Monday 9th February 2015 - The Finished Poster

I am pleased with the crocheted background and the text that I have carefully worded, however think that I could have possibly found a better way of presenting my hand-written thoughts as I think this looks quite messy. Although, it is in apt with Tracey Emin's ideas and the way she chooses to display her thoughts. Maybe, I just tried to be too clever? Below, is the finished poster that was submitted today.

Wednesday 4th February 2015 - 'Present a Detailed, Critical Analysis of a Cultural Text'

In this essay, I will be analysing and exploring the boundaries between artistic mediums and craft using Tracey Emin as my cultural text. I will focus on books such as 'Tracey Emin: My Life in a Column', 'Strangeland' by Tracey Emin and 'Tracey Emin' by Neal Brown; by concentrating on books that have been both written by Emin and by other authors, I believe this will help me to gain a better understanding of the different opinions people may hold about art and craft both separately and collectively and whether craft is considered as a real art format.

Primarily focusing my thoughts on the series of blankets Emin has carefully 'crafted', I will discuss the positives and negatives of craft being used in the art world in a constructive way. Emin was part of the Young British Artist movement, where they 'couldn't care less' about what the art critics had to say; they changed people's view of what is deemed as art and since then, many believe that art has become fluid. Considering Emin's background, her use of craft within her work suggests that she was very unconcerned about what she was producing and publishing to the world and this reflects upon the movement she was involved in.

The selection of this topic derives from my approach to art; I have always had an interest in colour, texture and material, but the way my works are normally perceived is not entirely understood as art and is linked more so to craft. This essay will aid me in justifying myself and other artists who feel as though their work is derogatory to other members of the creative industry.

Tuesday 3rd February 2015 - Drafting a Poster in Preparation for the Essay

'Provide a Detailed, Critical Analysis of a Cultural Text'

I am creating a poster for the 'Critical Perspectives' part of my uni module and I have decided that I should think outside of the box when it comes to creating the piece. Instead of presenting what is essentially an essay proposal on paper, I have decided to crochet an A4 sized work, where I can stitch fabric onto it with hand-painted lettering that presents my essay ideas; either this, or attaching hand-cut letters to the poster. I am not entirely sure what I will be linking my essay to at the moment, but I know for sure that I would like to stick to the theme of Tracey Emin and the world of where art and craft can be combined. By creating a piece that is a piece of 'art' itself, I think will totally relate to Emin's blankets that I looked at in my previous blog post. I am also hoping to read 'Tracey Emin: My Life in a Column' book to gain more knowledge and help me with my essay.

Thursday 29th January 2015 - Looking at a Cultural Text in Context - Hotel International by Tracey Emin

BROWN, N. (2006), TE: TRACEY EMIN, 'Hotel International' 1993 and other blankets and fabric works, pp. 36-49, United Kingdom: Tate Gallery London

I chose this image to analyse for my 'cultural text' as it was the first blanket that Tracey Emin ever made as an artist. I am essentially at the beginning of my ideas as an artist, so believed this to be relevant to myself. Although, I don't entirely link my own work to this, there are elements that I believe to be the same such our particular interest in colour, embroidery and stitchwork, as well as the 'revealing of inner thoughts' concept (which is very obvious throughout Emin's work). Emin also deals with the process of art and craft being combined; I deal with this too, however feel the need to justify to myself that what I am creating isn't just a craft, it's an art form. "Large and vibrantly coloured, the blanket has a pretty quality, occasionally contradicted by the unsettling, sometimes desperate meanings of its text." - page 37

My previous studio project I tried to link my ideas to the Jennifer Lawrence scandal by crocheting a bra and displaying it on a chair; I did this to help a viewer perceive the chair as a hacker sat at their desk, viewing what is basically pornography. I decided that a bra is associated with a woman and in the scandal, sadly private nude images were released of her, as well as this, crochet is normally an art form that can be linked more so with a woman than a man. Emin links her thoughts to similar ideas and also uses techniques that have more associations with women. "Traditionally assigned to the world of women, and made from salvaged fabric, patchwork bed coverings command ideas of the bed as a focus of matrimonial, female domesticity." - page 37

"This kind of work has often been undervalued as a hobby or craft (more recently), disparaged for its association with feminist art, which reclaimed the genre in the 1970s and 1980s. These were critical problems that Emin ignored when she made 'Hotel International'." - page 37

"Trade-union banners are part of an historical folk-art tradition of organised labour, whose colourful designs are the proud heraldry of the organisational structures that seek to represent working class interests." - page 40

Thursday 15th January 2015 - The Dermablend Advert

This seminar was divided into two groups, we were allowed to discuss the Dermablend advert that included Rick Genest or talk about an artwork named 'Blood Head' by Marc Quinn. I was sectioned off into the Dermablend group.

