The Best of Whinot Productions

Author/Artist Name

Adam R. Ashlock Mr., Murray State UniversityFollow

Files

Academic Level at Time of Creation

Senior

Date of Creation

Fall 11-21-2025

Artist Statement

Art is a space where humor and absurdity are welcomed with open arms. It's a way to break down barriers and connect with others—especially when traditional social interactions are challenging. Growing up with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) means I've navigated a world that often feels out of sync with how my brain works. Conversations are challenges, and it’s easy to feel disconnected from the people around me. But growing up I found that humor is a universal language. It's a great way to find common ground and create a shared experience that feels natural even when other forms of connection don’t. Humor and storytelling in these films serves as a way to reveal deeper truths about life, even in the most ridiculous parameters.
Aesthetic choices often lean toward subversion and unpredictability, taking the ordinary and transforming it into something strange or comedic. ‘Freelance’ is a perfect example of this approach, a live-action project reflecting the experiences of a broke, full-time college student. The video follows my attempts to earn money through odd jobs over two days, only for it to vanish in an instant as debt takes over. The punchline, “I hate my life,” followed by a bouncy credits song, captures that dark humor and highlights how even the mundane struggles of life can become a source of comedy in a sort of mocking tone. Humor here is more than just entertainment—it's a coping mechanism and a way to make these universal struggles more relatable and enjoyable. I use film to explore humor in a variety of ways, but for the most part I create simply because I want to do so.
With Autism, thinking is unpredictable and often non-linear. I don't fully plan out my projects—just a rough outline—because trusting instinct and letting ideas develop in real time is how the best work happens. Thoughts jump from one idea to another in unexpected ways, and the unpredictability is something I embrace in the film process. This free-flowing approach often leads to random, absurd ideas, and it’s in this space that the most interesting creative decisions are made. Animation, in particular, has always held a special place in my heart because it most mirrors how my mind operates; It's silly, whimsical, and a little detached from a straight pathway. It's a special interest that's very near and dear to me.
In the same light, the work of contemporary artists deeply shapes how I approach storytelling and comedy. Craig McCracken was a man who started young in the industry and hit gold with his brilliant techniques, his shows having a mix of emotional depth, character-driven stories, and bold visual styles. The defiance of Everett Peck’s Duckman was like hate mail to the censors, defying the expectation that crude, rude and dark humor couldn't touch your heart and be a major player in adult animation. It's here where I derived my comedic philosophy that nothing is truly off limits, and that Comedy should always leave you different than when it found you.If there’s one true kindred spirit, it’s Wayne White. He takes cheesy thrift-store paintings and slaps huge, perfect carnival letters on them—pure joy, zero pretension, massive laughs. Never preachy, yet scary-smart. That’s exactly what I chase: turn my awkward, autistic, broke life into cartoons and videos that just make people grin and feel good. He nails it every time—that’s the energy I’m after.
Ultimately, my goal is simple: to entertain. Having Autism has made connecting with others difficult in many ways, but through my work as an online entertainer, I’ve found a way to bridge that gap, and show people the many facets of who I am. This work is a conversation with the audience, rather than a chance to teach or give commentary. If you learned anything meaningful, its your own fault. No matter the reaction, the only hope is that the experience will create a lasting memory, one we can both share. Through my work, the message is clear: My name is Adam, and I hope you're entertained.

Advisor/Mentor

Cintia Segovia Figueroa

Description

The Best of Whinot Productions is a multimedia senior exhibition that combines 3D prop objects with video installation components to trace the evolution of Whinot Productions during the artist’s time at Murray State University. The centerpiece is The Best of WP, a screening of seven short films by the artist, supplemented by three additional films accessible through a third-party link. Accompanying the video presentation are three medium-scale props representing distinct creative eras: an oversized coffee mug from the earliest illustrative period, a “Jumbo Multiversal Remote Control” from the transitional storytelling phase, and a giant pill bottle created for the live-action film era.

Four strategically placed QR codes extend the exhibition beyond the gallery walls. Three codes direct viewers to dedicated pages on the artist’s website containing in-depth documentation, behind-the-scenes details, and contextual information for each sculptural work. The fourth code links to a YouTube playlist featuring the complete Best of Whinot Productions film lineup, including three bonus videos not screened in the gallery. Through this hybrid physical–digital format, the exhibition presents a comprehensive retrospective of the artist’s film and design practice while inviting ongoing engagement online.

Photo Credit

All credit goes to Adam Ashlock (Myself)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Ashlock, Adam R. Mr., "The Best of Whinot Productions" (2025). B.A./B.S. Practicum Group Exhibit (ART 499). 87.
https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/art499/87