myth bringers (evangelists) and myth makers (local people/society).

In 1993 Jeff Wall constructed „A sudden gush of wind”. A remake of a 1832 painting by Hokusai depicting how a gush of wind catches several people of guard. A woman loses her paperwork while her scarf is blown in her face. A man loses his hat. It looks to be an impressive single photograph, but actually this scene is a collage of several carefully take images. The image is placed in a light box, which elevates the composition as it gives the (to the eye) realistic photo, a magical touch.

Du Levande is a Swedish film by Roy Andersson. In several sketches we see everyday life, with it’s everyday annoyances and everyday dreams. The enlarging of these scenes, combined with theatrical looking sets, provide a form of surrealism. This combination not only emphasize the sadness of the scenes, but also evokes sympathy with the characters. By excavating the beauty in sadness, it celebrates the pointlessness of everyday life.