Introduction:
In this week’s blog post, I’ll first be speaking about what we covered during this week’s lecture, where we focused on Architecture & Environments in video games and animation, as well as looking at passive animation too. After, I’ll be speaking about the decision I made in regards to what I wanted to create for my assignment project, and why I chose to go down this path. This would then be followed up by the research I did this week on my chosen subject. Lastly, I’ll list down the personal objectives I gave myself to complete by next week.
This Week’s Lecture:
In this week’s lecture, we looked at Architecture & Environment and passive animation. We began by talking about spacing, outlining the similarities and differences between architectural space and digital space. Afterward, we moved on to Game vs Moving Images (Animation), looking at how common and different they are. We were fortunate to be given this information as our lecturer specialised in Game Design, meaning he gave us a good insight. Our lecturer then showed us a few examples of the narrative of a game or movie really determines the theme/style. We then spoke about Stage and Environment, where our lecturer said a successful stage can be determined by how well the environment supports the story, making it convincing and enjoyable. Towards the end of the lecture, we looked at many samples of architectural elements involved in games. The games involved; Hitman: Absolution, Uncharted 4, The Last Of Us, etc. Lastly, we spoke a bit about passive animation. Our lecturer provided us with a link where we could watch the top 100 3D Renders from the internet’s largest CG Challenge, Alternate Realities.
This Week’s Task:
Our lecturer didn’t assign any specific task for us to complete this week; therefore, I focused on my animation project. Over the past two weeks, i was contemplating whether the project i chose to do for this assignment originally was the right decision. So I gave myself some time to really think about what I wanted to do. This resulted in me thinking back on the projects i wanted to work on during my undergraduate degree, but never did. I thought this was a great opportunity to revisit one of those projects. Eventually, I ended up changing my project from my original idea which was based on two men encountering each other in a bar, to an animation advertisement expressing the importance of mental health.
Mental health has always been a subject I’ve been passionate about, especially as I’ve gotten older. However, before i could start storyboarding or planning my scenes, i had to get my research completed first. As this can be a sensitive subjects to individuals, i wanted to be careful of every word i say and didn’t want to give off any incorrect information. Therefore, I dedicated this week to researching mental health facts.
Research – Facts About Mental Health
- 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England
- 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (like anxiety and depression) in any given week in England
Specific Diagnoses:
In any given week:
- Depression affects 2.6 in 100 people
- Anxiety affects 4.7 in 100 people
- Mixed anxiety and depression affect 9.7 in 100 people
- Phobias affect 2.6 in 100 people
- OCD affects 1.3 in 100 people
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects 3 in 100 people
- Panic disorder affects 1.2 in 100 people
- Eating disorders affect 1.6 in 100 people
In any given year:
- Psychotic disorders (including schizophrenia) affect fewer than 1 in 100 people
In their lifetime:
- Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) affects 3 in 100 people
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD) affects 2 in 100 people
- Bipolar disorder affects 2 in 100 people
Suicidal Thoughts and Self-Harm:
- 1 in 5 people have suicidal thoughts
- 1 in 14 people self-harm
- 1 in 15 people attempt suicide
Women are more likely to have suicidal thoughts and make suicidal attempts than men; however men are 3 times more like to take their own life than women.
Treatment:
- Approximately only 1 in 8 adults with a mental health problem is currently getting any kind of treatment.
- The most common treatment offered is a psychiatric medication
Who’s most affected by mental health problems:
- LGBTIQ+ people are between 2-3 times more likely than heterosexual people to report having a mental health problem in England.
- 23% of Black or Black British People will experience a common mental health problem in any given week. This compares to 17% of White British people.
- 26% of young women ages 16-24 years old report having a common mental health problem in any given week. This compares to 17% of adults.
- 40% of people in England who have overlapping problems including homelessness, substance misuse, and contact with the criminal justice system in any given year also have mental health problems.
A person’s identity doesn’t give them mental health problems. Mental health problems are caused due to several factors, including:
- Facing social inequality and disadvantage
- Facing discrimination and social exclusion
- Going through traumatic experiences
- Differences in physical health
How to look after your mental health:
- Talk about your feelings
- Keep active
- Eat well
- Drink sensibly
- Keep in touch
- Ask for help
- Take a break
- Do something you’re good at
- Accept who you are
- Care for others
How can you help someone with their mental health:
- Let them know you’re there for them without any judgment
- Keep constant communication with them. Someone with mental health issues may find it difficult to reach out.
- Find out about any local services such as support groups or therapy. Check if there are any specific services so the individual can relate more.
Objectives For Next Week:
- Plan the narrative of my animation.