William Thomas Symons
St Patrick's College, Strathfield
JOHN DOE IN THE BALLAD OF A DEAD MAN
Time-Based Forms
Video
John Doe in the Ballad of a Dead Man examines dreaming as a means of escape. Within my body of work this refuge, despite its complexity, collapses as the problems of reality inevitably bleed in. Fascinated with film's ability to depict the surreal state that is dreaming, my intention was to give each scene a unique sense of uncanniness through an absurd and deliberate mise-en-scène. There is also an underlying narrative of grief and despair throughout the work, visually represented by stylistic techniques like the monochromatic colour grading inspired by noir films of the 1950s.
My artmaking practice has been influenced by the study and interpretation of the following artists: Charlie Kaufman (dir), I'm Thinking of Ending Things; Hiro Murai (dir), Atlanta series; Orson Welles (dir), The Lady From Shanghai; Nicolas Winding Refn (dir), Drive.
Marker's Commentary
This highly successful time-based form communicates a son’s feelings in the lead up to attending his father’s funeral. The quick edit cuts, dream-like sequences, and distracted camera angles mirror the protagonist’s anxiety and confusion. Each mise-en-scene is richly filled with thoughtful, quirky details, characters, and dialogue. The resolved use of sound effects heightens the dramatic tension, combined with tight close-up and handheld shots, designed to disorient the viewer. The work presents a confidence in storytelling, film techniques, and production. It liberally takes its aesthetic cues from cinematic auteurs David Lynch and Jim Jarmusch, in both its look and narrative, to sensitively convey a story of loss and regret.