Transmedia Proposal Document

Human is Monster - H.I.M This project and idea is based on several themes extracted from the play Lichtenburg

by Walter Benjamin and Gerhard Schulte.

Lichtenburg presents the reader with the story of a race of beings who live on the moon who look in on the earth using advanced surveillance and time warp technology.

The moon beings choose to study an earth man called Georg Christoph Lichtenburg whom they almost treat with contempt. The moon beings are almost arrogant of the human condition and I get the feeling they consider themselves to be superior because they believe themselves to be a superior race.

However, as they study Lichtenburg they form their conclusions that he is an intelligent man capable of “odd, deep and intelligent insights�. There is almost a sense of admiration that Lichtenburg, despite being a primitive human being, could be capable of such wonder, so much so the moon beings name a part of the moon in recognition of his efforts.

There are many different themes and contexts which can be extracted from the play.

The themes and contexts I am most interested in lie in Surveillance and the human condition.

As digital technology grows around us governments and corporations have more and more power over us. We are constantly monitored through the use of increasingly covert and hidden surveillance systems. The United Kingdom is the most scrutinised and monitored nation on the planet. Our civil liberties are being eroded day by day, however, we seem to be relatively unconcerned with this. Should we be concerned? or do we have nothing to be worried about? are we able to live relatively free and safe lives because there is so much surveillance around us?

Another profound thought is that we are aware of the the surveillance around us, however, what of the surveillance we can't