Project Proposal: Caribbean Folklore

Section 1: A review of progress and achievement through parts 1 & 2 of the course
In the time spent doing my Art Foundation, I have extended and refined both my physical and digital 2D and 3D creative skills. Knowing that I was going to do Game Art as a degree drove me to practice producing more elaborate concept art, understanding the design process, and creating the final product in 3D. During the Exploratory Stage I was able to find my most comfortable ways of working, such as quick pencil sketches and model making during the Fashion Pathway, and problem solving when creating large structures, such as the bridge in the 3DCP pathway. In particular, I have become much more adept at using software such as Maya for digital polygon modelling. This is best shown in my ‘Individualisation’ project, when I learnt how to work closely alongside my client’s wishes, as well as to quickly solve technical issues and complete good quality work at a fast pace. I also learnt about the importance of visual culture- how we interpret the design of a character or environment, in order to control its context and to translate what we see into a narrative. My time at Ravensbourne has prepared me for a fast paced environment in degree and in industry as I am able to balance my time between honing my creative skills and researching for a project in a short space of time, essential for my Final Major Project.

Section 2: Project Concept

People learn about cultures from video games. Action adventure genres are most prominent in exposing world cultures, particularly through folklore, and offer some of the most diverse landscapes in both narrative and visual design. However, as a player of many action adventure type games, a pattern becomes evident- much of the same folklore has been explored numerous times, e.g. Ancient Greece (Cinema Blend 2018), Rome, Scandinavian folklore. Therefore, I would like to further broaden the scope of folklore in games, leaning away from previously used western culture, by creating character designs in alignment to Caribbean folklore. This is a project of personal interest as I am half Caribbean and fascinated by my ancestral spiritual culture and folklore. As I go along I will be learning more about the characters from Caribbean myths and legends, developing my own visual response to primarily descriptions by text. The ‘Beyond The Fundamental’ project taught me how to use my own interpretation skills from text and to experiment with clay sculpting in order to visualise a character. These skills will be crucial when designing my characters, taking into account their environment, traits, different textures and materials, and the religion and spiritual practices used in the region. I will also consider a narrative for the characters, that could become a part of an existing game franchise in the action adventure category.

I will be researching into the most prevalent myths and legends in the Caribbean, such as the Soucouyant (Horrorpedia, 2015) as well as existing franchises that utilise creatures and characters from other folklores (Gameranx, 2013). I will also research Caribbean artists who represent their culture through different colours and materials typical of their native islands (Uncommon Caribbean, 2013). I aim to choose which myths and legends to use as a base and create refined digital 3D models of the chosen characters. To do this I will need access to 3D programs like Maya and Mudbox, as well as clay modelling materials and 3D printing facilities for prototyping.

Section 3: Evaluation

I will be using my blog to record my project development by describing any new techniques that I have used, new knowledge of the subject and any changes to my work. I will identify what changes I have made and why I have made them, writing this into my blog and using it alongside my sketchbook to record my progress. I will also use peer crits and tutorial assessments to regularly gain feedback and suggestions to broaden my perspective on my project. The timetable will be used to keep me on track of my targets, and I am aware that some elements of change in my project could cause delays or rearrangements of my original targets. I will also write a final statement to evaluate my entire project, citing any significant changes, and positive and negative developments. I will also refer back to my initial intentions as written in the proposal. Proposed Research Sources and Bibliography (Harvard Format)

