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1.1 - Theme Mind Map
1.1 - Theme Mind Map
Theme: Rebirth - "the process of being reincarnated or born again. " "a period of new life, growth, or activity; a revival. " (Definitions from Oxford Languages)
(Shinto information: One view is that the kami realised that like all other life-forms, they too were trapped in the cycle of samsara (rebirth) and that to escape this they had to follow Buddhist teachings.[376] Alternative approaches viewed the kami as benevolent entities who protected Buddhism, or that the kami were themselves Buddhas, or beings who had achieved enlightenment. In this, they could be either hongaku, the pure spirits of the Buddhas, or honji suijaku, transformations of the Buddhas in their attempt to help all sentient beings).
Rebirth List of Meanings and Links:
- Religion: Rebirth has many connotations to religions such as Christianity with the rebirth of Christ and Buddhism with rebirth being an endless cycle where your actions in one life affect the outcome of your next, being rebirthed not just as human but all sorts of creatures: leading to a view of all life being equal. This leads to places of worship like Churches and Temples for those seeking solace or repent in a form of rebirth over the soul of a person and how their actions, like in Churches where after death you are judged whether you go to heaven or hell, weighing your good and bad in your life to whether or not you are reborn in Heaven or Hell. But in religions like Shintoism they believe in the worship of your ancestors as it's believed after death they are reborn as Kami or gods that look over their descendants. But they also believe that everything is a god and should be respected in it's own right. There are also many ties with Taoism (Chinese philosophical tradition) that believe in Rebirth and that birth isn't a start nor death an end: this differs from Buddhism that believes in that once you have cleared your lives of sin you are no longer reborn and ascend, but in Taoism rebirth is an endless cycle of life.
- Game: This links where some games take and twist the ideas of Religion, especially Christianity where they take the ideas of Heaven & Hell with god/s & angels vs the devil and demons with sins and impurity. For example the Diablo series is built around a battle of angels and demons. Including things like Holy magics and Paladins that harness this power for good.
- Games/Mechanics: some games take the whole rebirth thing more seriously where the dying and coming back to life is a whole mechanic in of itself: 2 games I can think of the use this mechanic while tying it into their story are Destiny and Hades, this is different to games like for say Katana Zero where it's focus isn't on coming back to life but rather rewinding time when you die. In Destiny you are someone who has been revived by a "ghost" with the light of the traveler (a travelling intelligent planet) who has been revived because you have the will and might/been chosen to fight for the side of the light and the side of humanity against the darkness and humanities enemies. This rebirth mechanic is that whenever you die in game you don't actually die as your ghost can just revive you, like how in the story the ghost revives people to fight for the light. With hades you are the son of the god of the underworld and you want to escape to the surface and out of the pits of hades in hell. As a demigod you do this by climbing the layers of the underworld but if you fail and die you are sent back down to the depths of hell, never able to escape and reborn at the bottom as you are immortal.
- Fantasy: In fantasy there are many occurrences of rebirth from legendary/mythical creatures like the Phoenix, a fiery bird that is born again whenever it dies, to Necromancy where the undead exist whether it be skeletons, zombies, ghouls or draugr. Undead wizards like Liches and undying creatures like vampires. These creatures are more often than not humans reborn as undead or transformed. Leading to variations of rebirth being part of dark or evil. You also have priests and paladins who use the power of the light and holy magics for healing and reviving people.
- Norse Mythology: in Norse mythos they believe in multiple realms and that if you honorable and died in battle you'd then be allowed into and reborn into their realm of warriors "Valhalla". Not only do they believe in the rebirth of honorable warriors who die in battle but in undead creatures. those cursed and dishonored called 'draugr' and also believe in the rebirth of the whole realm in an event called 'ragnarok' where the world is destroyed and the world, heaven and all realms end but then after is reborn anew, better than before after the clash of gods and giants.