'What are cultural texts? Consider who made and produced it. Think about theoretical frameworks. When and where was it produced and made? Consider the site or space in which it is viewed/consumed. Is there an intended audience? Consider the origins. How does the context impact upon ways in which we read/understand the 'cultural text'?'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mIBKifOOQQ - the advert

I was quite happy that I was chosen to discuss this topic; one because I have more than one tattoo, but two because I've always had a birthmark that I have always disliked. It got to the point a few years ago where I went to the doctor about it and I asked for it to be removed; instead she suggested that I thought about my decision a little bit more and she referred me to the British Red Cross, where they were able to give me some cover up cream that matched my skin tone. I used the cream for a while, but it didn't entirely cover up the area I didn't like, so I have had to try and learn to love it. I have also thought about getting a tattoo around it, as it's a circle type shape, so have wondered if my birthmark could be conveyed as a pendant/gemstone inside of the tattoo.

When I watched the advert for the first time, I didn't know whether to think that the tattoos were real or not. However, when the title of the Dermablend tattoo cover-up company appeared at the end of the ad, I begun to understand that this wasn't fake and that Rick was in actual fact tattooed to look as if he were a skeleton, although he does prefer to be called zombie boy. Genest was discovered by Lady Gaga's stylist and eventually went on to marry her; I thought that I recognised him from somewhere and it clicked in my head when this was mentioned - it was Gaga's music video 'Born This Way' that he starred in.

Back in the 70s, 60s, 50s, etc... tattoos weren't really worn by many people. I guess it could have been considered as more of a luxury and also it was probably more associated with males than females. People back then were probably put off as it has associations with a tribal, ritualistic and warrior type 'fashion', however this is deemed quite 'cool' now. Now, in the 2000s, it has become more of a cultural thing and it's quite normal for people to be tattooed, except heavily tattooed like Genest. It's quite a high culture, maybe that's because many celebrities such as Cheryl Cole follow this trend now.

Genest's tattoos represent  death and decay... he's basically zombified himself. He must have been so sure when he had his face completely tattooed. I discovered that when he was younger, he had a brain tumor and spent six months on a waiting list; this kind of gave a 'living dead' feeling to him and it might have sparked his addiction to tattoos and the decaying theme. Rick also used to work in a circus and these can be deemed as freak shows/freak culture - he made himself seem as though he was different and that he had something wrong with him, just because he had made himself look entirely unique from everyone else. It was suggested that he was the 'illustrated man'. This can also have associations with the elephant man.

I don't quite understand what the advert is trying to convey... is the company trying to say that Genest uses the product, because I couldn't imagine that he would do that. It seems as though he wears his tattoos, or one big tattoo with pride. Or maybe, it's just trying to simply point out the obvious, if you want your tattoo covered, then this is the solution. But, surely people who get tattoos, get them because they want them to add to their image? I know that's the reason I have got mine. Although, I do understand that tattoos don't always look professional, but in this day and age where tattoos are more of a common thing, I think that they should be allowed within jobs and it's the same with piercings. On top of this, I have dreadlocks and I haven't yet discovered any places that wouldn't have me; I'm not sure whether this is because I have only had them for a relatively short period of time (a year). But, I understand that from forums and groups that I am part of, that other 'dreadheads' are pushed away; some have even had to brush or cut theirs out to get work. The other idea I thought the advert might be trying to point out is that you will always come back to who you are. Even though his body is covered in the cream and you cannot see his heavily tattooed body, once it's rubbed off, he returns to being himself. Tattoos are part of who you are.

Thursday 8th January 2015 - Women as Objects: Feminist Critique

After reading the text 'Women as Objects - Feminist Critique' from the book 'A Queer Romance' I was asked to identify some key words that stood out, as well as some important quotes. Feminist, objectification, representation, gender, class, appearance, perspective, woman and equality seemed to jump out of the page the most. It is evident from just looking at the key words that in western cultures, women can be viewed much lower than the male figure and it seems as though a man has the dominance. There is also a lot of pressure for women to be judged as someone who is significant in our society, both past and present. "It is within this psychoanalytic framework that one can talk about emotional situations or social contexts which produce instabilities which may disturb many things, including gender performance and gender identifications." - page 20, is another noteworthy quote from the text.

