Before a baby learns to talk, they smile. Body language is a major part of human interaction that begins at infancy. In the world of Dancetopia, the only way by which people communicate is through body language. Dance is the sole form of self expression citizens use to interact with one another. Analyzing this aspect of Dancetopia causes one to reflect on communication on Earth. Dance and body language is an integral facet of communication on Earth, a fact that is made clearer through the exploration of Dancetopia.
Throughout Earth's history, political gestures have been made popular by the leading figures of government. Dancetopia also features politicians with their own particular political gestures. The first scene in our short film is a presidential debate between two candidates – a strictly conservative female candidate and a passionately liberal male candidate. The conservative candidate has very closed-off and concise movements that are symbolic of her belief in having less taxes. The other candidate, however, demonstrates free, open movements that represent his willingness to happily be taxed and give in order to benefit of others. In the country of Germany on planet Earth, Adolf Hitler required the Nazi salute to be performed by his citizens to indicate their loyalty to him. Richard Nixon used the V for victory sign as a trademark of his. The presidential debate scene in the short film prompts one to reflect on how Earth politicians have used physical movements to rally their supporters and sway public opinion.
In Dancetopia, citizens are either of the upper class, the lower class, or the religious class. Those in the religious class differentiate themselves from society by physically altering their appearance. Religious Dancetopians dress all in white, decorate their forehead with a spiral, and move in a manner in which their bodies are directed either towards or in submission of the heavens. Religious people on Earth have similar practices. Jewish people wear prayer shawls to demonstrate their faith in God. Some Hindu people place a bindi ion their forehead to protect against demons. Individuals of all faiths worship God by bowing or orienting themselves towards the heavens in prayer. The religious dance ceremony in the short film mimics Earthling religious worship and shows the audience that worship on Earth can be viewed like a dance. Dance and body language are a prevalent part of our beings and touches on many characteristics in our lives.
Classes are distinguished from one another through their bodily "diction." The upper class of Dancetopia moves in a very elegant and smooth manner, while the lower class dances closer to the ground. As Earth, certain genres of dance are sometimes associated with a specific class of people. In Dirty Dancing, Baby was not suppose to affiliate with those who danced dirty because she belonged to the upper class. In Dancetopia, the varying forms of dance represent the individuals' social standing. Dance can be a signifier of class status, a fact that is true in both Dancetopia and Earth.
In the final scene of the short film, we see a family unit at home eating dinner. In this particular scene, the strongest expression of emotion is depicted. This is very reminiscent of the music video for the song “Valtari” by Sigur Ros, in which two subjects communicate to one another passionately through interpretive dance (warning: there is graphic content in this music video). Emotions are strong and are only portrayed through dance. Similarly, in this scene, the father explodes in anger, which is represented through violent, passionate, and Footloose-esque movements.
Julian Bleecker had stated in her essay, Design Fiction, “[Worlds] are assemblages of various sorts, part story, part material, part idea-articulating prop…” Our world is designed through various observations that we have made. Earth is a potpourri of interpretations and thoughts, a product of experience. Similarly, Dancetopia is a product of our past associations with dance. Dance and movement on Earth communicates basic wants and desires that one experiences since infancy. Body language is key to communication on Earth, a facet of our society that is focused on in the world of Dancetopia.
Throughout Earth's history, political gestures have been made popular by the leading figures of government. Dancetopia also features politicians with their own particular political gestures. The first scene in our short film is a presidential debate between two candidates – a strictly conservative female candidate and a passionately liberal male candidate. The conservative candidate has very closed-off and concise movements that are symbolic of her belief in having less taxes. The other candidate, however, demonstrates free, open movements that represent his willingness to happily be taxed and give in order to benefit of others. In the country of Germany on planet Earth, Adolf Hitler required the Nazi salute to be performed by his citizens to indicate their loyalty to him. Richard Nixon used the V for victory sign as a trademark of his. The presidential debate scene in the short film prompts one to reflect on how Earth politicians have used physical movements to rally their supporters and sway public opinion.
In Dancetopia, citizens are either of the upper class, the lower class, or the religious class. Those in the religious class differentiate themselves from society by physically altering their appearance. Religious Dancetopians dress all in white, decorate their forehead with a spiral, and move in a manner in which their bodies are directed either towards or in submission of the heavens. Religious people on Earth have similar practices. Jewish people wear prayer shawls to demonstrate their faith in God. Some Hindu people place a bindi ion their forehead to protect against demons. Individuals of all faiths worship God by bowing or orienting themselves towards the heavens in prayer. The religious dance ceremony in the short film mimics Earthling religious worship and shows the audience that worship on Earth can be viewed like a dance. Dance and body language are a prevalent part of our beings and touches on many characteristics in our lives.
Classes are distinguished from one another through their bodily "diction." The upper class of Dancetopia moves in a very elegant and smooth manner, while the lower class dances closer to the ground. As Earth, certain genres of dance are sometimes associated with a specific class of people. In Dirty Dancing, Baby was not suppose to affiliate with those who danced dirty because she belonged to the upper class. In Dancetopia, the varying forms of dance represent the individuals' social standing. Dance can be a signifier of class status, a fact that is true in both Dancetopia and Earth.
In the final scene of the short film, we see a family unit at home eating dinner. In this particular scene, the strongest expression of emotion is depicted. This is very reminiscent of the music video for the song “Valtari” by Sigur Ros, in which two subjects communicate to one another passionately through interpretive dance (warning: there is graphic content in this music video). Emotions are strong and are only portrayed through dance. Similarly, in this scene, the father explodes in anger, which is represented through violent, passionate, and Footloose-esque movements.
Julian Bleecker had stated in her essay, Design Fiction, “[Worlds] are assemblages of various sorts, part story, part material, part idea-articulating prop…” Our world is designed through various observations that we have made. Earth is a potpourri of interpretations and thoughts, a product of experience. Similarly, Dancetopia is a product of our past associations with dance. Dance and movement on Earth communicates basic wants and desires that one experiences since infancy. Body language is key to communication on Earth, a facet of our society that is focused on in the world of Dancetopia.
