Task 1 Inter textual artifact

• Locate an inter textual artifact.

The artifact that I have chosen will be the film Snow White, I have chosen this as I think there are many hidden meanings which have been though of very carefully and Disney have made the message hidden in the children's film, so really they are learning as well. 

• Identify the text it represents and how they function to give the work added meaning.

I think there is a clear reference to good and evil. This is shown by a good, nice and innocent Snow White who is helping clean and dust a house for the dwarfs, when a nasty, ugly witch comes along- the music changes to some eerie sound track to make her seem like a scary character. I think this could stem back to the angel and the devil which then relates back to the stories held in the bible.

The Seven Dwarfs represent different personalities and the moods that people can be in.
On a website I have looked at they say that there is comparisons the names of the dwarfs with your own personality changes when you have a drug addiction i think this is very clever.






Sleepy: Change in sleep patter
Happy: Mood Swings
Grumpy: Mood swings
Sneezy: Allergies
Bashful: Personality Alteration
Dopey: Self Explanatory
Doc: What you'll need at the end of it

Snow White eating the poisoned apple, I think this is a direct connection to Adam and Eve in the bible as they where warned not to eat the apple and yet they still did. Snow White ate the apple even though the circumstances where all wrong. 

• Consider how postmodern practitioners work can ever be original.

Personally I don't think that work can ever be original again, only due to the fact that we are influenced by every art movement that has happened, other artists and the entire world surrounding us. We also have a huge history that has been recorded and old pieces of art that still survived. Due to a compilation of all the elements I don't think that work could go back to originality without being influenced even in the slightest. 

Disney Subliminal Messages

Task 2 Fetishises

• Identify a fetishised object, what needs does it fulfill? 

I have chosen the IPhone produced by Apple Inc. The needs are simple- to contact others in emergencies, keep in touch and in contact with family and friends. You can also send a text message which people don't need to pick up immediately and you can send images, videos for others to share your experience ect. But mainly to check someone is safe, so that you can get hold of others and they can get in contact with you. So I think its about connecting people. 

• What is its exchange value and how is this calculated? 

Its exchange value for the IPhone is this new 'crowd' that has been produced by society, everybody wants to own one and be in this group of people that enjoy using the phone. Its also all about social status, the fact that there so expensive and only certain people can actually afford this phone due to its expense. So your reputation in theory. What they do, you can spend time looking at things with others on there so almost like socialising with a phone. I think the IPhone is calculated by consumer demand as people want them so therefor they become popular and sell more. 

• What is its symbolic value? 

Its symbolic value represents the consumer demand for the phone and who is defined as being able to own this phone and I think it really separates the 'classes'.

• Whats its real value? 

Its real value is probably peanuts as the expression is. In all fact it just a piece of plastic. Apple would only have to make it with their resources and materials, they would pay workers in other countries in poor environments pittance to produce it. So in actual fact it probably cost less than £50 to produce and manufacture.

• How its symbolic value constructed and who benefits?

The people that benefit from owning an IPhone are the consumers who enjoy using it. Apple benefit as they are making a considerable amount of money through the route of selling the phone. Also the people who create and think of the apps make money as some you need to pay for. 

Task 3 Research Project- Initial Ideas and interests

• Which areas of Creative Practices particularly interest me (these may include areas outside of your immediate subject specialism)?

I quite enjoy looking at the questions behind whats 'correct' in photography such as photographer Nan Golding as there are very different view points.

I also think I might like to look at Orlan surgery as I think this interest me due to how strange and bazaar the circumstances of her surgeries. 

The main aspects of fashion I will consider is the fur trade as I am interested in the different points of views and am interested in the protest and controversies.

• Are there any questions that I have identified in my response to the readings and lectures that have formed part of the module to date? What about any questions that I have posted on my blog?

There is one artist that used and bought bodies and put them in certain position and used curtain body parts, I would really like to find the name of this art as I find that sort of art mind boggling. I would also like to find out why he would do something like that. 

• Which aspects of the readings and lectures from the module have you agreed with?

I agree strongly with fur trade controversies in the fashion industry as I feel that it is a complete outrage! I am also two minded about the child photography as I'm not sure if I can honestly say that I agree or disagree to this. I also agree with the designer who put plus size models down the cat walk as I feel every women should feel beautiful! And I really feel that it was a good and well thought decision to make. I agree with Orlan's twist on art, making her the art I agree with this as it's very different to what we already know.

I always find it easier to disagree with something than think to what I agree with only due to the matter that things I find disturbing and things I don't like stick in my mind more.

• Which aspects of the reading or the lectures from the module have you found to be particularly interesting?

I think the things I have found most interesting is definitely Orlans' surgery as I think it is just mad. I also found the reading about the photographer who couldn't help a women so he just photographed her slowly dying, I found this interesting as there was total uproar however he was trying to make the public move faster and he was simply watching not help and the controversies behind this is very interesting. Also things such as the dog dying as the dog was the piece of art in the gallery, why no one help him is completely beyond me. I find things interesting if they upset as if i feel strongly I also want to do my own personal research as bad things seem to really trigger in my mind.