- Samurai/Bushido: During the 700 year period of 1100 - 1800 in Japan there were an elite set of armored warriors called Samurai who lived and were around during a time that the country was at constant war. This lead to having pure bread warriors, with this there was an influx of tradition when came to how a warrior should be, especially when everyone is fighting over power (infighting amongst clans). This lead to the creation of 'Bushido' or 'The Warriors Code'. "Bushido is best used as an overarching term for all the codes, practices, philosophies and principles of samurai culture. " Eventually Bushido developed over the eras and for a while during some of the more war ridden wars came to mean that the way of the warrior was honor over all (leading to some misconceptions about it being a death mantra/code instead) but this essentially meant that people can obtain something greater than life or death, a freedom only obtained through honor and dying through honorable means in battle or by ritual suicide. This was linked to Shintoism with the ideas of constantly being watched by your ancestors and that you need to pass on with honor otherwise you dishonor your entire family line, including those you're going to meet after your death. It gave honor a larger than life importance so that your name would forever echo and you become a legend through time (metaphysical form of rebirth).
Theology: Another form of rebirth can be in the form of dropping your identity to assume a new one, becoming a new person entirely through name. This is used in cases like Superheroes like Batman or vigilantes in games and movies, taking on a new identity, like an entirely different persona for any number of reasons. (assassination, Hitmen, vigilante, be a hero). Some examples in games of this are the 'Hitman' series of games where a whole game mechanic is disguising yourself using peoples clothes to hide yourself and get access. Another is 'Ghost of Tsushima' where you play as a samurai who needs to distance himself from the honor of bushido and samurai and become dishonorable and an assassin/vigilante in order to free his home from Mongol invasion, taking up this new vigilante identity as a legend called the 'ghost' in order to in-act justice even if it doesn't fit the samurai creed. Also speaking of creeds taking up a new identity can link to becoming part of a creed and changing the way you live your life. For example in the game series 'Assassin's Creed' when you play as an assassin you drop your previous life and make this creed your life to become a figure of justice from the dark, similar to the ideas of Bushido and living by a creed. However, rather than taking this creed to be an honorable samurai its for the sake of your brotherhood but in the end its all for honor and justice.
Science: Another idea of rebirth is the Big Bang theory with the whole creation of the universe and how everything was made out of pretty much nothing. An ever expanding universe full of life and planets that eventually after millions of years will destroy itself just to be reborn in an endless cycle of our universe and how everything forms from nothing then returns to nothing before repeating this long long cycle.
1.1 - Theme Research
1.1 - Theme Research
Board 1: Christianity/Western Theology
These are a collection of images linking to the ideas of Christianity and general Western Theology (including things like demons and angels). I find the whole heaven vs hell, good vs evil angle when it comes to this topic interesting and how rather than thinking about the topics as just the afterlife but rather when they're represented like they're battling each other. A constant war of Heaven vs Hell and a more militaristic approach because then you start to get into things like mystical realms of heaven with skyscraper like churches and towers with angelic tall structural design vs deeps pits of hell where it's dark, fiery and swarming with malevolent creatures/demons. It then starts to link closer to fantasy elements such as magic and the medieval period with chivalrous knights fighting for the light, or these warrior angel knights. For example the game series "Diablo" takes on these themes of a war of heaven vs hell. Which then creates cool character designs and concepts as well as cool environments with dark dungeons, caves vs the "silver city" a floating holy city in the sky. I could use these elements to help extend my idea into physical form, having a basis for my idea in the architecture, themes and art already made to give presence for what I might put in the scene. As I don't know what an angelic city or hell dungeon looks like: I feel like it helps gather a clearer image or at least something I can base ideas in a scene on or an environment sketch off of. What's deemed as hellish or angelic (perceived vs reality) and the common occurrences of things like colour and imagery.
Specific Links: (series of artwork or research that interests me specifically)
davidlesperance.net/diablo-3-art
- designer/director for heaven environment during diablo 3 cinematic
The Heart of the Heaven - Diablo's 20th anniversary Fan art contest
- fan art of the heaven environment and end demon from diablo
- level design and environment for heaven in diablo 3
- environment concept art for diablo (3) - specifically heaven
Board 2: Rebirth/Religious Architecture
I made this board to show a depiction of various religious architecture from eastern to western (things like temples, shrines, churches or cathedrals that come from all sorts of religions) because I have an interest in the architecture and design of these religious structures and how they theme geographically and culturally. As each style has it's own very unique take and how they show their faith through religious buildings. These are clear examples I can use to frame and design my own designs and not just take inspiration but to see what goes into making these religious buildings and how I could recreate them - this goes for the shape and 3d model design, redrawing them for 2d and also looking at what sort of textures I would be trying to create for the textures of the building (interior or exterior). If I wanted to base my scene around these cultures or religions I could take this architecture to build a 3D environment. Although rebirth doesn't directly correlate to the buildings themselves, the architecture is a reflection of the culture and religion and as such its ideologies that involve things like their beliefs in rebirth. For example: Church and Cathedral towers are built tall "to be closer to god" who they believe to be in the sky above always watching, its a sense of pride to be closer to god.
