Heard: Thesis Paper

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Self-Reflexivity in the "Wacky Delly" Episode of Rocko's Modern Life

Summary:

This thesis uses Frank Burke's postmodern analysis of Federico Fellini's 8 1/2 as a theoretical
framework to deconstruct the self-reflexivity in the "Wacky Delly" episode of Rocko's Modern
Life. Through this analysis within the context of the show's creator, Joe Murray, "Wacky Delly"
eludes to tragic events which haunted Murray's work and contributed to his eventual diluted
involvement with the show. Studying this deeper level of self-reflexivity, I have set out in my
film, Heard, to reflect my own thoughts creative process and share the experience of creation
with my audience.

THESIS STATEMENT

Just as 8 1/2 mirrored the experiences and convictions of Federico Fellini, the "Wacky Delly" episode of Rocko's Modern Life uses self-reflection to comment on the process of animation and express a deeper sentiment of the show's creator, Joe Murray.

THESIS ABSTRACT

In my thesis film, Heard I explore self-reflection in animation to give voice to my thoughts and commentary as an artist. This approach mirrors the same self-reflective nature of the animated show Rocko's Modern Life, specifically in the vein of the two part episode "Wacky Delly". This particular episode presents an entire narrative built on self-reflection which comments on everything from the medium of animation to the industry which commercializes it. Self-reflection has long been used this way in filmmaking with particular emphasis to Federico Fellini's 8 1/2. Just as 8 1/2 mirrored the experiences and convictions of Federico Fellini, the "Wacky Delly" episode of Rocko's Modern Life uses self-reflection to comment on the process of animation and express deeper sentiment of the show's creator, Joe Murray. These deeper sentiments not only provide commentary on Murray's experiences with Rocko's Modern Life but also elude to tragic events which haunted his work and contributed to his eventual diluted involvement with the show. Heard takes cues from the self-reflective approach of Fellini and Murray, depicting the shared struggle of growing artists as well as my own commentary on animation. My film explores how the animation process unfolds as an artist journeys through creative development where drive, resolve, and experience help him on a mission to find his own voice. Using self-reflection similar to Federico Fellini allowed Joe Murray to express his private struggles as a commercial artist and has inspired me to depict my own journey through artistic growth.

THESIS OUTLINE - David Howard

I. Introduction

A. Self-expressive becomes self-reflective in art built on process

1. Self-Reflection in Art

i. Norman Rockwell's "Triple Self-Portrait"

ii. Define "Self-Reflection"

2. Environments and Experiences

i. Art Reflects the Artist

ii. The Artist is a Series of Environments and Experiences

iii. The Artist Lives Their Art Process

3. Animation Process

i. This is Especially True of Animation and Filmmaking

ii. The Animation Process as an Extensive Collaboration/Lifestyle

4. My Thesis Film, Heard

i. My Thesis Film Illustrates the Animation Process

ii. This Reflection is an Allegorical Narrative Tool

B. Finding meaning from "Wacky Delly" next to Federico Fellini's 8 1/2

1. "Wacky Delly" and 8 1/2 reflecting the process

i. "Wacky Delly" gives the Animation Process Step-By-Step

ii. 8 1/2 Demonstrates More Internal Struggle

2. "Wacky Delly" and 8 1/2 reflecting the artist

i. Doppelgangers

ii. Personal Allegories

3. 8 1/2 through Frank Burke sets up “Wacky Delly” through Frank Burke

i. 8 1/2's Pedigree

ii. Using well-known Self-Reflection to Approach "Wacky Delly"