"Women as objects and men as the subjects" page 19, seemed to be the main argument of the text. John Berger, who seems particularly interested in Marxism and feminist ideas identified with Laura Mulvey's effort to address questions about the objectification of women. There is a lot of sexualisation of women nowadays, so called 'lad-mags' are partly to blame as well as page 3 in the Sun newspaper. This doesn't bother me as such, however I do think that page 3's time may be up; maybe it should be moved to somewhere in the newspaper that a child cannot accidentally see it or just be removed completely. Women posing naked, I think is alright, however I think it is a shame that this is normally aimed at a male audience. Why should it be for his needs? Aren't women allowed to see this too? Also, why is it always thought of as sexual for a woman to strip down and be naked, can't she state a point by doing this? Keira Knightley for instance, I applaud her for doing this, posed naked to make a point that every woman is beautiful and that the use of Photoshop is unnecessary.

I felt that I could identify a bit more with this text since my previous studio project was based on femininity and the connotations it may hold. Although, I am not a feminist myself, there are similar beliefs that I have; I've grown up mainly with my mother and Nana shaping my views on things and they're both quite headstrong and very independent people. I know for sure that my Nana has several beliefs about how women can be perceived.

Thursday 27th November 2014 - Social Media: Access Denied

Benjamin, W (1936) Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction

I find it quite phenomenal at how media has dramatically changed in really, such a short period of time that the humans have existed. Media is considered as a popular culture, most people follow it in some way or another; but, not always is it associated with 'celebrities', as the news can broadcast media that is important for us to learn about the world. We basically broadcast anything, whether it be bad or good. Early media consisted of oral, stone and clay, papyrus, parchment and codex, but now there are so many ways that media can be produced such as magazines, television, radio, newspapers, books, music, video games, photography, cinema, internet and social media sites, however the list is pretty much endless. Communication is moving much faster and it feels as though we are being dominated by visuals. We are essentially representing and recording the everyday.

It was mentioned later on in the lecture about stereotypes and the particular stereotype of 'council house and violent' (chavs). This category is suggested to involve people who are thought of as 'scum', live off other people's tax and demonise the working class, as well as this, they are thought to have a lot of children to claim more benefits. Sometimes this is true, but I think that it is pretty sad that we have to label them with this title. Admittedly, I have used the word chav before, but I think that people should stop being so judgmental. Just because someone lives a different lifestyle to you, doesn't mean that they're violent and not a nice person, unless you actually know them to be. Katie Price and Kerry Katona have been labelled as famous 'chavs', just because of the way that they live. I have recently been watching Katie Price on the latest series of Celebrity Big Brother and have come to the conclusion that she isn't what everyone makes out to be. She comes across as truthful and outspoken, she doesn't talk behind someone's back and she always seems to be pretty calm about things. In the media her stories have been blown way out of proportion, to the extent that people think she is an argumentative, rude and a self-centered person. She pays for her children to go to private schools and pays her taxes, but has admitted to allowing the government to pay for her son (who has learning difficulties) transport to school. I see no harm her doing this, she's got every right and entitled to the government's money to help her situation, but because she is stereotyped as a 'chav' people get angry about it.

Thursday 20th November 2014 - Participatory Culture

Jenkins, H (2014) "Rethinking 'Rethinking Convergence/Culture'", Cultural Studies, Vol 28, No. 2, pp. 267 - 274

It is suggested that there are four phases to participatory culture - emergence (1985-1993), waking up to the web (1994-98), push button publishing (1999-2004) and ubiquitous connections (2005-2011). I find it weird that during my life time, most of this has taken place. I am so used to using the internet, my phone or a computer for catching up with friends, researching for my studies, creating work, etc, that I forget that all of this is relatively new and that it hasn't always been around. I sometimes wonder how my parents or people of a previous generation coped without this; but, then again, this type of technology wasn't even around and they didn't know it existed, so had to get by without it.

Most people of my age expect their parents or grandparents to not know a thing about this new generation of technology and usually this is right. I am quite lucky that my mother and I are on exactly the same wavelength and know just as much as one another; I'd say that my mum could even be more savvy with this than me, I guess! As well as this, my grandparents use Facebook, in particular my Nana and she probably catches up with her friends more than myself on it! I'm not sure if this is because my mum and Nana are younger than most people of my age's grandparents and that they are able to grasp the concept and are not stuck in their ways like many people who might be in their 70s/80s/90s.

