CDT Ass.03: Dissecting Frames

CONTEMPORARY DESIGN THEORIES

TAN YI JYNN | 0353247 | 3000 WORDS

DECEMBER 2017 | THE TWO WORLDS

ALONG WITH THE GODS

Firefighter Ha Ja Hong (Cha Tae Hyun) dies in the line of duty and must stand before the seven gods of Hell to earn a chance at reincarnation. To help him in his journey, three guardians are assigned to him –Gang Rim (Ha Jung Woo), Hae Won Maek (Ju Ji Hoon), and their maknae Duk Choon (Kim Hyang Gi). Within 49 days, the guardians must prove

the defendant’s innocence against charges filed by the prosecution until King Yeomra (Lee Jung Jae) grants him safe passage back to the world of the living. However, a vengeful spirit makes an appearance, risking Ja Hong’s chances to return to his beloved mother.

JUSTIFICATION ON SELECTION MOTION PICTURE Journeys of seven trials in 49days The protagonist of the movie is altered via seven tribulations, and the film focuses on his inner journey and surroundings. When a scene supports the common character, viewers temporarily put themselves in each character's shoes. A jump into the tectonics of human life and death, the meaning of life and death, and the value of a given existence is therefore made in this huge dream that surpasses the borders of life and death between the world and hell.

Character and Characteristic

Scope and Background Studies Webcomic Based on the webcomic series "Singwa Hamgge" by Joo Ho-Min (first published January 8, 2010) via comic.naver.com/webtoon.

The movie focuses on the "Afterlife' episode of "Singwa Hamgge," the original webcomic features three separate episodes: "Afterlife," "Life" and "Myth." Kim Jong-hwa seeks to emulate the model of Western superheroes and in particular, the type of fantastique works that Chinese cinema is perfecting in creating a blend of CGI and live-action that becomes almost edible in its lushness.

CGI Technique (computer generated image)

Live Action

The film creates epic CGI landscapes – a pillar stretching above a sea of souls in lava; a court taking place on the edge of a waterfall; an icy canyon with walls containing the frozen souls of the condemned; the fall down into a vast pit of floating rocks – although these are not quite as technically polished as their Chinese counterparts.

Actors cooperation with the workers wear in green to perform the scene of paranormal. The actors are suspended in the air by green wires, which are then erased digitally during the postproduction process.

Phase 5 : Movie colour tone

Phase 1 : Action

Phase 2 : Cancel background

Kim Yong-Hwa uses colour evidently within the 7 trial scenes which ultimately represent the type of hell Cha Tae-Hyun’s character Kim Ja-Hong is being judged upon.

Focusing on the meaning of the colour in each hell and its connection with the moral lesson the characters and audience learn whilst the action takes place. Looking into CGI (computer generated image) in creating this colour palette rather than what is already achieved through

3D ANIMATION 3D animation was used in the scene that comprised a lot of people. In the post-production process combine the scene of actors in the green screen.

Animation of puling people at the hell

Phase 3 : Add on background

Phase 4 : Add on effect

production design and costume. Linking so with how this affects the genre of fantasy and the mood in which the colour emits, as well as the emotional response from the audience. Therefore arguing that focusing on the meaning of colour rather than the aesthetic or atmosphere is more effective in it’s visual storytelling.

SIN

Philosophical ideals Concept of the underworld The theory of "causal karma" and "reincarnation"

BORN

combines the three mechanisms of "prosecution, defense,

and

trial"

in

the

modern

judicial

litigation system.

Feeling of love and redemption

HUMAN WORLD

From the perspective of "Buddha's Shousheng Sutra" revealed in the title, the judgment of the dead in the underworld can be regarded as the

DIE

law of heaven and earth of "cause (sin) and result (punishment) retribution".

However, elements". behavior

sin

has

Although has

"formal the

varying

and

male degrees

substantive protagonist's of

"formal

TRIAL

HELL

CAUS

elements of deservingness", there is absolutely

AL KARMA

Conflict points

no specific connotation that constitutes the substantive elements.

DEFENSE

PUNISHMENT

The true fairness and justice Because this opposition of "form and substance" brings out the dialectic of "what is the true meaning of fairness and justice" but who can be flawless in life? Does it mean guilty? Does guilt equal a certain violation of the law of justice?

Are sins worth forgiveness?

This Korean mythology concept of seven Hells is derived from Buddhism.

