SMOKING OR
NOT SMOKING
The 'Smoking or not smoking' project comprises two parts, a book and a film, which combined are a comprehensive exposé on the profound damage inflicted upon our planet by the tobacco industry. While the health hazards of cigarette smoking are widely acknowledged, the environmental consequences of tobacco products — the single most littered item on the planet — often remain obscured.
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The project begins by briefly tracing the history of cigarettes, illuminating their transformation from being portrayed as hip and healthy in the past to their negative image today. It delves into the success of anti-smoking campaigns, shedding light on their accomplishments.
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While it does briefly touch upon the effects of smoking on human health, this book effectively emphasizes the ecological repercussions of this habit. For instance, the paper required for the production of just 300 cigarettes, including packaging, is equivalent to the loss of one great Amazonian tree.
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The film component of provides a compelling conclusion to the project, focusing exclusively on the ecological aspects outlined in the book. It encapsulates the environmental message, providing a powerful visual narrative that underscores the urgent need to address this issue for the sake of our planet.
The book is intentionally designed in a black-and-white aesthetic to underscore the gravitas of the subject matter. The monochromatic palette enhances the dramatic character of the topic, ensuring that the content is impactful and emotionally resonant.
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A significant portion of the visuals within the book were captured by my personal lens, providing an authentic and focused portrayal of various facets of the subject. However, when capturing original images was impractical, I sourced photographs from the internet and meticulously edited them to align with the book's established style. This careful curation ensured seamless visual narrative throughout the book.
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To enhance the reader's experience, the book is thoughtfully organized into chapters, facilitating a structured and coherent journey through the content. This chapter-based arrangement makes it easier for readers to navigate and comprehend the subject matter, ensuring a clear and engaging exploration of the topic.
The cover of the book is a striking and deliberate visual choice, featuring an image of smoke presented in inverted colors. This creative selection serves a dual purpose. Firstly, it offers a symbolic reference to the book's central theme, alluding to the enigmatic and ominous nature of cigarette smoking's impact. The visual representation of smoke can evoke a sense of mystery and horror, reinforcing the seriousness of the issue.
Secondly, the appearance of the smoke on the cover can be interpreted as resembling an embryo, symbolizing the potential for new life and positive change. This imagery encapsulates the core message of the book: that the harmful habit of cigarette smoking is disastrous to the health of the planet and that by quitting the smoking people can and must enact important changes for Earth.
BOOK
+ FILM
The film serves as a powerful medium to underscore the often-overlooked environmental consequences of cigarette smoking. Its production involved meticulous editing, introducing glitch effects in the frames and text. The deliberate choice to incorporate glitches, often associated with unsettling or frightening imagery, aims to maintain a disconcerting atmosphere throughout the film.
The sustained unsettling atmosphere is a strategic move
to emphasize the urgency and gravity of the harmful impact of smoking. The film is structured as a collection of separate parts artfully combined into a cohesive narrative. This approach was chosen with the intention of creating shorter, socially shareable segments, each lasting around 30 seconds. These concise segments effectively convey the message in bite-sized formats, making it easier for viewers to engage with and share this important story.
BEHIND THE SCENES
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