P2: Approach

The primary message I want to convey with this piece is the idea of interruptions, such that of devils in people’s lives. I envision something that seems to (or is designed to) happen smoothly, but jerks off path due to the devil’s influences.

Secondly is the idea of this upside down universe, where right is wrong and wrong is right. Ideas of morality is reversed. This opposite nature can also be reflected in a black-and-white/negative-positive/yin-yang kind of way as metaphorically illustrated in this excerpt:

Letter 4, pg. 25 “It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things in their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out.”

Third is dialogue, the back and forth conversation between Screwtape and Wormwood. We only see one side of it but the other is implied. It is key because it is the medium where the whole story is laid.

Rainy Day Recess by Impactist. I was particularly inspired by this video with its combination of hi and lo-fidelity imagery, and the emphasis on form, simplicity of color palette. I also like the overlaying of basic shapes on top of the dramaticly lit shots (effective contrast).

Again, I do not want the interpretation to be too literal, as it says in the book that it shouldn’t be:

Letter 7, pg. 40 “If any faint suspicion of your existence begins to arise in his mind, suggest to him a picture of something in red tights, and persuade him that he cannot believe in that (it is an old textbook method of confusing them) he therefore cannot believe in you.”

Meanwhile, I wanted to include a bit of randomness to the piece by including things that seem to be disconnected. This adds to the element of satire.

Letter 2, pg. 15-16 “When he goes inside, he sees the local grocer with rather an oily expression on his face…Your patient, thanks to Our Father below, is a fool. Provided that any of those neighbours sing out of tune, or have boots that squeak, or double chins, or odd clothes, the patient will quite easily believe that their religion must therefore be somehow ridiculous.”

Letter 8, pg. 44 “Humans are amphibians—half spirit and half animal.”

I’ve always been meaning to do this. Haha, I wonder what exactly Lewis was thinking when naming Screwtape. Wormwood too (Worm + Wood). Wormwood if I’m not mistaken is mentioned in Harry Potter as a potion ingredient of some sort. Oh, by the way, did you know that Screwtape Letters was dedicated to J.R.R. Tolkien (Lord of the Rings)?