Heaven and Earth Magic is a unique and mesmerizing form of animation created by the American artist Harry Everett Smith. Smith, primarily known for his work as an ethnomusicologist and filmmaker, produced this groundbreaking piece from 1957 to 1962. The film is an intricate collage of thousands of drawings, cut-out paper figures, and photographs, meticulously arranged and animated to create a surreal and dreamlike world. Smith employed a wide range of visual techniques, including stop-motion, time-lapse, and hand-drawn animation, to bring his visionary ideas to life. Heaven and Earth Magic is a non-narrative film that explores themes of transformation, symbolism, and spirituality. It presents a series of strange and fantastical vignettes, often incorporating elements of mythology, alchemy, and esoteric knowledge.
Inside the Beverly Hills "Witch's House"
Enter the "Witch's House" of Beverly Hills 03:40 In a town famous for make-believe, a fairy tale has come to life. Welcome to the Witch's House, a medieval detour among the mansions of Beverly Hills. "It stands out like a sore thumb" – and happily so, says owner Michael J. Libow. Correspondent Lilia Luciano asked, "What is it like to wake up in the middle of the night in this house?"
"I feel super comfortable here," Libow replied. "It makes me smile. It makes other people smile. And that's kinda what it's always been." In a town famous for make-believe, one home that stands out from millionaires' mansions is a fairy tale cottage come to life, a whimsical and quirky fantasy perfect for Halloween. CBS News A Los Angeles real estate agent, Libow showed it to a client back in the 1990s who wanted to tear it down. But he bought it for himself, not to replace but to preserve.
"Everything had to be handcrafted," he said, "from wood beams to hardware to flooring. It's supposed to look organic and genuine to its period, which is maybe a farmhouse from 300 years ago." Correspondent Lilia Luciano with Michael J. Libow, owner of the 1921 Witch's House. CBS News There are wobbly walls, a drooping roof, crooked hallways, and a fanciful fireplace. "It's not a house to walk in drunk," laughed Luciano. A hallway in the Witch's House. CBS News Also known as the Spadena House, it's the epicenter of the storybook style or architecture that took shape in America in the 1920s and '30s, as documented in architect Aarol Gellner's book, "Storybook Style," with photographs by Douglas Keister. Schiffer Publishing Gellner said, "It had to be exaggerated, almost a caricature of what European architecture looked like; it had to have artificial aging; and the last thing was, was it whimsical? Did it kind of make you smile or laugh when you looked at it? If a house passed all three of those tests, then it was a storybook house."
- Spadena House, a.k.a. The Witch's House (Wikipedia)
- The Witch's House (I Love Beverly Hills)
- Michael J. Libow, Compass Real Estate
- "Storybook Style: America's Whimsical Homes of the 1920s" (2nd Edition) by Aarol Gellner and Douglas Keister (Schiffer Publishing), in Hardcover, available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Indiebound
- Photographer Douglas Keister
Story produced by Gabriel Falcon. Editor: Carol Ross.
Why Witch House is the Best Genre You’ve Never Heard Of
When it comes to music, the range of genres shows just how intense and immersive the creation of sound and melody. Branching out further from the standard genres that populate music festivals, the radio, and Spotify’s charts, are a series of microgenres that create a niche cult following. One such microgenre is witch house music. But, what exactly is witch house music, and how is it gaining traction with fans?
What is Witch House?
As its name suggests, witch house music is a microgenre spawned from the expansive electronic genre that focuses on predominantly discordant chopped and screwed downtempo droning. The microgenre takes samples of Foley used in construction, industry, and the atmosphere to create ethereal and supernatural sounding melodies. Synthesizers, interesting instruments, and distorted vocals are also used in order to create music that breaks the boundaries of what music is traditionally known for. According to Vulture, witch house is able to convey a form of raw emotion that mainstream genres only touch upon – similar to the early 2000s popularity of nu-metal as a way for angsty teens to express themselves.