I also found it interesting that people can collaborate with other people without even meeting/knowing one another using participatory culture. An example of this is 'Blind Side of a Secret' made in 2007, by Thomas Swiss, Yoshi Sodeoka, Nils Muhlenbruch and Motomichi Nakamura; they all worked together using the internet to create a professional piece of artwork which was also published using the world wide web.

In the current day, it is considered 'normal' to use the internet for education and it is accepted in schools and universities as a way of learning. Education industries highly recommend that people use this as a platform and that we strive off it. It is strange though, how most of us rely on it for our studies... an example being myself using this site to create a blog for my university course. In previous years, people were probably asked to write a diary, however, a blogging website makes is so much easier to quickly express your thoughts and immediately share it with your tutor, your friends/classmates and the rest of the world.

In the modern society, I guess that the internet has become a part of who we are. It's normal to use words like Facebook, Google, Twitter, etc; these are considered as words as well as company names. But, with these sites, there also comes a downfall; hacking is relatively common, as well as viruses and people's private lives being shared unnecessarily. What I am probably trying to say is that people have got way too clever and have found new ways of hurting people with an easy way of covering their trace.

Thursday 13th November 2014 - Making Histories

E. H. Carr (1983), What is History? Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin Books (originally published in 1961); chapter 1, page 10 -16

I found this lecture to be particularly interesting; I discovered an artist named Judy Chicago through this lecture and I think that she could have a good influence on me and my work. Chicago made a name for herself during the 1970s because of her 'iconic' feminist artwork and it is suggested that her piece 'The Dinner Party', was a huge milestone for twentieth century art. I am not a feminist myself, I like to think of myself as a free-thinker, but there are feminist beliefs that I have, however I may disagree with other feminist ideas. It's strange though that within my art I normally associate myself with feminist pieces or works that exploit female ideas in some way; an example is my favourite artist, Tracey Emin. Maybe, this is because these artists are interested in the same techniques as me... like Emin is compelled by colour, text, embroidery, patchwork, 'life-stories', female connotations, etc; these are normally linked to a female artist rather than someone who is male.

Another part of the lecture was about 'contesting histories'. There were two exhibitions in Germany back in the late 1930s, one named 'The Great German Art Exhibition' and the other 'The Degenerative Art Exhibition'; the German exhibition displayed artworks that were considered important at the time, their pieces being made with a 'good' aesthetic and idealised nudes. The show contained artists who were thought of as 'politically correct' during this period, baring in mind this was the time that Adolf Hitler was in power. The degenerative exhibition included more well known artists such as Paul Klee (another favourite of mine), Kandinsky, George Grosz and Otto Dix as well as other mainly Jewish artists. It had more of a modern approach to it with non-representational work. However, although this second exhibition became more famous than the other, it wasn't for the right reasons; the way that the artists were portrayed was appalling. The show told a story about shaming the people involved and it was deliberately disrespectful and insulting to them, especially with the way that pieces had been displayed - for example, askew or halfheartedly. Some even had their works destroyed without their consent. Hitler viewed this exhibition, I'm not sure if this is because it was organised by the Nazi Party, or maybe it was just to show that he believed that these people and their art should be demeaned. It is amazing how this became more famous than 'The Great German Art Exhibition' as this was considered to be the 'better' one of the two; although, thinking about it, I know that it is undoubtedly down to the controversy of the degenerative show.

Thursday 6th November 2014 - Making Cultures

Furedi, F. (2010) 'Celebrity Culture', Society, vol. 47, no. 6, pp. 493-497

Culture only exists because it is something that we have created; it's man-made, although it seems unintentional to automatically separate, this happens due to people's interests. There are many forms of culture within our society; however, it is mostly defined by our fashion, religion, language, interests, hobbies, etc. Society is thought to drive culture and help us to identify ourselves within the community, but there is a definite divide between high and low cultures. Low culture has a mass appeal and can be referred to as 'popular culture', whereas high culture feels more exclusive, special and limited. It has also been said by culture theorists that both high and low culture are subcultures.

