Out of Place
„ [...] This object must have some meaning for the observer. whether practical or emotional. Meaning
is also a relation. but quite a different one from spatial or pattern relation.“
- Lynch, The Image of The Environment
Having lived in Shanghai for a while, I always find myself in a conflict in my relation to the city. One
would think that being in one of the biggest cities in the world, with its modern and colossal structures and
millions of people everywhere would be an extraordinary, shocking experience, which is true for a while. But
after seeing the same buildings time and time again, however mesmerizing light displays at night and the
height may be, one can only relive this moment so many times. Growing tired of constantly being surrounded
by people yet feeling a sense of disconnection and loneliness was also a conflict that I could only feel relief
from when I distanced myself from the hoards of human masses to a more isolated place, away from all the
chatter, spitting, shouting, car motors and honking. On the other hand, I would not accept these elements
simply as a background drop our daily lives and completely forget about them. This would cause an uneasy
feeling, an awkward perception of the city. I always ask myself what the Meaning of it all is, but I never find
an answer to this problem.
„We are not simply observers of this spectacle, but are ourselves a part of it, on the stage with the
other participants. Most often, our perception of the city is not sustained, but rather partial, fragmentary,
mixed with other concerns.“
By Lynch's passage from the essay The Image Of The Environment, we learn that the city isn't
simply made of buildings and structures, that its inhabitants aren't spectators of a show, but rather everyone
has its own part to act out, their lives being influenced by their own lives which in turn influences other
people's lives and so on. Based on this, the relationship between city and its inhabitants would be one of
adaption. But of course, a flawless city that can morph itself to fit into any person's needs and wishes is
impossible, so outcasts, which are not directly influenced by the city but by their own lives and problems,
may feel out of place.
To many of these people, we may relate them to the philosophy of Absurdism, referring to the conflict
between the search for meaning and value in ones lives and the human inability to find it. In the essay The
Myth of Sysiphus by Albert Camus, the author states three ways of accepting the Absurdity that life is, and
that suicide would be the non acceptance of Absurdity.
“Thus I draw from the absurd three consequences, which are my revolt, my freedom, and my
passion. By the mere activity of consciousness I transform into a rule of life what was an invitation to death,
and I refuse suicide.”
Short Film
One aspect of this short film is a portrait of being out of place. Being isolated, not fitting in a
city/society. Based on this first concept, a character was created as a common point for every scene. The
film is about this character living his life in Shanghai but feeling like he doesn't belong in the city. As the
sequence progresses, the character comes to the conclusion that the Absurdity in his life is too much and he
can not accept the circumstances, leading him to terminate the self.
The character acts in two different ways throughout the film. The first one being during the day,
where the character lives his life. His lack of any movement and action, as well as the reaction or nonreaction
by its surroundings mark its influence on the character. His positioning and lack of action suggests it
is not to be humanized or related to, but rather simply observed. The contrast is then marked by the isolated
scenes where he is facing the camera, marking the importance of the character opposed to the environment. The duality between day and night also reflects on this passive/active contrast. During the day, the character lives his life. At night, he reflects on his life isolated from society.
where the character lives his life. His lack of any movement and action, as well as the reaction or nonreaction
by its surroundings mark its influence on the character. His positioning and lack of action suggests it
is not to be humanized or related to, but rather simply observed. The contrast is then marked by the isolated
scenes where he is facing the camera, marking the importance of the character opposed to the environment. The duality between day and night also reflects on this passive/active contrast. During the day, the character lives his life. At night, he reflects on his life isolated from society.
The choice of locations filmed also reflect what kind of person this character would be. The locations
are all found in various places in Shanghai, China, and present different characteristic backgrounds, each
one adding a layer to the back-story of the character. Each place suggests a different aspect of his life and
problems stemming from it. For example, when the character finds himself in a library, it would mean he is a
troubled student, or when he is in a mall means he is not adapted to social encounters, or he is financially
handicapped to acquire his materialistic desires.
As for the editing process, a rather simplistic approach was chosen over an over-edited one to give a
sense of reality and rawness to the film. Abrupt cuts between shots, followed by a short pause hint that time
passes between every scene. However, on the night scenes, the fade-in/fade-out transition is used, to give a
more calm and sinister tone to the scene.
sense of reality and rawness to the film. Abrupt cuts between shots, followed by a short pause hint that time
passes between every scene. However, on the night scenes, the fade-in/fade-out transition is used, to give a
more calm and sinister tone to the scene.
Even though this story finds itself in Shanghai, one of the cities with the highest suicide rates in the
world, it is not meant to celebrate, romanticize nor to make people aware of suicide. This theme is treated
matter-of-factly, because seen from a logical perspective, it is just an occurrence in life.
world, it is not meant to celebrate, romanticize nor to make people aware of suicide. This theme is treated
matter-of-factly, because seen from a logical perspective, it is just an occurrence in life.
