Our Common Nature

Project 2 · Visual Essay · MOME 705

Danzheng Chen

A visual essay inspired by Radiolab’s Our Common Nature. Birds, memory, and the cycle of life connect personal experience with the natural world. Storyboards and style frames explore that connection through illustration and motion.

Use the arrows below to browse the storyboards, visual research, and style frames.

Audio & Concept

Project 2 · Visual Essay · MOME 705 · Danzheng Chen

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma and host Ana González travel around the United States to meet people, make music and better understand how culture binds us to nature.

Selected Voiceover

I saw birds, some blue jays.
There was a cardinal. I was listening to the chirping, the tweeting.
And it was the most beautiful music in the world.
So I carry this memory. It stays there.
That will help me get through what I need to get through.
I think about really, the whole cycle of living,
it's inseparable that we are part of this world,
we are part of nature.
We are part of the stars,
we are part of the Earth.

Audio source: Radiolab — Our Common Nature

Mind Map & Visual Research

Voiceover	Keywords	Motion idea	Sound / Expression
And you could see the stars.	Stars	Stars twinkle and fade in.	Chirping, tweeting, music?
I saw birds, some blue jays.	Blue jays	Pan down, looking at the birds.
There was a cardinal.	Cardinal	The cardinal starts to fly into the next scene.	Analysis
I was listening to the chirping, the tweeting.	Listening, chirping, tweeting	A big wing passes through the scene; overhead shot, flying over the scene.	Carry memory, get through
And it was the most beautiful music in the world.	Music	Musical staff on the ground? A musical staff as a river.
So I carry this memory. It stays there.	Carry, memory	The scene becomes a postcard and is put into luggage.	Interpretation
That will help me get through what I need to get through.	Get through	A small Yo-Yo Ma holds the luggage, while everything around him is very large.	Cycle of living; part of the world, nature, stars, Earth; music
I think about really, the whole cycle of living,	Cycle of living	Transform into a circle.
it's inseparable that we are part of this world,	Part of the world	Yo-Yo becomes part of the world and nature. Dolly from left to right?	Interpretation of the world, nature and music. Animals represent beauty and a place to rest. Yo-Yo’s diary: the world as he sees it, and how he comforts himself.
we are part of nature, We are part of the stars, we are part of the Earth.	Part of nature, stars, Earth