21/02/2024
To commemorate the INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, Café De Opstand is pleased to present Dreampunk Story: an audio-visual creation by SOUND2次元 and Scarlett Lemieux, delving into the theme of femicide.
Femicide is a widespread issue stemming from patriarchal societies affecting both Western and Eastern countries globally. According to the UNODC and UN Women’s global report titled “Gender-related killings of women and girls: Improving data to improve responses to femicide” released in December 2022, on average more than five women or girls are killed every hour by their intimate partners or other family members. The estimates for 2023 and 2024 paint a similarly grim picture. Regrettably, a substantial portion of global public opinion remains hesitant to acknowledge the existence of femicide, and political institutions have yet to implement effective measures to tackle this critical issue.
“Dreampunk Story” endeavors to leverage the power of art to ignite societal consciousness, aiming to mobilize support in the battle against this silent massacre.
Video
The video realized by Scarlett Lemieux unfolds within a futuristic cyberpunk imaginary, drawing on fragmented and selectively sourced imagery from iconic 90s Japanese anime series such as “Ghost in the Shell”, “Battle Angel Alita”, “Armitage III”, “Bubblegum Crisis” and “Genocyber.” These glimpses showcase the pivotal role of women, portraying them as formidable figures when confronted with adversity.
Music
The background music is based on original synthwave/vaporwave compositions and remixes meticulously crafted and performed live by SOUND2次元. The evolution of these tracks is marked by glitchy elements and effects, creating a syncopated, unconventional, and almost artificial experience.