• Which aspects of the reading or the lectures and discussions from the module to date have you disagreed with?

I can honestly say there is a lot of things that come to mind when asked what I disagree with. I really strongly disagree with the dog and no-one bothering to move the bowl or give him water, I don't think that I could have walked past and not done anything and left him there to die, I think this is disgraceful! It is not art, its cruelty! 

In the fashion industry I disagree with fur, and massive animals such as tiger are killed for their fur, I think that is absolutely outrageous! Closely followed by child labour and poor working conditions.

The exhibition being held with the gold fish in blenders, this is also a disgrace and its just simple cruelty, people are cruel for even considering to press the button! Why would anyone want to kill an animal? This is not art! And is a disgrace to the art world.

Micheal Craig's Oak tree is pathetic. Its simple a glass of water on a glass shelf, that's just crap closely followed by the lights being switched on and off and called 'art' I really don't think that is art. 

• Are there any specific issues that you feel strongly about? (Art, Design & Media related or not?)

Mainly animal cruelty such as fox hunting and neglected pets, it's simply unfair on the animals that can't speak for themselves.

Also abused children, this is unfair, the child is bought into the world, it should be to a loving family. Such as the Baby P case, people missed his serious injuries and no one noticed. And finally he died, its disgrace how sick people actually are and what nasty things they are doing to people. How can his mother stand there any do nothing and watch all that disgusting abuse go on to someone so innocent and young.

• What exhibitions/events/screenings have you been to see since the beginning of the program? Are there any specific aspects of these that have particularly interests you?

Something in the Arnolfini really stood out to me, I think it was called playing with software, I was able to move the objects and really feel interactive, I enjoyed myself greatly. The objects that I was able to move made different noises depending on where you moved it. This was good for all ages.

• What do you know about contemporary employment practices in your chosen area of specialism?

I think it means about how the graphic design industry is getting on in conjunction to the recession we have been hit by. I think that it is definitely picking up as I have a few contacts in the industry that say the work load is getting better by the day and is busy. I have no doubt in my mind that I wouldn't be able to find a job at the end of this course due to my determination and ambition. 
I think I am what employers are looking for as I am very determined and want to learn everything I can. I am also happy to start right at the bottom and will happily do the jobs that others don't want to, which I think employers will respect. I am good at time keeping and am never late. I have learnt skills which will set me up for the real graphic industry.

• Are you specifically interested in any aspect of commercial practices?

I am interested in every part of graphic design. I think I would like to work in animation as I think this would be a great job to have with a fun side attached to it. However I would like to design logos, letter headers and all the small things that we seem to forget about. Even things simple such as packaging and how things are cleverly put together interests me.

• What do you intend to do at the end of the Foundation Degree? Do you know how you are going to go about this? What do you need to know to pursue your ambitions?

After finishing the course I will go into an apprenticeship and work my way up through the company. I will look up companies in and around Bristol to start with, get there phone numbers and call to see if I can get an appointment, I will post on email my CV, I would also consider walking into each company building to show eagerness and to show I really want the job, I am prepared to do this to succeed.

Wednesday 15th December Postmodern space and Time: Retro & Vintage or Unoriginal & Old?

Postmodernism:
Central focus, key concept
An extension of modernism


Modernism:
It wasn't a "period" it was a movement that describes a wide range of texts that influence how we now think and experience the world. It co-existed with other styles. Big unidentified explanations- is possible to explain and control 


Enlightenment thought- system of how we understand and impact the world. Big belief system. Progression "truth".
The body is treated like a machine- if something breaks you take it out fix it and then your fine again.
Change, Constructed and Reconstructed. This is basically modernism.
Educating us makes us "improve"


World War 1 had a huge impact on modernism art.
Nationalism was seen to be a source of conflict- how and where you place yourself, our beliefs (this divided us)
Abstract, Apolitical, 'Avant Garde'
Design was driven by reason- everything was logical. 
Modernism: Efficiency, not frivolous approach. No decoration or surface patter, very matter of fact I would say. 
Clothing after the War, well it was illegal and unpatriotic to waste materials so things such as extra pockets and trimmings weren't allowed.
Modernism struggled to survive in World War 1- Seen as 'inhumane' and 'restrictive.' Failure of modernism which came from people being housed in 'modern' living accommodation and to build up into the sky however hundreds of people living in a small area never owning the whole building only owning a small area.. they also caused trouble with gangs of young teens clustering. 


Post Modernism:
The term Postmodernism originally used to describe an architectural style. Concentrated on decoration and playfulness very different to Modernism. 
Post Modernism would use frivolous, decorating 'nice' things just to put on the wall. Designing for the sake of designing if you would like.
"Style over Content"
Frequent references the past, other disciplines popular culture.


History can go backwards just as well as it can move forwards.