Here is a collection of primary research of images of 2 European churches/Cathedrals taken on a trip. Here it takes a closer look at some interior design as well as how even though in completely separate locations there are similarities in the shape and design of the buildings. It also helps get a closer look at some of the textures of walls, interior and structure so I have a better idea and look at what the textures of the object would be like if made it in 3D.
Board 3: Rebirth in Fantasy
(images from the WoW lich king expansion art/cinematic books)
Moving away from reality you have rebirth in fantasy with undead and all sorts of creatures. This board is a collection of images and art of those creatures. I started looking at the most obvious undead -> with skeletons, liches, draugr and any sort of undead creature or those who summon the undead (wizards of necromancy and like) then I also saw the idea of undead creatures like zombie wolves and dragons. Then even more obvious with creatures like vampires the very definition of undead and coming back to life as an immortal being. Looking at the art and design of these creatures. But then I realised that there is also the opposite in fantasy and collected images of those holy: holy knights, holy paladins and priests who use "holy magic" or powers from angels to heal and revive people back from the dead (like a healer class in a game that has the ability to revive dead players). Another one of these creatures that stray away from the undead side of rebirth are phoenixes. But this made me think about the fantasy mmo rpg World of Warcraft and their character: the face of undead being a 'Lich King', a being who controls a swarm of undead creatures powerful enough to take over the world. I found the character of the lich king and rebirth fantasy elements in the world of warcraft franchise interesting due to it's forefront image and the sense of power the character extrudes including the environments that surround his land. It really helps create a sense of presence because the broad theme of fantasy rebirth is now focused on this 1 location and character. It really shows an example of a narrowed, focused idea of a powerful character who controls life and death over the world. These creatures are useful as they show the extensiveness of what rebirth is in fantasy and how any can be used to create a character and design which either takes the side of light or dark for rebirth. I have clear examples of not only design but ideas ( a story of a character).
Specific Links:
- enemy/monster design & models from diablo 3 (fantasy creatures including undead and demons)
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
- concept art for the world of warcraft lich king expansion which shows the character (lich king himself), environment and enemies of the lich king.
Wrath of the Lich King Pinterest Board
- art (fanart, concept art + other) of the lich king expansion
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Art Book + Video
- book detailing behind the scenes art for the game expansion
Wrath of the lich king Cinematic Art Book + Video
book containing the production process of the animation, conceptualization, story development, character development, production design and even the 3D execution of the cinematics for the game expansionBoard 4: Norse Mythology
(god of war art book pictures)
This board shows a collection of artwork correlating to Norse mythology, more specifically looking at areas of Norse mythology that have a link to the idea of rebirth: this being, undead creatures like the draugr, the world eating serpent Jörmungandr (a symbol of Ouroboros) , the heaven of warriors Valhalla and the end of the world Ragnarök. It also includes visuals for different Norse mythological environments. I really enjoy the fantastical elements of Norse mythology and how each part links slightly to rebirth in its own way. You have Valhalla, a realm only for the most honorable and valiant warriors who die in battle reborn in a world for them. Ragnarok is the event that signals the end of the world but also it's rebirth, when the gods clash with those that wish to end the world and everything is destroyed there is new life that begins with new realms and creatures and humans repopulating the earth, with new gods. Then Jormungander, the snake that coils earth could eat the earth is linked the symbol of ouroboros (a symbol meaning an eternal cycle of renewal, death & rebirth) and that once the serpent stops eating itself it signals ragnorok and the end of the world as the cycle of rebirth is broken, however as we know it leads to the rebirth of a new world. So much thought and fantasy behind these mythological elements that lead to the ideas behind wild environments and crazy creatures with battles and war on an unprecedented scale. The research itself is very though provoking as you have these worlds collide and the imagery and art that comes out of it creates all sorts of ideas and symbolism, all this meaning and story behind it. It's really easy to start to develop these mythos into story, characters and environments. For example: the game god of war (2018) takes the deep lore of norse mythology and creates a deep game with lots of story and world building on fantasy environments showing the evil and good of the Norse mythos.
