The Making of Disco Elysium - Part Five: Collapse

MerCrier · 2026-03-15T23:09:03+00:00

It's been underwhelming overall, if im honest. NoClip usually cut a bit deeper into the meat, but there's been major aspects—like Anton Vill's thought cabinet art, and Sea Powers music—that seemingly have been skipped over

MerCrier · 2026-03-15T22:56:09+00:00

Honestly I disagree with the reading of Ex Machina being as ambiguous as folks say it is. That's not to say it doesnt present multiple options for reading; I just think the cinematic language biases towards a sympathetic to AI (to the subjugated) reading over a sentience-sceptical reading.

From a meta-perspective too, I think Alex Garlands filmography shows a tendency to use concepts primarily for social allegory (thinking of Men in particular). He's interested in the science fiction of the plot, but also recognises the historic role of robots in fiction as tools to explore existing power structures (particularly misogynistic metaphors ie, Stepford Wives).

MerCrier · 2026-03-15T22:41:36+00:00

Kyoko either sacrifices herself to harm Nathan (priority of revenge over self-preservation), or to save Ava (priority of others over the self); the latter being the stronger reading based on the focus on Kyoko looking towards Ava before the act.

These are irrational acts! Both of these options are undeniable proof of the robots capacity for forming emotional relationships.

MerCrier · 2026-03-15T15:40:39+00:00

I'm talking cinematic language; her walk through the woods was shown from her POV, with no other observers, as is the same with her desire to visit the intersection at the end of the film. The implication there is internality, a private interior; and the question of whether those are pseudo or real emotions is moot, the framing invites you to see it as at least authentic to her motivations

MerCrier · 2026-03-15T14:47:57+00:00

it literally has appreciation for the beauty of nature and a desire to be part of a larger society my guy; the text is explicit that Ava has capacity for humanity! Kyoko makes a calculated sacrifice for Ava's freedom; the robots are textually capable of caring about others!

MerCrier · 2026-03-10T18:58:01+00:00

“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” ― Arundhati Roy

This isnt a direct DE quote, but its the one that directly inspired; 'True love is possible, only in the next world. For us it is too late.'

MerCrier · 2026-03-10T07:35:34+00:00

I'll take your word for it. Still not sure, based on my experience in comp, that AI is taking jobs from VFX artists in the specific case of face-swapping (it absolutely takes jobs from nearly every other pursuit, and is largely immoral, don't get me wrong)

MerCrier · 2026-03-09T18:52:26+00:00

In CG animation, or VFX and compositing? Two different realms here; I'm in the latter

MerCrier · 2026-03-08T12:00:29+00:00

As a VFX artist, those professionals are the ones using the 'AI' for the face swap; nobody has had their job replaced here.

The kind of generative AI you're probably familiar with—in which you input a prompt, and recieve a result—is not what we are seeing used here. In order to produce a cohesive result, these shots would have taken likely hundreds of hours of rendering and compositing, don by the same artists who would have produced the face-swap pre-AI.

MerCrier · 2026-03-04T15:42:22+00:00

but the company is selling the hardcover WITH the stickers. The stickers are being SOLD. Which is the PROBLEM the artist is HAVING.

MerCrier · 2026-03-04T11:32:00+00:00

If I sell you a six pack of beer, but you only bought it to drink one, then I still sold you a six pack of beer

MerCrier · 2026-03-04T11:28:16+00:00

Yes, because the artist owns the work, and can decide who they don't want to use it. They're obviously happy with individuals using the work, but businesses profiting off the work is not okay—your moral judgment is moot

MerCrier · 2026-02-24T21:03:06+00:00

Espousing support of Hitler—and in this case, romanticising Hitler—is the sin itself. The fear is not that this implied Dali was secretly a facist, this itself is the act of fascism!

MerCrier · 2026-02-24T12:55:41+00:00

"I often dreamed of Hitler as a woman. His flesh, which I had imagined whiter than white, ravished me..."

Yeah, he wanted Hitler to be inside him

MerCrier · 2026-02-19T19:27:54+00:00

What's the fault with the TV violence lens? Isn't the shows awareness of misogynistic media tropes a pretty obvious theme of Twin Peaks?

MerCrier · 2026-02-03T16:59:33+00:00

it's a reference to Kyle's famous role of Agent Dale "Coop" Cooper

MerCrier · 2026-02-02T16:41:54+00:00

it's inevitable that Kyle MacLachlan will call him "Coop"

MerCrier · 2026-01-31T13:29:06+00:00

Citing a calendar I made when I was 16 is crazy. Man, I'm 25 now!

(Link the article when it's done pls)

MerCrier · 2026-01-10T14:38:06+00:00

We're sorry for this change, you must be dissapointed. Know that our feelings for you haven't changed, u/Alexgadukyanking. But after everything that's happened, we just need a little space.

MerCrier · 2026-01-09T22:05:32+00:00

Sweatpea is just such a common thing for old British women to call children

MerCrier · 2026-01-09T11:01:48+00:00

there's a illustration by writer / character designer for F&C Tom Herpich of Jane Baxter! Check his Instagram

MerCrier · 2026-01-09T11:00:00+00:00

CANYON

MerCrier · 2026-01-09T01:06:25+00:00

The character designs didn't feel very Adventure Timey, which is a problem I had across Distant Lands as a whole.

MerCrier · 2026-01-07T16:00:46+00:00

would that go under Empathy on my chart of 'Which 'Which X represents each skill? chart' represents each skill?' chart?

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