BFA Artist Statement

Kim Broadbridge ‘11_Digital Media: Animation

Undressed & The Egret

Since an early age I have been fascinated by the illusion of life that is animation. I am intensely interested in the way the medium causes an audience to develop an emotional response and a belief in something the audience knows to be fiction. Growing up, I built an admiration for the character, especially the anthropomorphic character.

Along with my life-long attraction to character animation, I have developed a deep appreciation for the unique history of the New Orleans culture in which I was raised as well as my Catholic faith, which directs me in life to follow God’s will. In my animations, I strive to establish the illusion of life through anthropomorphic characters that share my culture and manifest human traits within narratives that deliver lessons of Catholic moral virtue.

While creating the illusion of life, real life issues are incorporated with that illusion to help establish a suspension of disbelief. I incorporate issues of morality into my animated narratives through food and animal characters that personify sinful human traits of lust, sloth and gluttony as well as reflect the New Orleans culture. New Orleans is culture that some people associate with sin. Despite association with sin, my audience that shares and loves the New Orleans culture may appreciate the setting of my work. In my Catholic faith, lust, sloth, and gluttony are three of the seven deadly sins. As a Christian, I believe that one who sins is a slave to sin and all sins have consequences. These characters become slaves to sin as they fail to control their desires, allowing their desires to control them. Through their immoral actions driven by the craving to attain sinful, immediate self-gratification, my animated characters all meet their fates.

These animations are narratives that follow the structure and purpose of a fable. As in a fable, my animations involve anthropomorphic characters and lessons of morality. Animation allows me to address these issues of morality but still allows me to have fun with comical characters and incorporate references to my faith and culture. With the use of comical characters, the audience more easily accepts my moral messages and enjoys the comedy of the animations instead of feeling lectured.

Kim Broadbridge

self-critique of my BFA project and process

Undressed
The Egret
29 March 2011

Undressed: A hot sausage patty lusts over a loaf of french bread. When they finally come together and relish in their lust for each other, the two as a sandwich meet their ultimate fate as someone's lunch order.

The Egret: A lazy egret takes no interest in learning how to fish, so he becomes dependent on humans for food. When his food source ceases to replenish the bird, this sloth of an egret learns the phrase, "Eat or be eaten," the tragic way.

Intent: The intent of these animations is to comically deliver narratives that convey lessons of morality.

Source of main ideas: From the conceptions of these ideas, I knew I wanted to incorporate characters and settings that reflect my New Orleans culture and theme of self-destruction. I wanted to show how sinful acts are self-destructive to the body, mind, and soul.

Theme: Self-destruction through immoral behavior

Strengths: I think my strengths lie in the character development of these two pieces. Their personalities are well conveyed.

Problem areas: First off, I wish I could make music. I think my staging of shots could have been better and more interesting. I'd like to have more detailed and polished backgrounds and environments.

I have learned very much working on these two projects. I discovered how to create things in simpler and quicker ways. I learned new programs. Luckily, didn't run into too many frustrations besides figuring out what to do for my BFA. Editing sound and finding proper music were a bit frustrating at times. The whole project was a constant learning progress of putting together an animation, organizations, and new tools.

Undressed from Kim Broadbridge on Vimeo.

The Egret from Kim Broadbridge on Vimeo.

Stuff going on

There is plenty for me to do this weekend, but the first thing I need to tackle is my second draft of my artist statement, so I can send it out today. I think I need to reevaluate what I'm trying to say. If I can break down a concept for a collaborative surface design in 30 minutes, I can surely generate a better break down for my BFA artist statement. I'm going to start by making a new outline like a would an essay. I think I just need to get used to writing in a different structure.

I'm still in the search for a new song for "Undressed" but I'm not getting anywhere. So I have to move on to completing the sound effects for "The Egret." So, that's a few things I need to do this weekend besides reading 6 chapters in The Picture of Dorian Gray. I have no idea how I'm going to do that or how many hours that will take. I also need to make a entirely new redesign of my resume page for web design. I have a full plate this Mardi Gras weekend. Thank God it's the last one I have to spend away from home.