Who are the Players of Witch House?
Like most microgenres, certain artists emerge as the poster bands that allow new fans to learn their work and develop a cult following that attracts their audiences to the genre as a whole. Blvck Ceiling are a trendsetting band in the witch house genre , who use imagery related to the occult and soundscapes that make the listener think to eschew the experimental aspects of the microgenre. Their Gagaocean Max Beta remix features songs from Lady Gaga, while their range of albums such as Ghost EP, Rogue, and Trap Magic evoke imagery of the occult. Moreover, Salem, aptly named for the Massachusetts witch trials, are also a pioneering band of the genre. Their song Trapdoor was even featured on 2012 Ryan Gosling flick The Place Beyond the Pines . As many witch house artists release remixes of other songs, identifying new bands in the genre can be done in a natural way, via discovering a new form of music built around an old favorite song. WIKAN lead the charge in the UK and have performed their brand of witch house music throughout Europe, hoping to extol its virtues on the masses. Though Talk Less Say More, with their form of ethereal ambience that samples David Lynch’s Twin Peaks shows us that there are degrees of just how supernatural the music can be in the genre.
How does Witch House Appeal to Fans?
But the artists of witch house go one step further in order to help bridge the gap for fans of other similar music genres. By using samples of other songs, and even from more obscure elements of the supernatural world that the genre connects with – from The Blair Witch Project, Charmed and Twin Peaks – witch house evokes feelings of the paranormal. But the genre also utilises back-masking of other songs, such as hip hop, rock, and rap. For example, threeam sample t.A.T.u’s All the Things She Said ; Heretics remix Carly Rae Jepson’s Call Me Maybe , while Johny Tiger remixes Nirvana’s Heart-Shaped Box . Back-masking features playing a popular song backwards in order to subconsciously use the imagery it evokes while not having the listener actively aware of the connotations. The technique plays on the nostalgia factor and familiarity. By connecting the music genre with facets of pop culture or even other music, fans can discover the genre and feel better connected to it.
The Imagery of Witch House
Another aspect of witch house that doesn’t necessarily correspond to other genres is the use of imagery in the band names and on the band’s artwork that gives a deeper and more immersive experience of listening to the music. Much in the same way The Beatles have fans who praise their clever album artwork, and pop stars such as Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande have scholars of their music videos, the artwork, band image, and band typography further utilizes the occult and supernatural vibes that witch house aims to evoke.
Witch house may not be a microgenre of music that would appeal to everyone – but, with its growing prevalence in certain spheres and its connection to other music and pop culture, the audience and fanbase are growing. The term witch house has existed for around 10 years already and, as the way in which music is consumed changes and evolves, more fans and potential fans are able to access the microgenre. While some of the darker themes of witch house won’t be played on the charts, the genre is definitely benefitting from the revival of the spooky soundscapes.
REVIEW: Dreams in the Witch House wows with inventive point-and-click mysteries
In the world of witchcraft, everything is not what it seems. For example, I hopped into what ostensibly looks like a classic point-and-click adventure game, only to find out it has open world, Sims-like, and Persona-like elements baked in, and it's all set in an H.P. Lovecraft story full of mysteries and thrills. Is that relatable to anyone else? No? That's just because you haven't played Dreams in the Witch House yet. After my seven hours spent traipsing through the arcane streets of Arkham, I gotta say. that combo of ideas WORKS.
Just the Facts
Developer: Atom Brain Games
Publisher: Bonus Stage Publishing
Platform(s): PC
Price: $10.99
Release Date: Feb. 16, 2023
Review key provided by publisher.
For years, I've imagined one day building my very own point-and-click adventure in Adventure Game Studio, the community-driven old-school adventure game engine that tons of modern point-and-clicks have used to advance the genre. Atom Brain has stretched the engine in ways I couldn't even imagine with their debut release, Dreams in the Witch House.
