Master’s Thesis Concept & Abstract
The following describes the concept and the abstract for the story serving as the basis on which the alien world modeled throughout the year of the master’s program. The program segmented into five units represented by chapters that introduced new software platforms implemented into each phase of development for the alien world we created. Below details a breakdown of the five chapters, the overarching concept, and the abstract of the story.
To watch the full trailer created by Gina Franzetta and John Kirk Drogsvold in Unreal Engine 5, please visit LeFinale (youtube.com).
CONCEPT
This project envisions an alien world through the lens of quantum physics, the study of matter and energy at their most fundamental level, to depict the intense conflict and aggressive discord between religious and political groups with polarized beliefs. It investigates the tragic consequences of socio-political polarization and the resultant turmoil as factions vie for dominance. In this exploration, we implement the allegory of Adam and Eve discovering the fruit of knowledge, metaphors for historic acts of devastation—including the first atomic bomb from World War II, historic diasporas by subjugated peoples, the cold war, and contemporary ideological polarization dividing nations.
We introduce an enchanted alien environment existing within an asteroid belt, inhabited by a species known as the Verde, whimsical creatures with a propensity for music and a natural disposition for peaceful coexistence within their habitat. This harmony persists until the discovery of a seductive force that heightens the senses and bestows power upon those who wield it. As an homage to the original group from which this story emerged, we center the storyline around the savior character Seraphina. The world described in this project serves as the backdrop for the preexisting conditions that Seraphina will resolve.
ABSTRACT
In the vibrations of a string, we find the dance of particles; in the harmony of music, we touch the pulse of the universe.
— Anonymous
What we have called matter is energy, whose vibration has been so lowered as to be perceptible to the senses. There is no matter.
— Albert Einstein
This world focuses on three main tribes or regions within the tree planet: The protagonist city of Luminalis, a city tucked within one of the tree canyons; their opponents, the Dark Enigma, who migrate to the top of the tree to best fit their style of music; and the rouge, migrant tribe, allies to Luminalis.
When the ancient Verde discover how to harness the mystical force of quantum energy to play on a physical instrument. Forged from the tree sap of the Great Ancestor tree, the frequencies emitted from the instrument intensity their senses with a heightened reality. However, the instrument also exhibits a cataclysmic side effect: When music played on the quantum harp cannot harmonize, the frequencies result in cataclysmic explosions. The Verde discover this in an explosion that nearly demolishes their planet. Yet, despite the devastation, the overwhelming allure of the harp and the temptation to play it.
After the explosion, the desire to possesses such an instrument and to experience such a frequency — especially following the destruction of their verdant skyline and lush landscaping — transfixes the minds and souls of the Verde with an overwhelming desire to play their style of music using the quantum instrument. However, knowing that only one form of music can play at once ignites a radical shift in the relations of the Verde. Once a creature unknown to spite, jealousy or rage, the Verde covet the instrument with the desire for the intoxicating experience of playing such an instrument.
The Verde gather in masses, groups of their own musical genre, with the group initiative to gain control of the harps. Thus, the Verde segregate and tribes are formed. A great diaspora followed as the tribes emigrate to various regions, distal to their original congregation as to escape the potential of catastrophic cacophony sounding from the otherworldly notes escaping the enchanted instrument. Symphony halls became war rooms teaming with strategy to possess all quantum instruments. The creatures that once rested under the open canopy of branches and thrived in harmony within the natural realm began industrializing their habitat with structures built for two purposes, war and music.
Infrastructure emerged as did technology. Reaches for power stretched far into the reaches of space where, between dimensions, the Verde sought quantum musical notes to collect and return to their homes. Threats loomed of attacks by the threat of quantum symphonies of the opponents to destroy their territories at the sacrifice of their own lives for the glory of the quantum music reigning their kind.
Hope seemed but an illusion and the seduction of the quantum music only strengthened from generation to generation. Only one music could play. Only one could rule.
But whose music would it be?
CHAPTERS
1
Prosthesis
Software introduced within this chapter included Maya, ZBrush, Arnold, and Keyshot. Chapter One focused on the development of a protagonist creature, the Verde, inhabiting the alien world from the story we created. The species lives on a tree floating in an asteroid belt in space. In this world, quantum music rules all and is the focus of all efforts put forth by this species.
2
Corpuscle
Software introduced within this chapter included Rhino and Grasshopper. Focusing on the core habitat of the prosthesis, this chapter imagined a dwelling unit for the protagonist character, including the external structure, the interiors within the dwelling, and the furnishings within the environment.
3
Amalgamation
Software introduced within this chapter included Blender and the Grasshopper plug-ins, Wasp and Anemone. This chapter focused on envisioning a metropolis where the protagonist creatures inhabited. With the onset of war, the Verde transition from existing as part of the symbiotic natural system to a more industrialized habitat. For the protagonist tribe, the city of Luminalis, built from bioorganic matter, such as golden sap and white tree resin, rooted their foundations within a canyon, which held the capacity to multiply the resonance of quantum frequencies, serving as both protection and propagation of their tribal sound.
4
Kinesis
This chapter introduced the software Houdini to imagine the transportation system of this alien world, specifically within the metropolis created in Chapter Three.
5
Cosmogony
This chapter introduced the Grasshopper plug-in, Nuclei, and the program C# to generate a world map of our alien world, including all of the networks and district as seen on the 2D map. Additional software implemented included Photoshop and Illustrator.
