KAPHD

This is a story taken from The Life of Hildegard of Bingen (12th cent.). It tells of a mysterious event that frightens a troubled priest and sends him to seek her help. Winner of two awards in the UWA Machinima III challenge "Journey." Viewer Discretion Advised: sexuality, theology, and my singing. :) Nota Bene: I am NOT a Catholic, or pious; I'm a medievalist and this story interests me. Hildegard is my heroine, though. And in this version, liberally adapted from the Vita by Gottfried and Theodoric, I hope to do justice to her music, her language, and her wisdom. This is very much a Pascal celebration, I guess. I uploaded it on Easter Eve.

Just for some background on Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179): at only ten years old she was given by her family to the monastery of Disibodenberg in Rhineland Germany to be brought up as an anchoress, but her enclosure became a small convent. She was NEVER an Abbess, she was NEVER officially sainted (only in Germany is she called "heilige"). She DID compose amazing songs of which "O Orzchis Ecclesia" is the only text that features her invented language (Lingua Ignota). She DID found two convents at Bingen (Rupertsberg) and Eibingen where she was the magistra. At the age of 43 she told the Abbot at Disibodenberg that a voice from the Living Light told her to say and write what she heard and saw--and that command helped her produce nine books, a collection of songs, a play, and hundreds of letters. When asked about her visions she said she NEVER went into a trance-state, like so many female mystics. The illuminations made of her visions are famous as is her music. She rose in status and counseled popes and kings, traveled, preached, healed the sick and died of a ripe old age. During her later years, partly because of the rumors of her Unknown Language, she came to be seen as a diviner, prophet, and miracle worker. This vignette from the Life is only one of the "miraculous" deeds she was said to have performed. I left out the language typical of her--the elaborate metaphors and the humility formulas in which she castigates her gender (ego paupercula feminea forma... etc.) Rather, I wanted to depict her as a common-sensical consoler. Wake up, face yourself, you will be alright.

Finally, "for you are arid, and you must be green." "Greenness," or "viriditas," was one of Hildegard's most pervasive metaphors for the energy of the divine in the world. Dryness was the absence of it. I like to think the priest's demotion in rank was his bursting into life.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Hildegard
• of
• Bingen
• Hypatia
• Pickens
• MachinimUWA
• III
• Lingua
• Ignota
• machinima
• Vita
• Sanctae
• Hildegardis
• Second
• Life
• Kevin
• MacLeod

[WhiteLebed]

Hypatia, you have a rare talent for turning such a heavy historical material into an easy to watch captivating movie clip.  I hope you will continue working in this direction. Great job~

[textcavation]

@WhiteLebed Thank you, White. I appreciated that. I have in mind a series of machinima devoted to the "Medieval"... in various manifestations (whether historically or imaginatively represented)... and fuss around with that artistically. I do believe the medievals would have written science fiction had they lived today, and they would have made machinima. They loved code, number, secrets, multi-media, marginalia, dream, paradox.

[PhoenixEmbers]

I like your dedication to this historical personality. Technically also good solved, good use of the shadow features of the viewer. And btw: your voice is great :-)

[textcavation]

@PhoenixEmbers You are an inspiration to me... thanks. I love your narrative machinimas. Having done KAPHD, my first "story" with more than one character, I can well understand the incredible time you put into your films. Working with other talented people must be so rewarding. What a great cast for Simulacron.. (My alts are my actors!) :) As for the singing, I hear its faults; plainchant is supposed to be without vibrato. What a chore, all those takes! lol

[TutsyNavarathna]

I am very fascinated to new visions and sensations which bring us virtual worlds.

This mixt of medieval and virtual world around an eternal theme can only seduce me :)

Although unfortunately my English very defficient does not allow me to capture everything !

Bravo Hypatia :))

[textcavation]

@TutsyNavarathna you did quite well here. You know how much I love your stuff!

[PhoenixEmbers]

@textcavation You really made my day :-) I am so glad that there are people who see the effort. Be sure, I see yours!

[alorja1]

I enjoy your work. Brillant. well done

[textcavation]

@majenh Oh Pia I am SO flattered. I've admired your work for such a long time.

[majenh]

Hypatia, Amazing work. I was spellbound with the story and awed with your use of visuals, camera work, colors, music, text. It all came together to create a work of art.

Pia

[textcavation]

@2SenseProductions LOL! "perching on Claudia's creation..." I love Strange Tree! it is both lush and repulsive; it's beauty is utterly unique, and I thought it would make the perfect hell scene for a priest worried about the least of his sins! haha! Thanks so much. The music was pure serendipity. It has that one sustained drone note that gives it mystery without being Gregorian plain chant. Profaned the mood indeed...Getting it to crash at the right points was the challenge. :)