II. 8 1/2 Sets an Analytical Framework

A. Federico Fellini's thoughts on 8 1/2 as an autobiographical opus

1. Interviews with Fellini

2. Fellini's thoughts on others critiques of 8 1/2

B. Frank Burke's Postmodern critique and multiple meanings found in 8 1/2

1. Frank Burke's analytical work

i. His Dissertation on Fellini

ii. His Three Books on Fellini

iii. Numerous Contributions to Other Works on Fellini

3. "Fellini's Films"

i. Dissection of Fellini's Films

ii. Knowing Fellini Through his Films

iii. The Postmodern Approach

C. Defining Postmodern and Deconstruction theory as an analytical approach

1. Postmodernism

i. Used to dissect everything from painting to Religion

ii. Several Schools of Thought

2. Jean-Fracois Lyotard

i. The multiplicity of communities of meaning

ii. Multiple Meanings Within Different Structures

3. Postmodern Deconstructivism

i. Analyzing within the context of each community of meaning

III. Rocko’s Modern Life and “Wacky Delly”

A. Why further analyze "Wacky Delly"?

1. Shallow self-reflection of Mid 80s Early 90s Television Animation

i. "Shallow" self-reflection

ii. Roger Rabbit

iii. Warner Bros.

2. Multiple layers of self-reflection

i. "Shallow" self-reflection in RML

ii. Delving Deeper

3. Deeper meaning for Joe Murray juxtaposed in a light-hearted cartoon

i. Joe Murray Reflected Previously

ii. Significance of Wacky Delly

B. Joe Murray's back-story

1. Joe Murray's beginnings in Animation

i. Editorial Comics

ii. Aspiring Animator

iii. Shorts

2. Pitching into Production: Rocko's Modern Life

i. Nickelodeon

ii. Funding his Short

iii. Ramping up RML Production

3. Murray's wife's suicide

i. Murray's wife's suicide

ii. The Aftermath

iii. Building Production / Building Depression

iv. Season 3

C. First Half Episode Breakdown

1. Joe Murray is Ralph Bighead

i. Ralph Bighead's First Appearance

ii. Fact from Fabrication

2. The disappointment of wanting to escape success for some deeper driving reason

i. First Layer

ii. Second Layer

3. General ribbing at the animation process through Rocko’s perspective

i. First Layer

ii. Second Layer

4. The low-brow poorly animated piece is praised the same as his own creation

i. First Layer

ii. Second Layer

5. Intermission/set-up to Part II

i. Reflecting Murray's Story

D. Second Half Episode Breakdown

1. A critique of industry practice and audience taste

i. First Layer

ii. Second Layer

2. Continued praise for sub-par animation

i. First Layer

ii. Second Layer

3. Escaping success for greater artistic fulfillment

i. First Layer

ii. Second Layer

E. The Aftermath

1. How it affected Joe Murray

i. Stepping Back

ii. Taking Care of Unresolved Issues

iii. His Career Since

2. Murray and Fellini

i. Men Haunted by Past Events

ii. Confronting Through Art

iii. Putting Myself Into My Art

IV. My Thesis Film, Heard

A. Exploring Self-reflection as a narrative tool in Heard

1. Back to the basic concept of self-reflection

i. self-reference and self-reflection

ii. Experience and Commentary

2. Within the Process

i. Living the Process

ii. How the idea evolved

B. Deconstructing the first layer of self-reflection

1. The Basic Narrative

i. The Character's Journey

ii. The Artist's Journey

C. Breaking down the multiple layers of self-reflection through Postmodern critique

1. Aesthetic

i. Evolving Aesthetic

ii. Tying Into the Character's Journey

2. Embedded Allegories

i. The Artist's Journey

ii. Toxic Atmosphere for an Artist

iii. False Promises

iv. Every Artist Battles

D. 8 1/2, "Wacky Delly," and my thesis film, Heard

1.Compare

i. Three Filmmakers, Three Messages

2.Contrast

i. Three Filmmakers, Three Films

3. Use of Self-reflection

i. All Use Doppelganger Characters

ii. Fellini's Approach

iii. Murray's Approach

iv. My Approach

v. Conclusion

A. Federico Fellini's final thoughts on 8 1/2

1. Interview with Fellini

i. Biographic Filmmaking

ii. Clear Self-Reflection

B. Joe Murray' final thoughts on "Wacky Delly"

1. Interview with Murray

i. Wacky Delly

C. How this all ties back into Heard

1. Self-reflection

i. How process representation affects the audience

ii. How art is perceived

Pages

Thesis Paper