Keywords

psychedelia, death, anticapitalism, psychedelic art, 2.5D animation, technology

Abstract

Memento Mori: So Make the Most of It! is an anticapitalist animation rejecting the adage “work hard and you will be rewarded.” The film follows a nonbinary person, Dead Human Walking (DHW), on their way to work. They are struck by a taco truck when jaywalking in reaction to their boss’s impatient badgering. After being struck, they enter a psychedelic In-Between where they meet a Grim Reaper named Red, whose situation is more like their own than they could ever know. After a brief scuffle, DHW returns to the World of the Living with their priorities shifted away from their job and towards taking care of themself. The film draws on the rich history of psychedelic art to communicate altered states of consciousness and revelations found therein. Its visual design also draws inspiration from the work of underground comic artists like Jamie Hewlett, Mike Mignola, and Jhonen Vasquez.

Completion Date

2026

Semester

Spring

Committee Chair

Jo Anne Adams

Degree

Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)

College

College of Arts and Humanities

Department

Animation and Visual Effects

Format

PDF

Document Type

Thesis

Identifier

DP0053195

Release Date

5-15-2027

Download

Available for download on Saturday, May 15, 2027

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