Review for ‘‘SEE’’ by Johan Oudshoorn

An honest music video incorporating enviromentalism, Van Gogh and child education would be a music video at the dead center of the zeitgeist and near to the beating moral heart of Europe in the 21st century. Johan Oudshoorn and Guus Westdorp's See is and does exactly the above, let's see how.

If one term were to characterize the just-over-5-minutes musical short, it would be forward movement. From the child's literal momentum, to the jump from black & white to color, to the communication between the past, human history, and the future of humankind with the surprise visit of a well-loved figure nowadays, but neglected in his time.

The enviromental message is a well-covered one, and motivational media on the subject is nothing new. However, the fusion of arts both between themselves and then with enviromental conservation reinforces the central message. Further, highlighting the links between artists of the past and today's young hopefuls, between the Dutch cultural heritage and the conservation efforts in Europe today, and finally between natural beauty and human interpretation of it through visual arts and song sends a positive message of encouragment of creativity.

Simplicity is a virtue, and though simple in concept and execution, See is a plainly empathetic, honest and hopeful music video that combines art history and conservation to great effect, essentially a call to productivity and appreciation of the world around us.