Definitions
To start off this project, I had to begin with research regarding the theme. I looked up the definitions for the words ‘order’ and ‘chaos’. Order has two main definitions surrounding it; to arrange something in a way following some sort of pattern, or to give a command. Chaos only has one main definition, which is large amount of madness and confusion. The two words oppose each other, so an element of conflict for this project seems likely.
I feel this is going to be a tough theme to be unique with. As having the focus surround two key words which strongly oppose one another, I can only think of linking the theme in one way or another towards the idea of conflict. Whether that conflict is internal or external and in what degree, will be interesting to explore.
Order only really has two ways of taking it- either keeping something neat and in an order, or to issue a command to someone. These are fairly limited definitions and therefore I feel quite limited in what direction I could take my project in. Chaos is a lot more broad. For one its the opposite of order, while on top of that means confusion, unpredictable and random. A lot more can be linked to the chaos side of the theme, while order feels very in the way. Having to work with both halves will be a challenge. First thing to come to mind with both words of the theme is a centre of conflict. One side of authority (the order) and the other of vigilante (the chaos); much like the basic good vs evil, or light vs dark conflict which is fairly common in media.
Word Association
With the definitions sorted, next I had to take both words and list out a handful of words that linked to ‘order’ and ‘chaos’. This is to help broaden my perspective on what I could research and link to the theme, which may give some interesting ideas down the line.
- Order
- Command
- Control
- Power
- Authority
- Lawful
- Vigilante
- Conflict
- War
- Fear
- Chaos
- Madness
- Confusion
- Infection
- Isolate
- Runaway
- Fear
- Darkness
- Empty
- Vessel
I found this word association a little difficult. I tried to think of words that would not loop back around the the original word too quickly and wanted to try getting a variety to help with later tasks. I was able to do so but it did take some time and thought to get 10 related words for both ‘order’ and ‘chaos’. Though I did manage to link both words to ‘fear’, so that could be an interesting to work with. With order, the words I found myself linking the task to revolved around power and authority. Chaos was a lot more broad to work with. I was able to connect the ideas of insanity, loneliness, fear and hollowness. With this, I feel ‘chaos’ is going to be a lot more easier to shape my work around than ‘order’.
Order is a lot more condensed and I found it difficult to think of words of the top of my head that didn’t loop back around. ‘War’ and ‘conflict’ are the ones that intrigue me the most out of the list. There can be intertwined together, as war create conflict- and with that conflict, chaos is created. This can then also link the word ‘fear’ which was in both word associations. As through war and conflict, fear is then created. Therefore, I feel focusing my project around a sense of conflict will be the best approach. This also fits well for the theme in general. ‘Order and Chaos’, are opposites and a conflict occurs because of opposing views, so I think it will fit the them very well to have a project set on the idea of two sides battling each other.
Mind Map
Using the word association as inspiration, I conjured up a mind map around ‘order and chaos’. While I included a handful of words from the previous task, I still found the mind map challenging to fill out with new ideas I could take further. As I thought with the word association; it was a lot easier to conjure up ideas around ‘chaos’ than ‘order’.
A lot of ideas regarding conflict where the strongest to come to mind. Two sides opposing each other seem to be my main direction for this project. Most the other words in the mind map are opposing each other such as authority/vigilante, war/freedom and control/imbalance. Alongside that, the idea of light vs dark, good vs evil was frequent too; as it’s a simple concept but can be developed on in an unique matter.
Especially with my definition research and word associations earlier, I keep coming back to the same idea of conflict. With the mind map now letting me see a huge variety of words, near each other and easily spot the pattern of conflicting words under the same umbrella. With the frequent of opposites I thought of while making the mind map, ‘Celestial vs Fiend’ popped into my mind while thinking around the ideas of ‘Good vs Evil’. This peaks my interest with the theme a lot, as it will help link the theme which I am not the keenest on, and add a fantasy flare to the project which I will feel more comfortable working with.
Initial Research
Looking at the result of my mind map, I took some words which I felt I could link best to the theme as well as I think would work well for project ideas down the line. I developed moodboards around the ideas I liked the most and think I could develop on.
My first moodboard was structured around the idea of light vs dark. As the theme is focused on two words rather than one, fixing the idea of light vs dark to order and chaos could work very well; especially if light were to represent the order and dark were to represent the chaos. Light and dark can also imply a lot too for example life and death, good and evil or celestial and fiend, so I think there is a variety of design ideas that could fit under that umbrella. This would make a really interesting colour pallet which will help showcase the two sides. The side of light being vast whites, blues and yellows while the side of dark is full of murky blacks, reds and greys. I love colour theory and the contrast between both sides would be incredibly fun top blend together into one project. Fitting those colours into character designs epeecially could lead to a lot of fun options and experimentations.