It is mentioned in the abstract that people can become famous for doing absolutely nothing; there are many out there that are guilty of this. For example, people who enter the Big Brother house, or enter a 'reality TV series' are famous for doing completely nothing in their lives, apart from having an argument or 'tiff' with someone else. I admittedly watch Big Brother, but I don't understand why I enjoy it because I know that these people are only in it to play a game, win some money and make a name for themselves (after having an argument for no apparent reason). "Today's celebrities, who often lack accomplishment are often the product of cable or reality television and many disappear as fast as they are constructed." Recently, I have been watching Big Brother 7 (from 2006) and have understood that many of the people that were involved in this show have no name for themselves anymore, except for the odd one or two, like Pete Bennett and Nikki Grahame (who has recently become famous again on YouTube and Facebook for her unique personality). However, I also understand that some may enter shows like these because they want to change something in their lives. Gerry from Big Brother 2007, works in an art gallery (I'm not sure if he still does) and also has three artistic degrees; he suggests that Big Brother is a 'work of art' and that it is 'a living specimen installation' - I completely agree with this statement and understand that it could be thought of as 'human experiment', but knowing me, I don't think that I would ever enter the house due to there being so many cameras and the public eye being on you 24/7. Other people such as Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian are more examples of popular culture/low culture.

Another example of popular culture is TOWIE (The Only Way Is Essex). I don't watch this show, however know that these people are 'famous for being famous' - they don't do anything and they're actually pretty fake. It's meant to be a 'reality TV show', however the show is scripted, making it not as interesting as shows like Big Brother, where the things that happen are essentially real, though it may not be reality. These days, a celebrity is not deemed as being someone who has a talent, which is a shame, because normally people look up to celebrities and admire them and want to be them. Back in the 40s, 50s, 60s... etc, people were more real. They rose to fame because they had something valid to share with the public and nowadays, it's all changed.

Wednesday 5th November 2014 - Tutorial with Sophie (Ideas)

Stuck... with ideas for project. Crochet is a traditional craft form. It has a history.
They can be works of art, not design.
Could there be an underlying idea behind my thoughts and ideas?
Physical idea. Increases over time. Could it be a domestic scale?
Could be a time-based piece, that is continuously growing?
Need the freedom to experiment.
Elements of work are just as important as the technique.
Maybe use different materials? Fabric, rubber bands... etc. Collecting different materials.
Grayson Perry - Works are pretty from a distance. Whilst, close up the narrative is different. It has contradictions.
What do you want to voice? Autobiographically, provocative, political, propaganda, peculiar.
Allowed to change. Logical development. State that it has this. Maybe focus on one question, rather than too many... I am free to make your own rules. Nothing can be right or wrong.
Viewpoint/angle - I have sort of created an impossible task for myself trying to create five pages of questions out of crochet. Maybe, consider unfinished pieces to present and create.
Ridiculously impossible task... show this within the work. This concept has a nice idea, that it's hard to do.
Divert and diversify, start a new idea and edit it.
Making my thoughts and ideas easier would help me and my work to keep flowing.
Developing and trying new things.
Drastically change.
Exploring areas of practice.
Learn from my mistakes. Take risks and try things out. Don't get too stuck and just move on.

ARTISTS:
Tracey Emin
Toshiko Horiuchi-MacAdam

Thursday 30th October 2014 - Creativity and Authorship

Hartley, J. (2005), Creative Industries, Oxford: Blackwell, pp.5-6 - section subtitled 'What are the creative industries?'

Creativity can be historical and expressive. And, it has meant different things during different decades or centuries as opinions have changed. I believe that people should be aware of their creativity and condone it more; for example, people who enter talent shows want to pursue their goal and use their talent. Plus, I discovered that people who are creative are more likely to get a job... they're more employable because not as many have that particular 'talent' - people want those skills that others might not have. So, creativity is recognised as the driver of economic growth.

I also found out that more people than I thought can be creative. People such as scientists, marketers, sports people, etc... I guess they are creative in different ways because you wouldn't normally associate a sports person with creativity. They're probably creative in the way that they're strategic in their thinking. But, when you normally think of creativity, you tend to come up with drawing, painting, crafts, photography, that kind of thing.

Eighteenth century works were considered a separate activity and it was different from everyday life. Not as many works back then would have been understood as being 'creative'. Whilst the Romanticism period focused on originality and the artist being a 'genius'. They were thought to have more imagination than others might have.

However, moving on from Romanticism period, the creative industries combines the creative arts with an interest in the commerce and the marketplace. It also has a political interest in creativity as enterprise. It can be referred to as the cultural industries and it is concerned by a variety of economic activities; a group of German's from the Frankfurt School are part of this period (during 30s and 40s) and it was thought to be quite dangerous as they encouraged others to step out of place and basically be an individual. They critiqued the inequalities of life.

Friday 24th October 2014 - Ideas and thoughts...

