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Solipsistic Solitude (Knowing Fish), 2003

The 4-minute poetic video narrates about an experience of being and existence. The video, based on a mix of philosophy on solitude and Zen parable, speaks for itself. See either a version of ASL or English below.

In this ASL version, the white speech balloon represents the white fish's speech, whereas the orange speech balloon represents the orange fish's speech.

In the process of creating this video, the visual captioning in ASL shows conversations between the white fish and the golden fish, using a color code around the signer that I came up this solution to identify the fish.

English subtitle.

In summary, two intelligent fish discussed about existence, knowledge, and complementarity of solitude and connection. Humans are connected to each other in physical proximity, yet their perceptions and experiences are eternally untransferable to one another; thus, they are radically alone, that is is solipsism, the reality of self. Solitude is also sometimes associated with creativity and originality.

Based on the Zen parable "Knowing Fish" and existentialism, two intelligent fish discuss about existence, knowledge, and simultaneous cycle of solitude and connection. Humans are connected to each other in physical proximity, yet their perceptions and experiences are untransferable to one another; thus, they are radically alone, which is solipsism, the reality of self. Solitude (emptiness?) is also associated with creativity and originality.

Genre: narrative, drama
Year of creation: 2003
Medium: NTSC 720x480 video
Size: 4min 34sec (English version) + 4min 34sec (ASL version)
Languages: English subtitle, Ameslan (ASL)

Comments

"The irony portrayed is powerful since alienation can be a state of mind, whether alone as individual or a member of a community, yet still alone." -- Teresa Fleming, 2005.