Atom Brain, the one-man Finnish game studio comprised of Antti Laakso, brings this horror survival adventure game to life through a Lovecraftian lens.
Based on the 1933 H.P. Lovecraft short story of the same name, Dreams in the Witch House serves up tons of fun little in-jokes and references to Lovecrafian lore. My favorite is the random "all-you-can-eat fish buffet" event that has your character visit Innsmouth and its. interesting fishermen. Dreams in the Witch House tells the story of Walter Gilman, a freshman at Miskatonic University in the mysteriously magical town of Arkham, Massachusetts. With a passion for math, Gilman specifically picks Miskatonic because of the particular focus of his developing theory: the relationship between complex mathematics and ancient magic rituals. Renting the attic room of an ancient boarding house — a strange room with a slanted wall and whispered rumors about its past inhabitants — Walter begins his life in Arkham. And what happens next is up to you.
". Dreams in the Witch House provides something fresh to one of the oldest genres out there. Atom Brain's genre-blending point-and-click offers a tight package with tons of nuance and enjoyment to be pulled from future playthroughs."
Dreams in the Witch House has an unorthodox approach to narrative, unlike what you'd see in your traditional point-and-click adventure game. Rather than serving a straightforward narrative path, with a handful of logic puzzles and escape room-like obstacles in your way, Witch House is more about uncovering the story at your own pace. There are randomized elements to your schooling and occult adventures: your courses, city events that you can find out about by reading the paper, and even where certain characters you can meet will be at any given moment.
Even the when and how of running into certain scripted events can be altered by Walter's state of mind. And for a point-and-click to carry with it the idea that "no two runs are the same" is so fascinating.
It presents a series of strange and fantastical vignettes, often incorporating elements of mythology, alchemy, and esoteric knowledge. The visuals are complemented by a haunting and experimental soundtrack composed by Smith himself. What makes Heaven and Earth Magic truly unique is Smith's unconventional approach to storytelling.
He eschews traditional linear narratives in favor of a more abstract and intuitive approach. The film relies heavily on visual associations and juxtapositions, allowing the viewer to interpret and create their own meaning. Smith's magnum opus is an ambitious and ambitious work that pushes the boundaries of animation as an art form. Its intricate and painstakingly crafted visuals, combined with its vast and profound themes, create a captivating and thought-provoking experience. Heaven and Earth Magic remains a landmark in the history of experimental animation, inspiring many artists and filmmakers to explore new possibilities in the medium. Its lasting impact is a testament to Harry Everett Smith's artistic vision and his relentless pursuit of pushing the boundaries of what art can achieve..
Reviews for "Enhancing Spirituality Through Heaven and Earth Magic"
1. Emma - 2/5 stars - "I was really disappointed with Heaven and Earth Magic. The plot was slow and confusing, and I found it hard to connect with any of the characters. The animation style was also not to my taste, as it seemed outdated and lacked detail. Overall, I didn't find it enjoyable or engaging, and I wouldn't recommend it to others."
2. James - 1/5 stars - "Heaven and Earth Magic was a complete waste of time for me. I couldn't understand what was happening throughout the entire film. The animation was bizarre and didn't add any value to the story. The lack of dialogue also made it even more difficult to follow. I regret watching this movie and would advise others to avoid it."
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - "I had high expectations for Heaven and Earth Magic, but it fell short for me. The abstract storytelling was confusing, and I couldn't grasp the underlying message, if there was one. The animation, although unique, didn't appeal to me and felt overly simplistic. I appreciate experimental films, but this one missed the mark for me."
4. Michael - 3/5 stars - "Heaven and Earth Magic had potential, but it wasn't executed well in my opinion. The animation style was interesting, but the lack of a clear storyline made it difficult to stay engaged. I appreciated the artistic elements, but I needed more substance to fully enjoy the film. It may appeal to fans of abstract cinema, but it wasn't my cup of tea."