I just discovered a really unique and wild crochet artist called Aldo Lanzini... I think that he mainly creates freeform masks; it could be interesting this concept if I used this kind of idea, or if I played with it to make it my own? Making my own style of this sort of thing? I don't want to completely copy, although I really like what he's done. Unusual for a man to be interested in this craft/art form. Respectable though. Examples of Lanzini's work:

More artists - Jo Hamilton creates really clever crochet portraits. Quite realistic.

Sarah Applebaum, I've looked at previously, creates more knitting and crochet installations from what I can remember.

Of Mars lady on Etsy is inspirational - freeform crochet.

Niki Hitz Edson... medusa. Three-dimensional crochet artwork.

Niki De Saint Phalle, crazy colourful artworks. Not crochet related. But, inspiration to work from.

Thursday 23rd October 2014 - Cultural Hierarchies

Information about the module:

First lecture at Ashton Court - 8 weeks of lectures until Christmas. 7 program specific seminars. One feedback group crit.

Assessed work:
- Blog (should be maintained throughout module). Be critical. Should be an online note/sketchbook. Learning log. Record evolving ideas and thoughts.
- Poster (A4 hardcopy) Deadline 2pm Monday 9th February 2015. Functions as essay proposal. Collating ideas in one space. Content. Detail. Exhibition is on Tuesday 10th to Friday 14th February.
- Essay (1,200 words) plus a bibliography that is not included in the word count. Online submission. Deadline 2pm Thursday 26th March. Reference to the Harvard System. 'Present a Detailed Analysis of a Cultural Text' - essay title.

Ribin, P. H. (2000). 'Hierarchy', Human Nature, 11 (3), pp. 259-279

I enjoyed today's lecture; it was quite long, but very insightful. I think that I came away with a bit more understanding and knowledge and definitely a lot of notes...!

Cultural Hierarchies is to do with people being exposed to a specific social class. It's to do with who produces it and it's very particular. "A cultural hierarchy is  an institutional framework which is based on clearly defined levels and structures. An institution can be described as 'hierarchical' when elements within the structure are ranked according to levels of importance."

The lecture discussed different websites, such as Magnum (which I have come across before during A-level), Flicker, The Tate... etc. All of these websites have a different way of presenting the idea across to a viewer, however, still are showing the same type of stuff whether it be contemporary or not. Some websites allow members to upload their own artwork/thoughts, whereas others are moderated and only certain posts can appear on the website. Others can be more professional, like the Tate where top artists are shown.

Below is a triangle of the 'Hierarchy Structure'. It can represent self-actualisation, esteem, love and belonging and safety/living. The whole point is so that the diagram is visual. The higher on the pyramid the more importance, and the opposite for lower.

Overview of Reading Group Session 4 (16th October) - Judgement and Purpose by Joel Fisher

This text is about anaprokopology - meaning an area where success is not achieved. Basically meaning failure. The writer asks why we are always surrounded by the potential of failure? He also asks if failure is imaginary or real... "There are many ways to fail, it seems, but success is singular." I feel that I can relate myself to this particular quote, I always get that feeling of failure when creating something, or half way through a project, I lose motivation and I don't know why this happens; maybe I need to find something to make myself feel good about what I am doing? I don't think that I have always felt like this, it might have stemmed from when I lost a huge amount of my artwork in a large fire - I sort of felt that I had failed when it was all gone and I had to completely start from scratch again with everything. It seems to be for me that everything gets in the way to make that 'singular piece of success' happen. It's like there's one way to be born, but so many ways to die (which is the same concept). "It provided a frightening inventory of all the ways a birth could go wrong. There were dozens of chances for disaster in contrast to the essentially unmentioned possibility of a living, healthy baby." - page 117.

This image often makes me feel slightly upset; I took many images on the day of the fire and I tried to create it into an artwork and document the whole thing, however I guess this photograph means the most to me. The window that is open is the exact place I left probably over a hundred hours of work (I tried to add up everything I lost after the fire, so that I could remember and also never forget what I originally had). Art is something you can never create exactly the same again. I try to see this as a positive, however still find it difficult to comprehend what happened, even though it's now two years on. There is a story that came out of it though, which makes me feel as though I have a huge connection with my favourite artist, Tracey Emin.

'Dear Tracey, Eight Years On' - 2013 by Laura Collins (myself!)
Tracey Emin's tent 'Everyone I Ever Slept With', was destroyed in a warehouse fire eight years ago. Emin was my inspiration for creating a ten-foot high knitted tent. In a dramatic twist of irony my performing arts block was struck by lightning and my tent, after Emin, was destroyed in the fire. Ironic really. Sadly though, I don't have many pictures of my tent in it's completed format.

