Rogues Are Sexy

Just a heads up: I'm going to be posting up a lot of content about World of Warcraft.
Which is currently the largest online alternate reality worldwide. Tens of millions of people engross themselves in this online wonder. I will delve deeper into the history and lore of Warcraft in future posts.

This video is just something that is awesome. This is a fan made animation that was created directly from the characters in the game. The creator of this video made up this action sequence, story, and animated this all on their own. This has nothing to do with Blizzard Entertainment.

*Note: This is not a CG cinematic animation that you see in most video games. It is created solely based on real gameplay. This is what it looks like when you are playing the game, this sequence is extremely well done.

Watch this video. It's worth it.

Wolf Shamanism

I came along a National Geographic article a while ago that was quite mind boggling. I wasn't at home and wasn't able to save or find the article again, but I will try my best to explain without sounding completely insane.

There has always been a connection between man and dog, and before that man and wolf. Although the bond between a human and a wolf differs greatly from the domestic pets of today. Wolves are magnificent creatures that are free spirited, wild, doing as they please, feral and intelligent. Although there has always been a connection nonetheless, especially in Native American culture.

Native American shamans believed that each enlightened human being is connected with a totemic animal spirit. Whether it be wolves, eagles, ravens etc...
And the shamans believed that through spiritual connection and deep meditaition they can take the form of their totemic animals, in other words shape-shift.

Ok, I know this is all very spiritual and myth-like.

The article I read was a study a group of cultural anthropologists did on an old Wolf Shamanistic tribe. This group of elder shamans were known as the Huichol elders. The bone structures of these men where contorted and misshapen. Their skulls were elongated and their teeth strangely resembled the teeth of a canine lupus. They claim that their features have become that way from the many 'journeys' they have taken in their wolf-form. Of course, we know that it is impossible to physically become another animal in reality. Although the anthropologists say the mystery behind this could be their ritualistic meditations. There might be a possibility that through their deep intense meditation sessions they have entered an alternate dimension where it does become possible to change our physical form.

Hmm. Trippy huh?

I just found this fascinating. I mean, isn't it sometimes nice to know that we never really know.?

Escape.

To an alternate world.

Many of us wish we could escape. Escape from the confines of our society, and discover a world of wonder and imagination. It is really amazing to think what the human mind is capable of creating. Dreams we have, visions we see in our minds, stories we tell, fantasies we have, games we play, films we watch are all apart of an alternate reality that help us escape from the mundane.

I think that it is imperative for us as creatives and designers to remember to allow ourselves to escape every once in a while into these alternate realities. Where anything and everything is a possibility. I feel that sometimes we are so stressed out and immersed in the stressful technicalities of school, life, business, and reality that we restrict ourselves by not allowing our minds to wander off and tap into these alternate worlds.

Drink a glass of wine, smoke a bowl, play video games, watch anime, or go for a long drive to nowhere. Do what you need to do every once in a while to escape and become inspired.

Here is a classic little video: (I'm sure most of you have seen this)



Here is an ad done by Takashi Murakami for Louis Vuitton:



Enjoy!!