The Apollo 11 Moon Landing in 1969 that first landed humans on the moon was a historical event that had many known conspiracy theories - many claiming that the mission itself was faked. With these conspiracies, I decided to composite an image conveying their ideas while adding in a slight bit of humor.
With the original photo found through public domain, I expanded it with the use of generative AI to add in lighting and studio equipment while also using it to extend a stock image of a green screen photo with a person. My own images included photos of myself and my brother posing as crew set members busy with our own tasks; overseeing the set and giving directions while the latter uses a regular boot to stamp footprints onto the surface of the "moon." Additional details such as shadows and lighting were used to bring the images together cohesively to accurately misrepresent the historical event that reflects the conspiracies.
This work is titled Fake It: Apollo 11 Moon Landing (Fake!) and is by Troy Vong Nguyen. The compositing piece is of a studio production set that is implying the recording of a staged moon landing. Assuming the Apollo 11 mission given the title. In the back is a green screen which implies that later something will replace it and add more specific location context. There is also an individual wearing a green suit, although I am unsure what their purpose is. In the center is the US flag as well as a NASA astronaut. There are two people in the foreground, one is the producer monitoring and guiding the scene while the other is stamping boot prints into the dirt attempting to mimic the astronaut’s footsteps.
ReplyDeleteThe perspective is of someone watching in the background as a group of individuals create, or recreate, the famous Apollo 11 landing photograph. The controversy around the landing is a longstanding one as there have been implications that it was a forgery and an attempt by the USA to beat others to the moon. The area surrounding the set is dark, leading the viewer’s focus to the center and provides an atmosphere of suspicion. The image provides a feeling of being present for something intimate and that few participated in.
This work cleverly uses compositing techniques to provide the user with a differing perspective of the moon landing events. Including specific elements such as the well-known US flag is important as this element brought about a great deal of public speculation regarding the legitimacy of the landing. The set is not modern and appears to be an accurate representation of what technology may have been in use at the time. It is also small in nature, implying a secrecy that would have likely played a role if the landing was in fact staged. My only hesitation is that without additional context I am left unsure of what ties the image to the original event. As I stated above, this could easily read as a recreation rather than a photo someone might have taken during the original “staged” event. Overall the piece is well done and uses elements in an excellent way to provide the viewer with the intended message.
In Sophie Gilberts article, The Teen Dramas That Reject Modernity, she states “When looking forward isn’t an option, looking back can be a comfort.”
This reflects a great deal on what often complicates the attempts to debunk events such as the Apollo 11 moon landing. Many in society use these moments to feel connected to their past and define generations. It brings back wanted nostalgia, invoking thoughts of a less complicated and simpler time. This work reaches out and grabs a highly pivotal event in human history and depicts it in a way that contradicts what many believe as truth. Choosing this as the baseline for the project is an excellent decision due to the deep-rooted societal connections that exist and what a forgery would mean.
Having been born only 5 years after this famous landing, I grew up with this being a prominent and monumental achievement from our country. Pride and patriotism resonated across the country. The age of NASA and the “space race” along with consistent new accomplishments being obtained regularly made my childhood one that was filled with imagination, curiosity, and wanting to always look up. Whether the landing was staged or not, it still had a positive impact on many including myself. I feel that even if the event was ultimately a fraud, it had a positive impact on the world. It pushed the ideals of there being things greater than us, provided the needed incentive for others to rise to the challenge, and advanced the narrative that technology was what humans needed to grow and accomplish great things. Funding went into the necessary places as a result and today we can see the snowball effect this had.