"Often one anticipates failure as the logical end of the path one is following and, when such a situation is sensed or recognised, the path can be abandoned. Perhaps that is why unfinished work used to be seen as a form of failure." - page 117. The writer is suggesting that if someone feels that something is not going the way that they anticipated, the motivation to finish whatever it is suddenly becomes lost and this creates the feeling of failure - however, he later on goes on to say that "We no longer need to face the unfinished with a negative prejudice or a suspended judgement. We have begun to look at a work as somehow complete at every point in its development." During a tutorial I had with some of my classmates and my tutor, it was suggested that I think of my work as an artwork whilst it seems like it is in an unfinished state. I do a lot of crochet and knitting work, so this is really quite time consuming and I felt frustrated that I couldn't do as much as I wanted to because of the time frame. I just didn't really feel that convinced that it would ever go anywhere and that's probably why I felt that I had lost my motivation. My classmates liked the idea of presenting lots of unfinished artworks, so I'm going to try and get it into my head that my work can be ever evolving and can continuously be added to and never be finished. This, I believe will help me to get the sense of failure out of my head and hopefully allow me to be feel motivated more often.

"With some artists, and in some works by all artists, such clarity never appears. Instead, we feel a chronic, nagging suspicion about these works. We are never certain whether they are the best or worst things we've ever seen, and we suspend judgement. Most often artists hold back such works for future consideration." The writer also tells us about Picasso and how he kept a piece of his artwork rolled up under his bed for many years. Sometimes we need someone else to prompt us and actually tell us that what we've done is actually pretty good and worthy. This is probably what happened to Picasso; he didn't know whether to think it was a failure or not.

Overview of Reading Group Session 3 (9th October) - Chapter Six: Contracdictions in Contemporary Art by Julian Stallabrass

The first part of this reading discusses Nicholas Bourriad's idea of 'relational aesthetics', which is often referred to as 'socially interactive art'. This means that he wants an audience to engage with it and participate. A catalyst.

How does socially interactive art differ from other kinds of art, for example: the readymade, painting, installation, performance art? "Art that encourages social interaction amoung its viewers reacts directly against a general trend increasing social fragmentation, from ever greater specialisation at work to the tendency for people  to lock themselves away in their homes in the company of media rather than other people." - This type of art connects with the audience more. Involving other people. Making art to create emotion.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of working in a socially interactive way? Performance, video is more engaging. Is an office counted as being interactive with others? Only ever emailing and never meeting face to face. Interacts with most audiences - "set up a space for discussion and action that would have a chance of breaking into the mass media." "In a sense, the use of audience interaction reintroduces organic and irrefutable presence to an art that threatens to become an evacuated play of readymade signs and objects." Quote number two, is on page 123

What is the role of the artist and audience in socially interactive art? How do these notes differ in other kinds of art? The artist's role is to engage the viewer and state a point - by doing this it becomes 'interactive socially' as it then can become a talking point. Different kinds of art can do this in many ways. "...the audience warmed by a democratic ideal... thoughts and actions are valuable..." page 123.

Setting up relationships between people. Artist says it's fragmented. Bringing people together. People don't talk to others as much. Not talking to people in a real life experience. Point of making art of this sort, making a point.

All we do is talk to one another. Social media.

Overview of Reading Group Session 2 (2nd October) - Notes on the Gallery Space by Brian O'Doherty

"No wonder art gets bollixed up in this process; it's history, perceived through time, is confounded by the picture in front of your eyes, a witness ready to change testimony at the slightest perceptual provocation." - Art is part of history. It's how we can tell things. Especially before photography and television. Art tells a story. Is art too modernised now? Have we lost the meaning of true art, or has it moved into a new phase in its life, just like humans?

The writer describes the gallery space as being an 'evenly lighted cell' and he also goes on to say "we have now reached a point where we see not the art but the space first". A gallery space is considered to be white, light and airy. Free to move about, spacious. Like our universe. However, space has two meanings; space as feeling light, airy and roomy or, space meaning outer-space (talking about both of these in this text).

O'Doherty suggests that the sanctity of the church or a courtroom's space cannot be changed. It has a formality and they are all the same. Would it be wrong to change it?

In a gallery space, a piece of artwork becomes a 'sacred object' a 'holy object'. Put in the light airy space it has a 'formal' appearance, as if it were dressed up ready to go to a ball or something.

