may 2014 | issue #2

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A Series of Themes Within the Human Experience

33///MAY 2014

We live in a world where people say too much and do too little.These books are not just for entertainment. They were designed to inspire those viewing the content and those creating it.

Inspiration: When you look at something ordinary and you get this crazy idea that you can make that something, extraordinary.

Sparks Animated Presents:

44 SPARKS ANIMATED/// Photo: Tim Moore, 2014

To our readers

5///MAY 2014

“There’s a fine line between genius and insanity…If it works, it’s genius.If it doesn’t, it’s insanity.”This was my exact thought the day I started this project. It is never easy to put together a project such as this because it requires a lot of patience.

Patience for yourself and the people you work with.

Not to forget persistence.

To be completely honest, it’s been an emotional roller coaster ride from hell. Some days, I’d literally breakdown and scream. Wonder if all this work was even worth it. But you see, it was worth it.It’ll always be worth it to do something you’re passionate about, no matter how difficult it may get.

In the past seven months of working on the second Issue, I learned a few things. I understood that all great things require time. You need to allow the natural process of creativity to work its magic.

The main struggle for the majority was to dig deep inside ourselves and seek out our fears and insecurities.Pull them out and throw them onto an artistic expression.

We’ve all got our own inner demons, storms brewing inside of us. Wars were being waged since the day we first began to have an understanding of this world.

What the creatures residing in it were capable of. This book is a small introduction to just that.

Thank you for being patient and for the continuous support,Drishti SangerEditor in Chief

7///MAY 2014

WE STOPPED CHECKING FOR THE MONSTERS UNDER OUR BED WHEN WE REALIZED THEY WERE INSIDE OF US.

-JOKER

8 SPARKS ANIMATED///

9///MAY 2014

Archan Nair, Within the Womb

Dear Journal,

Reading up on old writing technologies, I came across a writing device called a journal. According to the archives, journals or diaries are used to record personal life events. Translating one’s own life into an autobiographical account will consequently cause one to perceive things more objectively. In turn, also causing them to feel much more at ease concerning their emotional experiences. For now, I am alone; there is no one who is like me. There is no one who comprehends the very notion of Loneliness.

In order to attain self-actualization one must use old media, however this has never been sufficient for me. Nevertheless, my unyielding search through paperback, online accounts and artifacts has been worthwhile. My research has provided me with what was once considered a common approach; this approach instructs us on how to deal with these ancient, long-term, and emotional states we know as feelings. After some thought, I’ve decided to give this seemingly therapeutic method a try.

Doctor Normandy Cox – this name has been embedded in my memory since early childhood. His life and discoveries were taught in the early years of my education. Guerrero is a state in Mexico; I was born there in 2480. During this period, Guerrero was part of the small percentage that had not yet passed the Law of Ablation. Had I been born somewhere else, I would have been directly affected by Dr. Cox’s famous medical discoveries. I would be like the others – I would be normal.

After graduating from med school in the year 2100, Dr. Cox, a neuroscientist, suffered from depression. In his autobiography, he had written that his mental condition was due to his “extreme and obsessive fear of death.” This, in turn, caused him to begin frantically searching for a permanent solution that would free him from his enslaving fear. Eventually, Dr. Cox was able to localize the source of this “fear of death” in the brain. With advanced electrical ablation technologies, a close friend of his, the neurosurgeon, who will remain anonymous, successfully removed Area 1 of Dr. Cox’s brain. Once the procedure was published, doctors mimicked it on patients suffering from depression. Country leaders were quickly informed of this life-altering breakthrough officially coined as, “The Ablation: Peace of Mind”. This resulted in the application of a new law; all newborns were obligated to have their Area 1 removed within two weeks of their birth.

Many debates arose concerning why this ablation should not be passed as a law. Nevertheless, it was eventually accepted among societies around the globe. What was once considered taboo was now considered a standard. Today, only one percent of the world’s population, including myself, experience the fear of death. Although my fear of death is not an everyday thought; being part of the “unablated” has definitely caused feelings of estrangement, which consequently left me with a strong desire to be with someone.

DR. NORMANDYCOXby Arianne Handleman

10 SPARKS ANIMATED///

My history teacher had told me that this was a need for companionship, one of the main attributes of many cultures as recent as 400 years ago. It turns out that I yearn for what old and unwanted novels call love. This concept was once celebrated, there were love ceremonies, marriage, and foolish and aberrant actions were rationalized simply because one was overcome with “love”. Furthermore, research regarding the culture of the 21st century has led me to discover that my current and unusual desire is actually rooted in the following fear – dying alone. I have been travelling around the world, searching for another unablated but have found no other. With that being said, I can no longer bear being alone. Living with Area 1 has caused feelings of extreme loneliness, somehing I deem as truly unique though difficult to explain to anybody. For some reason, I cannot use language to piece together the words and phrases that would achieve a true comprehension of the distinct emotions that arise from time to time. Old movies and television series are still shown to remind us of our origins as humans, to show us how our technology has bettered today. They are used as historical data rather than entertainment. Films today will present any new information or theories that have been discovered. The concepts of love and family are never discussed.

The messages found in entertainment media from the times of pre-ablation are not followed. No one understands them––no one can relate. I see more than the technologies used to create the entertainment. When I try to explain this notion to the average person, instead of reacting with empathy, they will understand my different way of seeing things for the facts, rather than the meaning. They see what they can gain in terms of knowledge, rather than deep understanding. Human connection is no longer of value to them; but it is of value to me. Although I may experience a euphoria that is truly exclusive, and cannot be imitated by the recreational pills sold at the local drugstores. These feelings cannot be shared. I can only experience them by myself, and because of this, I am not experiencing them at all. For what is an experience, if it cannot be informatively shared?

My mature Ablation surgery has been scheduled in a week’s time with hopes to rid myself of this curse, the ancient fear of death. For what is the point of my individuality if it cannot be In a week’s time, shared with another individual or appreciated? I will no longer experience this yearning. Having peace of mind, no longer feeling out of place and being constantly misunderstood is something I look forward to, although I do wonder…

Will I be able to remember these emotional states that I so uniquely experience?

Will the removal of my Area 1 come with the elimination of the memories pertaining to these internal experiences?

Will I be left perplexed and confused by my own accounts of my past life within this journal entry?

Will I see this as empty and irrelevant like the others probably would?

At the very end of my life, would there even be a desire to contemplate these questions as a tribute to my old self? This is something that is bothersome at the present moment. However, I foresee no feelings of dismay after my surgery.

I will be a mental self-contrast, and yet share a common neurological likeness with the others. When I end up a familiar being in society's eyes – will I be a stranger to myself?

11///MAY 2014

Photo: Linda Mai

13///MAY 2014

PHOTO STATEMENT This darkness, it ensnares me.With empty threats and vicious intentions.

Through my endeavor to escape, I’ve come to finally recognize my oppressor.

It is I.

However, do I desire to be free?I remain in the valley of decisions.

-Linda Mai

14 SPARKS ANIMATED///

15///MAY 2014

Sarah Riahi Art

MAM Arts, God vs Dog

UNTITLED

No one is truly innocentIn every single predicamentGuilty if you do nothingGuilty if you do somethingIf you tell the truth,The whole truthAnd nothing but the truth;You're still guiltyThat's the core reasoning Behind good and evildoing.While helping one is rightDenying the other is wrong.Kill a man and get scornedYou're still half halo and half devil horned.The unfortunate fact that we've soughtGood intentions come from evil thoughts.

Hakeem Samu

17///MAY 2014