Hylozoism

Cormac Scanlan’s movie Hylozoism is a ‘Holistic Documentary’ which, whilst offering no answers, uses associational form to encourage its audience to ponder life's big questions. Alluding to topics as varied as psychology, philosophy, anthropology, urbanity and evolutionary biology, the film invites viewers to think about who we are and where we came from. Hylozoism asks questions about how are we connected to each other and our planet, ponders about where are we headed as species and examines our purpose as both an individual and a part in a larger society and history.

Loosely influenced by the artistic ideas of Guy Ernest Debord and the Situationist International movement, much of the film was made using the psychogeographical practice of dérive. Cormac Scanlan's form of psychogeography focuses on exploring urban and rural environments and using video and stills photography to reflect the emotions experienced at a location in the way it is artistically portrayed, as well as capturing the physical presence of the location itself.

Hylozoism was made over a period of 7 months between 2005 and 2006. All photography is original footage of a documentative nature (ie there was no setting up of scenarios, interfering with the subject, or altering the mise en scène) and all photography and video editing was done by Cormac Scanlan himself. The film features an original soundtrack, recorded specifically for the film, this was composed, performed and produced by Cormac Scanlan and Curtis Redden.

Cormac Scanlan's Photography: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ichor/