He later on begins to talk about 18th and 19th century artworks... they have a particular feeling about them. They have a stern feel about them. A formality. Everything is uniform. I'm not sure if I actually read this somewhere in the text, or if I made it up, but I was wondering if the higher your portrait/art was hung in these centuries, the more status one had? And, if it was lower it meant the opposite? I was thinking that this could relate to ceiling art?

After reading three quarters of the text, I started to begin to feel a bit confused. There were too many unnecessary long words incorporated, which became extremely distracting and made it really difficult for my mind to process. However, during the reading session I attended at university, I was able to answer a few questions, which was useful. Below are some of my notes:

Overview of Reading Group Session 1 (25th September) - Teaching Critical Thinking by Bell Hooks

This was my first text that I read for the Critical Perspectives part of my course. I enjoyed it, however found the text a little bit difficult to understand, so it helped to underline some of the words or quotes so that they stood out from the page more whilst I was processing what I was reading.

"Education was the surest route to freedom." - I picked this quote because it is still widely believed that children with a good education will go on to do better things. Not always the case, but mostly. However, black children struggled then and still do now, to get a good education - white people seem to be the priority, which seems unfair.

"Imagine what it is like to be taught by a teacher who does not believe you are fully human. Imagine what it is like to be taught by teachers who do believe that they are racially superior..." - Evidence that 'professionals' can still treat others unprofessionally. Unfair and inhumane. You'd feel scared, frightened and who should ever feel like this, especially by someone you're meant to trust?

The children were made aware that they were not like everyone else - the writer says that it made her feel a bit schizophrenic. She wanted to enjoy her learning experience, however feared what most teachers would do or say to her.

Bell Hooks wanted to write a book about essays; she wanted to explore the issues of race, gender and class - the more it is talked about, more people become aware. And, the more that people are aware, the more people want to help.

"I often joke that this picture could be called 'a portrait of the intellectual as a young girl' - my version of The Thinker. The girl in the snapshot  is looking intensely at the object in her hands; her brow a study in intense concentration. Staring at this picture, I can see her thinking. I can see her mind at work" - This is suggesting critical thinking. Thinking in depth, even as a small child. "Children are organically predisposed to be critical thinkers."  - They're inquisitive and curious. Always asking why? "Demanding to know the who, what, where, and why of life. Searching for answers, they learn almost instinctively how to think." 

Critical thinking is what matters, Hooks says, It involves discovering the 'who, what, where, and how of things' she describes it as "finding the answers to those eternal questions of the inquisitive child". It's like you're analysing and utilising knowledge and then exposing to yourself what actually matters the most about the outcome and the thought process.

Hooks is interested in the 'power of knowledge'.

Monday 13th October 2014 - Criticality

I found this short lecture to be quite useful as it was my first proper talk that I had been to since joining UWE as a Fine Art student. The lecture helped me to identify how to be critical when writing bodies of work, such as an essay, which I know that I will have to do later on in the course. It was suggested that the students are analytical with their writing and that they are able to discuss works and ideas.

"Analysis is a good way to clarify thematic values." and "A successful piece of art often analyses or critiques something, like art itself." - these particular quotes I found to be the most relevant and useful during the talk. I've highlighted them in bold so that I can remember them.

Tuesday 30th September 2014 - Notes

An artist represents the time they're living in.

Brancusi, Tino Seghal, Jeff Koons, Pipilotti Rist, Helen Martin (look her up), Ed Adkins, Hito Steyen, Hannah Darboven

"Every artist's problem is to invent himself." Roger Motherwell

Andrea Zittel.

'Con-artist' - don't understand, it's all just a trick.

Having a ritual... 'The victory over the sun' artwork.

Table Coffee - Painting is the top and added legs - Is it a joke? Interesting, thought provoking.

Point of being able to alienate yourself from day to day.

André Cadere - Series of 'bars of round wood' - about 1,000 of them. Coloured wood. A system. Always included an error within that color system. Always turned up with his stick (his own artwork). People got pissed off. Picture of his and his stick at an Andy Warhol exhibition/private view. Always displaying his artwork.

Art and non-art have always been connected.

Donald Judd - body buried under a blanket.

Hunt out empty space.

Theaster Gates - video. 12 ballads for Huguenot House. Ambitious project involving renovation of an abandoned house in Kassel, Germany for the exhibition dOCUMENTA. Materials deserve a new life. Re-activate them. Made from remains of Chicago building. Beauty of the decay of the house. 'Rebuild foundation'. Living in the building has brought love into the space. Own concerns.