TRAITS | Final Animation + Thoughts

Here you will find my final outcome for this project based on 'Identity' where I focus on the topic of masculinity and femininity. I chose to do a claymation as it allowed be to take a much more abstract approach to the project whilst still being able to depict a message to the view. I titled this piece 'TRAITS'.




I began this animation with two balls of clay rolling towards each-other and then combining and molding into a larger piece of clay. They both represent the traits of someone who is masculine or feminine which then combine together to represent both set of traits not being categorized. A hand then comes in a grabs the ball of clay and takes it away, only to bring back two clay heads. I did this in order to represent the actions of society and stereotypes, the hand represents society and its need to conform people into categories. It molds people into thinking they need to be defined by one of two things, you are either masculine or feminine and that can only be reflected through what gender you are. What aimed for when making these faces from the clay was to give them slightly different features but also not aim for a defined 'one is female and one is male'. It is also up for the audience to decide. It adds to the point of how we should not assume or have to go by the traits we're expected to follow.

The animation continues and the figures begin to grow hair one representing a 'female' hair and 'male' hair, however the eventually alternate between each hair style. Representing that even physical traits should not be directed to a specific gender and can be a choice for anyone. The faces then turn to face forward and one grows horns while the other grew a flower from their mouth. This aimed to touch on what I had spoken about previously in terms of how a society tries to define us by our traits. How if you are a man that means you're masculine therefore you are seen as powerful, aggressive and  controlling (that is what the horns represent). Where as the flower represents if you are a woman you're feminine therefore you are seen as polite, sensitive and emotional. The faces then turn to one another and then merge into a bundle of more shapes of clay, and almost become one. In order to represent my whole point and focus for this animation, which is how these traits should not be categorized and are traits that anyone can have and identify with. The characters merge together in order to go against the stereotypes that were assigned to them.

Overall, I am pleased with my outcome and like that my abstract approach gives the viewer more freedom to come up with their own reasons for what this video represents, in terms of identity and what it means to them. Pushing the idea of masculinity and femininity and the different meanings it can have to so many people.

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