As with my word association I managed to link both words to the concept of fear, I thought it would be interesting to form a mood board around it. It seems to center around a person being left alone to their own imagination, which can conjure up nightmares worst than what the real world can offer. Darkness and shadows, unpredictable shapes linking strongly more to chaos than order, though it can to both decently. Order may be used to control people with fear, or a group of authority could be manifested out of fear of something in hopes to control it. Chaos can be caused or driven by fear. So fear can be used as a catalyst for driving motivations for characters or situations. Normally depicted by a shadowy entity with jagged teeth and hooked claws, single white dots for eyes. I really like this interpretation of fear as its simple, allowing the mind to easily develop it’s own story around the fear and twisting it a variety of ways. The black and white representation of fear fits it almost being morally grey; as fear can end up being a negative influence and control you, or you can learn to coincide with fear and use it as a drive for certain situations.
Insanity is a strange word I managed to link to the project. With chaos, madness ensues. In another term, madness means insanity. One’s mind can conjure up insane ideas that can be chaotic to their well being. I like how there are many different ways to interpret insanity, whether its consumes someone’s mind fully and they embrace it, or they struggle to fight it off as if its an infection. I could link this to the fear moodboard above too; fear can drive one to insanity and insanity can lead to chaos, whether internal or external. The idea of a character on the verge of insanity due to fear could be an interesting lead in motivation. The imagery I found usually has the face obscured, especially covering of the eyes to imply you cannot see the world in a normal state. Hands are also widely used, as a way of dragging people further away from reason and pulling them down towards darkness. It has very much the same black and white colouring that the fear moodbooard does, most likely to help show the fight of sanity and insanity occurring. While I like the imagery of hands, I do not think it is something I would use. As an artist, hands are not my favourite thing to draw and focusing my project around it would be a huge step in the wrong direction.
With how the words ‘order’ and ‘chaos’ oppose each other definition wise, conflict seems the best way to take the theme and morph it into an idea. Conflict can be in a variety of forms. It could be conflict over beliefs, war, external, internal. Like how I linked fear and insanity, conflict can easily pair with the light/dark moodboard from earlier with opposing views from a side of light and a side of dark. One side of the conflict having a more orderly approach while the other side of the conflict has a more dastardly approach. My favourite interpretation of conflict is the angel and devil on the shoulder trying to drag someone down their influence. I think this could be a fun idea for a character, but instead infuse the angel and devil into a hybrid character who is struggling on which side on their heritage to follow. The colour contrast of the two is similar of the light vs dark moodboard. Whites and yellows for light, black and reds for dark. Simple but effective, and I think its a really fun colour scheme to work with for a project.
The theme ‘order and chaos’ has a strong war connotation linked to it. Some people get unnecessarily trapped in a war they have no part in, so some people may want to avoid it and some others may aim to find freedom in times of conflict. To break chains, and escape the chaos of the world, or on the run from something greater, only wanting to ensure getting away and living a free life away from the chaos. I like the imagery of birds that’s surrounds the concept of freedom with them being able to fly away. So a winged character trying to escape the conflict around them would be an intriguing way to link the theme at hand. White, light blues and pinks are strongly used with this aspect. While I like the pastel colour scheme, I feel the idea itself is not my favorite and only links to the theme at a stretch. Interesting, but not my favourite way of taking the project.
Two strong media examples which I feel link the theme ‘Order & Chaos”; are the Kingdom Hearts franchise and Good Omen.
Kingdom Hearts is a video games series with an emphasis on light vs darkness and how those in charge of saving the light are trying to bring order to other worlds. The darkness takes form in chaotic monsters known as the heartless, which travel around creating havoc for citizens. Later, the series focuses on a war where 7 people of Light and 13 people of Darkness must clash with each other. The characters that sided with the light had designs consisting of brighter colours and stylised clothing, while the characters that sided with the darkness all wore long black coats with hoods to obscure their faces.
Good Omens is a book written by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman; which later developed into a mini TV series. The story follows an angel and a demon who are secretly friends behind their factions backs. They are carefully trying to dismantle the plan of Armageddon which angels and demons want to come into fruition and taking some lawful and some chaotic procedures in the process. The angels are smartly dressed, and their outfits consist of soft browns, golds and whites. The demons are more rugged, blacks with highlights of reds and have more displeasing features about them; such as Beezlebub with warts and rashes on her face and flies buzzing around her constantly.
Overall after evaluating everything I have research so far; looking at my word association the word conflict is one I like a lot and feel I could shape the project around it very well. So I included it in my mind map to further extend the ideas around it along with building a moodboard around the word ‘conflict’ too. With the moodboard especially, I have developed strong ideas of an angel and demon conflict being center of my project. As I’m not too fond on the theme ‘Order & Chaos’, linking it to a fantasy element makes me feel a lot more comfortable with tackling the project and creating characters for it. With research on media pieces like ‘Good Omens’, I have a base example to use as reference. So for my initial ideas, I will use the base of conflict between the sides of angel and demon as my main catalyst to build project ideas around. Most likely will take this to initial ideas with 2D character design in some shape or form with different designs for angel and demon characters.
While I do really like the word ‘fear’ which I linked in the word association too, I feel that may be a harder word to explain its connections to the theme and will overall create a much diverting project compared to the conflict ideas.
Sasha Level 3 Games Dev 2nd Year 