Special Links:
God of War Art Book Concept Art
- collection of concept art from the art book for god of war 2018
God of War Zbrush 3D character models
- dump of 3D models for the god of war game made in Zbrush
God of War Art Book Review / look through + video
- more in depth look at the artwork of the god of war art book
Board 5: Samurai / Bushido / Shintoism
For example, in specifics I took a look at the game Ghost of Tsushima as It depicts a realistic look at Japan set in the 13th century while it also has an extra gamemode where you play through these mysterious Japanese mythology inspired environments with your enemies rather than being bandits, lone samurai or invading mongols like in the main game are these evil spirits with wicked power.
I particularly have an interest of works that involve Japan and the samurai and as such I made a board looking into rebirth inside of Japan's history and culture, this lead to looking into the original religion of Japan: Shinto. Shinto believe in that everything is a god or spirit of some sort and should be treated with respect, including that once you die you become a god of your family and a spirit where you watch over your descendants over time. During times of constant inter-clan wars and between times of culture this developed an ideology of Bushido, which is all about honour over everything else, including having honour in death as when you die as a warrior you are going off to see your ancestors so you want to do them proud and honour you family and clan in battle and in life as you will meet them after death, wanting to be known as an honourable and strong warrior through your family and in time. But also during the warring states period Buddhism was another large religion spread across Japan, so many believed in the teaching of Buddha and became monks in temples trying to become enlightened and free themselves from the infinite cycle of rebirth. I've collected images of Samurai and their armour, then architecture in Japan of temples and shrines then some artworks of Bushido (the warriors code for honour) and some art of Gods in japan. I find the architecture and environments of japan so intereseting in how they're built, especially when it comes to colour where everything seems so bright or vibrant compared to western architecture. I took an interest at looking at environments and the real world Japan with temples and forests and samurai armour and swords. Then interested at looking at the spiritual side, with Kami/gods and spirits and how they're depicted. For instance the Torri gates of japan are supposed to symbolise the split of the mundane and reality compared to the spiritual, a gate to entire the plane of the spiritual.
(collection of Ghost of Tsushima concept art from artists linked below)
Special Links:
Ghost of Tsushima Concept Artist (characters mainly) - Mitch Mohrhauser
Ghost of Tsushima Environmental Concept Artist - Romain Jouandeau
Senior Concept Artist who worked on Ghost of Tsushima (environments, characters, assets) - John powell
Ghost of Tsushima Concept artist and illustrator - Naomi Baker
(collection of ghost of tsushima legends concept art - the mythological version of the original game)
All this art for the game and research for the topics of Samurai, Bushido & Shinto I feel are really important as they build upon my own knowledge and interest into professional pieces and also real life work to use to help with those professional pieces of work. It's not just for creating an image in my head and developing the idea but also in the creation of my ideas I have works and real life things to base and build my work off of and develop my interest in the topics into a physical piece of work as I can adapt the different elements and pick out the pieces for what I want to use or create.
Board 6: Science & Sci-Fi Rebirth
Moving away from Fantasy and mythology but still keeping in the elements of fiction we move to science fiction. Particularly within Sci-fi, the most popularized form of rebirth is cloning. Many science fiction shows base themselves around cloning or have cloning within them. One of the largest ones I can think of is Star Wars where they have a whole arc surrounding the 'clone wars' where an army of clones fights an army of droids. In game terms you have destiny, a game centered around light vs dark and that you're character has been reborn by the light to fight the darkness. The whole idea of amassing a clone army in a sci fi environment I feel is a cool idea and well executed within the star wars franchise, there is a lot of ways you can adapt the idea of having clones. In the same way that within Destiny your character comes back and is reborn with these powers of light to fight aliens and hive minds and robots and undead. I took images from the movies and shows for star wars and also concept art, artwork and in game art or models for destiny as I wanted a range of sources for the research in the topic to see how they differ and adapt as they come in different forms from 2d to 3d and stylization.
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