PROSECUTE

REINCARNATION

12:44

Hell of murder (judges if your past actions influenced someone's death)

23:25

Period of motion picture space Two world: Life vs Afterlife One world is the space humans live. Another world is the afterlife of humans. It is the world only accessible when one is dead. "Along With The Gods" focuses on the elements of hell. It is said

Hell of indolence (judges if the noble life given to the subject was wasted)

50:24

that the production team spent six years making the seven hells of "betrayal, violence, unfilially, killing, laziness, deceit, and injustice" composed of seven natural elements: water, fire, iron, ice, mirror, air, and sand.

Leveling of Hell Hell of deceit (judges the lies one has told in one's life)

1:10:56

The sequence of facing trial in hell is based on the cause of the defendant's make in the human world.

The order of the trials is determined by the King of the Underworld, Yeomra (played by Lee Jung-jae), who judges each individual's sins from lightest to heaviest.

HUMAN WORLD Hell of injustice (judges refusal to help those in need, especially for selfish 1:20:13gains)

Hell of betrayal (judges the cold-hearted who betrayed faith or trust)

1:34:51

Hell of violence (judges any physical attacks on others)

1:55:07

Hell of Filial Impiety (judges dishonor or disrespect of one's parents, elders, and ancestors)

HELL

HELL

Key Spaces and Interactions of Space with Characters 01. Hell of Murder The first court is the hell of fire soup, also known as the hell of murder, and the punished must go through the sea of hell fire. The scene is a pillar stretching above a sea of souls in lava.

In the first court, Hell of Murder, Ja-hong is tried for the indirect murder of his colleague, who was trapped beneath rubble during a fire. About to be sentenced, it is revealed that his colleague told him to prioritize the civilians. After rescuing 8 others, Ja-hong attempted to go back for his colleague only to be held back as the building collapsed. The judge then acquits Ja-hong.

02. Hell of indolence The hell of indolence, which mainly punishes those who waste their time and do nothing. The scene is a court taking place on the edge of a waterfall.

In the 2nd court, Hell of Indolence, Ja-hong's guardians presented his selflessness and diligence. Ja-hong blurts out that he only worked for money and was about to be punished when Gang-rim interjects, stating that the money was to support his brother and ailing mother and therefore acquitting him.

03. Hell of deceit The third court is hell of deceit, where those who are convicted will have their tongues pulled out.

IIn the Hell of Deceit, Ja-hong is accused of writing fake letters to the family of those who had died, one of whom is Ji-yeon, the daughter of his fallen colleague. Gang-rim supernaturally links with Deok-choon from the living world to defend Ja-hong, stating that Ja-hong had also written fake letters to his mom to cheer her up, allowing her to focus on her health. And that the letters to Ji-Yeon, despite her actually understanding that her father was dead, helped her cope with her loss. The evidence is thrown out and the charges are dismissed.

04. Army base Ja-hong's younger brother, who was serving in the army base during his lifetime, was a senior soldier in the South Korean Army.

IAs a soldier, he took the initiative to take care of "Caring Soldier" Yuan Dong-yeon (a soldier with a slight physical or intellectual disability). Soo-hong has been accidentally killed while on guard duty by Dong-yeon, and his death was covered up by their superior, Lieutenant Park. He was buried alive. After his death, he became a ghost because of his anger and unwillingness, and later became the 49th nobleman of the messenger of the underworld.

05. Kim Ja-Hong's House The sixth court is hell of violence, where the punished falls into a black hole. The depth of the entrance depends on the defendant’s crime

Kim Ja-Hong was born in poverty. When he was young, his mother was very ill and his younger brother suffered from malnutrition. As a big brother, Jin Zihong is under too much pressure. In search of liberation, he planned to kill his mother, younger brother and himself, but was ultimately stopped by his younger brother. In a fit, he beat up Soo-hong and fled out of guilt, opting not to be a burden and dedicate his life to supporting them.

06. Hell of Filial Impiety Eternal Dessert for the Hell of Filial Impiety. King Yeomra judges dishonor or disrespect of one's parents, elders, and ancestors.

Ja-hong is immediately judged by Yeomra to be guilty. He learns that on the night of his attempted murder-suicide, his mother was actually awake and had decided to allow it, knowing that she was a burden on her family. Soo-hong, with the help of Gang-rim and Won-maek, enters his mother's dream and learns that she had already forgiven Jahong for that night. Since sins that have been forgiven in the living world are not allowed to be judged in the afterlife, Ja-hong is allowed to reincarnate.

