Thought & memory

Abstract

The raven is widespread and manifests itself across cultures, myths, and sciences around the globe. It has garnered a reputation as a divine messenger and symbol of prophecy, fate, and intellect, but also an omen of death, disgust, and ill fortune. This essay will explore evidence that depictions of this bird throughout human history have created a complex portrait of the raven in the modern day. It will assess the history of the expository and poetic documentary modes as tools to provide the groundwork necessary for mending the perception of the raven in culture, science, and society but also advocate for creating a more holistic world view incorporating traditional knowledge and modern science. When dealing with a subject as diverse and widespread as the raven in documentary film, its prevalence in many cultures inevitably flirts with themes of anthropomorphism, globalization, objective vs. subjective reality, and the convergence of oral tradition and science. This essay and film will provide dialogue for supporting, improving, and rejecting some of these themes, and how that is a driving force behind the creation of my thesis film production titled 'Thought & Memory'.