Cyborg Manifest


3D Scanning, Modeling in Maya, Motion Capture, Sequencing in Adobe Premier Pro, Edited in Final Cut Pro

What is this piece about?

This piece was inspired by the topics of cyberfeminsim and human limitations. The task was to create a cyborg version of yourself, and in doing so, I created someone who is trying to run away from society's need to consume everything in the media. The only identifiable part of the cyborg is its beige box computer head which is a dehumanizing characteristic, stylistically chosen to represent a subject who lacks details and much of its own personality.  The cyborg reaches the end of a corridor and finds itself stressed that every entryway leads to yet another puzzle waiting to be solved, another liminal space, another area in which there is a loneliness that cannot be escaped. In this chamber,  self-reflection is found in the pool and adds to the concept of existentialism this subject is experiencing in the never ending loop of their isolation within the confines of the large digital world.  


Cyborg Manifest Design Process:

  1. 3D scanning at the DLM at UNR- Students scanned each other to transform themselves into Cyborgs using Maya.
  2. Received 3D scanning files of model to import in Maya.
  3. Used computer beige box .obj file as the head of my Cyborg model to represent how media has consumed us all- we are all just people behind the screen online. Model was kept plain and simple to show static
  4. I modeled a liminal pool room in Maya using cubes and extrusion tools. There are 3 visible corridors in this project to show that they all lead to same place in the end. I found free assets for the pool room online and used textures that felt nostalgic. Walls are the texture of a 90s styled subway, floor tiles are basic tiles, basic checker pattern for a 90s/2000s touch reminiscent of arcades or food places. Pool water has movement which was created by following maya tutorials online. Pool ladder was a free asset found online.
  5. Learned how to keyframe camera movement and use motion capture from Mixamo to animate my cyborg in class and by online tutorials.
  6. Learned how to render using Arnold Renderer and sequence images into adobe premier to create the final animation in class.
  7. Added a manifesto for the project to edit in during video editing portion. The manifesto was written up and pasted into deathgenerator.com for an old operating system look.
  8. Used Final Cut Pro to add a nostalgic camera effect and glitch cut scenes from the manifesto to the animation for the final video. Scan the QR code to be directed to my website to watch the clip.