Inside Out

 Landreth,(2004)

Continuing with the sense of disgust that humans feel when confronted with damage or deformity in others, the animated film ‘Ryan’(2004) By Chris Landreth presents an  interesting form of this damage. It tells the life story of Ryan Larkin in the form of an animated documentary built on the actual interview with Ryan.

Landreth shows his own and Ryan’s psychological damage and scars ‘on the outside’ in the form of gaps and holes in the body or brain of the main characters. The ravages of alcohol and drug addiction were represented by thin arms stripped of flesh with twisted bones showing; or a face that had dissolved, taking one eye with it.

Some physical abuse is usually visible on the outside of the body, but psychological damage and trauma are often kept hidden, locked in our memories or even expunged from our conscious minds and pushed below the surface. This is perhaps because the experiences are too painful or distressing to face or because they cause shame. They may think that others will be disgusted by what is presented to them. It is a fascinating idea to almost turn the body inside-out and show on the outside that which is normally hidden.