An abrupt apocalyptic ending has always seemed to me like a viable conclusion to life on Earth, and the possibility only seems to loom larger in my mind as the years go on. This doom ridden way of thinking can allow you to feel prepared in a way. It can convince you that you’re somewhere above the mindless, mainstream consciousness. It also allows you to feel incredibly lonely. I think a lot of people in our current society feel this way. In fact, I believe I know this to be true, due to the number of videos I’ve seen of strangers sharing their experience with this exact feeling across various sad corners of the internet. When you believe that the world will inevitably collapse in on itself, most likely in brutal and horrific ways, it feels pointless to care about anything too much, get too invested in a temporary reality. I have come face to face with this demonic pit more than I’d like to admit. Although, it seems to be the norm, especially among young people. But, can you really blame us?

However, the human brain, in all of its ever expanding mischief, is at the same time miraculously complex and doesn’t prefer for its host to teeter around the edge for too long. Eventually, we’re forced to find a coping mechanism, one that is more often that not, a further detachment from reality, but a coping mechanism nonetheless. For me, this was creating a strong female character that could defy all odds and allow her apocalyptic fate to grant her new meaning, new strength, an opportunity to build a better world. ‘New World Final Girl’, featuring Lilly Frost, is a visual demonstration, an embodied release, of the character that grew piece by piece in my mind over many dark months. I wanted to convey as much of the character as I could in a series of still images, so stylistic choices were incredibly important. I chose fun, light hearted pieces like a blue beaded top, a teddy bear backpack and statement accessories to convey that her strength not only allowed her to change, but also to hold on to who she’s always been. It was pieces like the ski mask, camo shorts, black cowboy boots, bullet belt, hammer, and leather gloves marked “game over”, that were chosen to illustrate the strong and weathered side of the character. When we found the abandoned home in a neighbouring suburb we knew we had found our set for “the new world”, the place we could tell our “final girls” story. The blue tone for the final images, captured the dystopian-video game atmosphere I wanted to bring forward, a validation of the illegitimacy of this world, proof that it’s all in your head, just a game - at least, until it isn’t.