Concept
The controlling idea for my video was to make a remix of the Vertical Cinema Manifesto, where I use the form of, in my case, the photo to critique the societal values we place on food, and establish a clear alternate narrative. This is a anti-consumerism and anti-social-media-façade, pro-authenticity, pro-relationships and nutrition argument. It uses the structure and aesthetic setup of the "original" that it draws inspiration from for a creative remix arguing for a change in our choices when posting on social media. It hopes to call attention to the viewer's values and habits and convince them to change their habits if they too have "cubic food photo syndrome."
This remix took a variety of sources from the intro's 2001 Space Odyssey's opening scene, some of the most famous paintings of food, to footage from John Berger's Ways of Seeing. The remix of this variety of sources provides background and brief exploration of the history of food and its role in society, setting up for the satirical comments on modern technology and our use of food. The use of familiar tropes like a black and white montage to the violin of "Sad Romance," along with lively aspects like the narrator interjecting during his own speech contribute to the playful and fast video as it runs to its argument. The subsequent transition of the video to the light-hearted montage using the energy of Ça plane pour moi, showcases the positive possibilities with change, where it can glorify its argument for vertical food photos. The video understands its limits in producing die hard way way to change the culture, but it provides a useful opportunity for those viewing to reflect on their use of food and social media and argues for the person to hold themselves accountable to the superficiality and consumerism that plagues our culture. In this way, the video effectively remixes the Vertical Cinema Manifesto it's inspired from by using the form to argue a larger theme in light of some need for change, and uses the tone to reach a larger audience than what might be possible if it was done more formally.