Der moderne Animismus in der Animation
This work investigates the connections between modernity, animism and animation. Furthermore, it discusses these while employing the example of the banana and its marketing with drawn animation in the 1940s. Building on the history as well as the cultivation and trade of the banana, a conception of modernity in the sense of the philosopher Bruno Latour can be traced. He argues that modernity combines the skilful interpretation of an understanding of nature and the dissociation from the Other and the past with the denial of an animism that undermines one’s own claims. The analysis of Walt Disney’s films by the director and film theorist Sergei Eisenstein is employed to examine the effect of animation and to determine the reasons for the influence of drawn animation on the viewer.
The combination of both analyses led to the conclusion that animated drawings can be seen as a symbol for the animated character of non-humans. It is therefore possible to question the modern division into nature and culture, which then casts doubt on the supremacy of modern man.
Hybrid Cabbage
Hybrid Cabbage is an expansive installation that combines elements of drawing, animation, arts and crafts, and gastronomy. The focus is on red cabbage, which has characteristics of a hybrid (cf. Bruno Latour): Through ancient cultural techniques, this natural product is used, for example, as paint on fabric or is made into sauerkraut.
The tablecloth transforms the room into a dining area. The wooden serving trolley is a reference to the act of serving food, while the drawings of deformed tools engraved on it illustrate the reactions that come about from the production and consumption of food. While the animations used to convey content have the function of contemporary visual communication, they also test the perception of the animation of non-human entities.
Collaborations with actors whose backgrounds have food in common shape the installation and show the interconnection and interdependence of different professions and species within the shared world.
