This gives rise to another of our key design precepts...
'Even in the Wasteland, people make beautiful things.'
No matter how impoverished the circumsta
This gives rise to another of our key design precepts...
'Even in the Wasteland, people make beautiful things.'
No matter how impoverished the circumstances there are always, among us, artisans and artists able to create a strong, utilitarian aesthetic. The impulses which drove our Paleolithic ancestors to make exquisite cave paintings persist in the post-apocalyptic 'Black Fingers' (motor mechanics) restoring a War Rig and in the War Boys scarifying themselves with sacramental body art.
I love art books, you guys! They're a fount of information, not just about the behind-the-scenes filming experience, but also about the design & thought that went into the production, and extra canonical worldbuilding details that they thought of but may not have communicated within the film itself. There is so much thought that went into the creation of this movie especially, considering it gestated for 18 years (!). Reading this from cover-to-cover was a fascinating look into the process, plus just immersing myself in this ugly, beautiful world that I love so much. It reveals that there are so many tiny visual details that they incorporated, but that you probably didn't even notice.
It was also nice getting to hear some of the thematic story focus confirmed: that the core message is love, and learning to love, and being part of a community in order to heal. The whole thing just reminded me how much I love Fury Road, and gave me a renewed appreciation for its craft, from all the practical effects and practical stunts to the physical design & creation of all the vehicles and weaponry. It's such a goddamn masterpiece.
The book is anchored by lots of good quotes from George Miller and the designers. Some of their descriptions are oddly grotesquely gorgeous, with some good ole body horror:
Production designer Colin Gibson describes more of the theory behind the Buzzard tribe. "The Buzzards are basically vultures. They're a pack of hyenas. If you build a world full of carrion, then the hyena and the vulture will circle. And the difference with them is, they have much baser needs, because they were after just material, the crude mechanics, the very stuff of things. They didn't see a Cadillac, [the Buzzards] saw metal; not man, but meat. George had the theory that they were Russian and I think maybe they were White Russian and way too white--their bodies were ravaged by impetigo and infection. They were suppurating flesh and peeling skin, held in place with Saran Wrap and bandage. It was just a little too moist in this dry and dirty place, so they hid inside the spiky vehicles. They were spiky as much to keep people away from them as for attack. The anthropomorphic treatment worked both on the front and the back, there was a sense of trying to find vehicles that had eyes, that we could add a grinning grille of a mouth to, that the radiator could look like braces on an inbred mouth."
4.5 stars — this is a nonfiction collection of poetry, artwork, and personal essays, all revolving around the identity of Native American women and re4.5 stars — this is a nonfiction collection of poetry, artwork, and personal essays, all revolving around the identity of Native American women and reclaiming their self-value, highlighting their struggles. It’s important subject matter and an important amplification of their voices, considering every single contributor is a woman, and they speak to their own experiences.
However, this should not be read as ebook!! It’s a gorgeous design filled chockablock with artwork sprawling across the pages and interspersed between the texts, which, lol I did not realise that when I first borrowed the PDF; it’s really hard to read in digital and I think it’s probably a better, picturebook-y experience as a physical book....more
I've made a new shelf called "coffeetable books" -- though I'm unlikely to read very many of those from cover-to-cover, and this one doesn't entirelyI've made a new shelf called "coffeetable books" -- though I'm unlikely to read very many of those from cover-to-cover, and this one doesn't entirely count as a coffeetable book anyway, because Chris Hadfield explicitly wanted it designed to be small enough & light enough for you to carry it around and read it comfortably, rather than an inaccessible tome that just sits on the table untouched. And that worked out great! It's exactly the right size to read happily without straining your poor hands too much.
And "You Are Here" is a delightful little read, feat. gorgeous and unusual photography of Earth from space, along with little informational tidbits about the geographical feature/location. Sometimes I literally pressed my nose to the page, trying to get a closer view of some of the dazzling, baffling photographs.
I want to learn more about Hadfield & his adventures in space so I'm definitely going to read his other book, but this one is still good: a lens turned on us and our planet, seen from outside it. It's a heartwarming little reminder of what a lovely, beautiful, varied planet we actually live on.
Also bonus points for him being one of the most charming, charismatic, inspiring men ever. My heart did little flip-flops when I shook his hand and got this signed, I stg....more
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