Images: Cinema Blend (2018) God of War: What We Know So Far [Online]. Available at:  https://www.cinemablend.com/games/1626049/god-of-war-what-we-know-so-far (Accessed: Feb 2018) Horrorpedia (2015) Soucouyant- folklore [Online]. Available at: https://horrorpedia.com/2015/01/08/soucouyant-folklore/ (Accessed: Feb 2018)   Gameranx (2013) The Witcher 3 Concept Art Depicts Baba Yaga and Other Mythical Creatures: Creatures out of Slavic lore make their way into The Witcher 3 [Online]. Available at: http://gameranx.com/updates/id/13158/article/the-witcher-3-concept-art-depicts-baba-yaga-and-other-mythical-creatures/ (Accessed: Feb 2018) Uncommon Caribbean (2013) Haunted Caribbean: How to Save Your Soul from Le Soucouyant [Online]. Available at: https://www.uncommoncaribbean.com/2013/10/26/haunted-caribbean-how-to-save-your-soul-from-le-soucouyant/ (Accessed: Feb 2018) Books: Otero, Solimar (2007) Introduction: Investigating Possession Pasts: Memory and Afro-Caribbean Religion and Folklore, Caribbean: Western States Folklore Society Pradel, Lucie (1998) African Sacredness and Caribbean Cultural Forms , Caribbean: Taylor and Francis, Ltd. Chariandy, David (2004) Haunted Diasporas: The Second Generation Stories of Andre Alexis, Caribbean: Journal of West Indian Literature Simpson, Hyacinth M. (2005) Fantastic Alternatives: Journeys into the Imagination: A Conversation with Nalo Hopkinson, Caribbean: Journal of West Indian Literature Crask, Paul (2017) Grenada, Carriacou, Petite Martinique UK: Bradt McGonigal, Jane (2011) Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World, US: Penguin Books Salen, Katie & Zimmerman Eric (2003) Rules of Play: Game Design Fundamentals, US: MIT Press Salen, Katie & Zimmerman Eric (2006) The Game Design Reader: A Rules of Play Anthology, US: MIT Press Websites: Horrorpedia (2015) Soucouyant- folklore Available at: https://horrorpedia.com/2015/01/08/soucouyant-folklore/ (Accessed: Feb 2018) Africa Speaks (2004) Caribbean Folklore Available at: http://www.africaspeaks.com/reasoning/index.php?topic=2226.0;prev_next=prev (Accessed: Feb 2018) Origins of the Universe (2015) 10 Creatures of Folklore Available at: http://orginsoftheuniverse.weebly.com/10-creatures-of-folklore-that-seem-familiar.html (Accessed: Feb 2018) Uncommon Caribbean (2013) Haunted Caribbean: How to Save Your Soul from Le Soucouyant Available at: https://www.uncommoncaribbean.com/2013/10/26/haunted-caribbean-how-to-save-your-soul-from-le-soucouyant/ (Accessed: Feb 2018) Gameranx (2013) The Witcher 3 Concept Art Depicts Baba Yaga and Other Mythical Creatures: Creatures out of Slavic lore make their way into The Witcher 3 Available at: http://gameranx.com/updates/id/13158/article/the-witcher-3-concept-art-depicts-baba-yaga-and-other-mythical-creatures/ (Accessed: Feb 2018) Exhibitions: British Museum (2018) African and Caribbean Galleries [Exhibition] Museum of London (2018) London, Sugar and Slavery: 1600-today & Game Collection [Exhibition] Science Museum (2018) Power Up gaming event [Event] Other Primary: Interviews (Caribbean friends and family, gamers) Games: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015) CD Projekt Red [Video Game] Poland: CD Projekt Red God of War franchise (2005-2018) SIE Santa Monica Studio [Video Game] US:  Sony Interactive Entertainment Uncharted franchise (2007-2017) Naughty Dog [Video Game] US: Sony Interactive Entertainment Lara Croft: Tomb Raider franchise (1996-2015) Core Design [Video Game] UK:  Eidos Interactive, Square Enix Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) Bethesda [Video Game] US: Bethesda Until Dawn (2015) Supermassive Games [Video Game] US: Sony Interactive Entertainment Project Action Plan and Timetable Week Date Week Beginning Activity / What you are intending to do - including independent study Resources / What you will need to do it - including access to workshops 1 05/03/18 I will be using this week for researching my subject. I will be collecting images, text, researching artists, going to museums and exhibitions and sketching/annotating as I go along. I will take photos of anything I feel is interesting. I will use the library, online resources, my sketchbook and drawing materials and my camera. 2 12/03/18 I will begin to visualise potential designs by doing initial drawings/model making. I will also continue researching in this week. I will use my sketchbook, drawing materials, graphics tablet and PC, clay for models, 3D sculpting software e.g. Mudbox 3 19/03/18 Using my initial idea drawings/models I will begin to develop my designs by drawing them in detail, changing them and experimenting with them to develop them further. I will use my sketchbook, drawing materials, graphics tablet, PC, clay for models 4 16/04/18 My design ideas will be finalized and I will decide how the final outcome will be produced. I will be most likely to use 3D software, so I will be researching more around digital 3D methods used in the game industry. Sketchbook, drawing materials, graphics tablet, PC/laptop 5 23/04/18 I will begin to make rough versions of my character models. I will start making clean versions of the models towards the end of the week. PC/laptop, 3D software 6 30/04/18 Continue with the final model making. Fix any technical problems as I go, refine models to avoid any more technical problems. PC/laptop 7 07/05/18 Refine and perfect the models. PC/laptop 8 14/05/18 Take good quality render shots of the characters, possibly transfer them to a different software for rendering. Create high quality presentation sheets. PC/laptop, sketchbook for planning