SPATIAL ANALYSIS

HELL OF INDOLENCE Nature element: water

Kim Hae-Sook God of Indolence Hell

when main character is on trial. This hell

Bamboo column and support

setting is a bamboo structure which is floating on the river. It is build beside the waterfall. The colour scheme is green tones to

suit

the

nature.

The

element

LAYOUT OF THE PAVILION

and

construction material comes from nature.

The element in the trial

Arrangement based on the court layout

Repetition in linear form

Judge Prosecutor

Head of Guardian

Prosecutor

Assistants Guardians

Defendant

Bamboo in Curve form

Mechanism: watermill The watermill is an engine that uses hydropower. It is a structure that uses a water wheel to drive a mechanical process of milling the rope to release the bamboo raft that connected with it.

Mechanism of the miling

Material: bamboo Bamboo

structured

railing,

structure,

ceiling, and sun shield. The reason for choosing

bamboo

is

because

of

its

lightweight. The rope was used to gather the

bamboo

together

stability of the column.

to

enhance

the

SPATIAL ANALYSIS

Ch

ildh

ood in kitc he n 1:00:24

KIM JA-HONG' S HOUSE Interior Kim’s economic status is not rich, living in a traditional ordinary family in Korea. The main living spaces of the house are the living room and kitchen. The house is small and the space is maximumly used as the living room acts as a multi-purpose area that carried out sleeping, dining, reading, and even watching in the space.

1:00:39

1:42:04

Kitchen 28:30

1:00:50 39:06

Sit on the floor and ate

Living room

Sleeping in living room

Korean culture You can clearly see the etiquette in South Korea.

Traditionally when dining, South Koreans use cushions to sit on the floor and eat from a low table. Most of the activities in Korea are happening while sitting on a warm floor with comfortable cushions. Sometimes, they will sit at the yard to preparing the food.

Exterior: yard

tra

nce o f t he ho

us e

En

ARMY BASE Interior

Material

The material in interior space used wood

wood panel of the office

texture

at

furniture.

Combination with green paint as wall finishes.

Brick wall fence stone

Exterior Natural environment that near to the jungle. Trees and soil anywhere. The army base is fencing up as boundary

wood metal

colour tone of corridor

Main entrance of the army base

Jungle beside the army base

Costume Designed to suit the natural elements of greens and soil. Uniforms can differentiate their position by badge. They wear boots because of waterproof and non-slip.

Sentry booth

CRITICAL COMMENTARY

Argument However, these Hells in the movie are slightly different from the original Korean mythology.

This Korean mythology concept of seven Hells

Ideology

is derived from Buddhism.

The author has discovered the conception of virtuehappiness among these two sutras is more different than their commonality. Their commonalities can be found in two areas: both are justified in terms of the theory of causality, and mention about the abbot practicing the scriptures, while the rewards of their virtue-happiness are found with a difference as, The Life and Repaying Sutra pursues blessings from present virtue-happiness and reincarnation.

Critical Analysis The Life and Repaying Sutra emphasize paying by burning bills for the Life as well as Repaying, so that one can absolve reparation by watching the abbot chanting The Life and Repaying Sutra

Conclusion

and then obtain rewards of blessing rewards, a demonstration with the concept of sasrava merit for ‘Karma-reward’ in this life. The

TThe Korean film Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds

Diamond of Perfect Wisdom Sutra teaches all

starts with the prelude as The Life and Repaying Sutra

beings

that unfolds the story as the protagonist accepts the

Nirvana

trial from the hell of Hades, sending the message of

Bodhicitta, does all Buddha, and practices self-

‘Reward for Good Man’ with the notion of ‘Consistency

cherishing and altruism, hence ‘Not Caged by

of Virtue and Happiness’. Nevertheless, after the film

The Heart’.

has triggered significant feedbacks from many viewers, it has, then, initiated the doubt if The Life and Repaying Sutra is Buddhist or not. As such, the author has based on The Diamond of Perfect Wisdom Sutra of Chinese Buddhism as an example as he attempts to compare the similarities and differences regarding the concepts of virtue and happiness in these two classics.

for

achieving

the

(disambiguation)

highest as

one

ideal

of

expresses