Modernism is a very logical process


Key Post Modernism Theorists:
Baudrillard
Derrida
Foucault-Talked a lot about power
Heidegger- spoke about just being in the World
Lyotard-No definite values


Prison Tower- It was a stance of power. A power relationship


Post Modernism
Identity is not fixed- its not defined from where you started out in life. It's sometimes our life style choices. Life has became an interplay of local and global factors.


Geographic and Historic places put together is how we define ourselves.


Identity as 'text' to be 'written'. Identity is not fixed is its being  challenged by relational references.


Taste:
Taste is not "neutral" or "natural"
"Denaturalising" material culture.
Brilliant design and taste has been constructed through history- our position in the world. We think we known what we like we have been shown and grown up with 'Bad' and 'Good' examples to us.
Who defines taste and values?
The taste of the "masses" was of concern to social engineers and philanthropists. Different perspectives.


Taste and fashion are linked changes in what is considered fashionable determines what is considered good and bad taste.


Fashionable styles used to be determined by the ruling classes and then it would gradually 'trickle-down' to the middle class.


Thorstein Veblen-
'Conspicuous consumption"
'Conspicuous leisure' This didn't really exist as if you where poor you worked- no time for leisure.


Status symbols- Style can trickle up for example Avril Lavigne- Commercialising 'street style' and the punk look


Run DMC- Relationship between music and marketing. Protest movement- power of the individual.


Judith Butler:
Identities are fluid they are 'performed' or 'performative.' Consumer culture gives us the props to perform a wider range of identities


Initially modernism was concerned with evidencing "progression"
Any system could be a modernist construction


The War was crucial for shifting- going from fixed identities, then moving and prompting change also in identity levels of uncertainty.


World War 2 people were beginning to travel abroad. Taking responsibility for the fellow man-although the state was looking after people for example now the NHS


THE BODY:
the human body
Representation
All about making you the consumer look 'better' and more 'ideal'
Too fat to get married, brides are seen to be gorgeous and slim- cultural convention.
Cultural hysteria
All women in the imagery- slimming loosing weight will make you look better
All about look and image nothing is ever said about actual health. 
Body modification- for body imagery.
gone from restricting body firming garments to body mutilation such as surgery.
Making the body look more conventional.
Re perfect as if your going back to it...??
They use scientific terms


Tattooing: This references back to tribal
They are fixed and permanent
Perhaps age.. right of passage
Different reference points in their lives
Script, telling a story


Body modification
Used for all symbolic reasons
Bound feet in China purely done so that the women can have nice small feet however they are basically deformed and at first could walk on there feet.
"If the shoe won't fit, fix the foot?"
Women removing parts of the foot to ensure she could fit into designer shoes.. MAD !!


Creating yourself on screen- For example representation of ones self.
Women would make themselves look slightly better- slimmer waist better shaped hips, bigger chest ect
Men- slimmer, more muscular...
Portraying how they want to looking appose to showing exactly how they look on screen. Often peoples ideas of the perfect them. 
Second life.
Online gaming such as Avatar you can also buy fashion which perhaps you couldn't just go and buy the clothing normally. There is also a H&M store online. Again this separates us even on virtue games. People are really buying things these gaming sites and communicating with other individuals, but the companies are making a lot of money from it. 




ADVERTISING:
Industrial Revolution- Late 1700's "Modern" world. Society experienced a "paradigm shift" flat world was actually circle. Its basically a sudden change to how we think. Different ways of thinking also.
Also the year of the birth of the "designer" as they weren't separated into professions before this. 
Differentiate products- need for advertising.
Reason- why you need something 'Atmospheric"
appeals to a consumers emotions and their intelligence


Then.. not selling a product but selling a lifestyle such as cleaning products. This then goes back to identity.


There is no limit to advertisement.


Capitalism:
Alienation of the worker
Time=Money


Theodor Adorno:
Other things they signify FETISHISED this means for example a pair of trainers:
Having the best or newest pairs shows you have money NOT the true meaning for trainers i.e confort, good to run it ect 

Television Advert- Cadbury

The costume:
They are both quite young children chose to do this.
They are both in what appears to be a school uniform.
The Girl: Has her hair in bunches and a little purple click to match her dress she is dresses very typically with buttons on the front of the dress done up. Although her hair is in bunches it is very slick back and very neatly done. Glasses on which could look slightly geeky. Very high neckline on her jumper. Very little flesh showing.
The Boy: He looks like he is in a school uniform. He looks very smart, having a tie, shirt, jumper and trousers. Also with very little flesh showing. The way he is dressed could insinuate that he is trying to look older than he is perhaps? However he has this cool little digital watch that he looks at which makes you think he's like any other small boy with gadgets. Simple hair style not spiked or anything that would suggest he's a 'cool' kid.

I think their appearance is slightly odd even before the advert resumes.

They are also both sat bolt up right perhaps showing good posture? 

The boy is taller than the girl. This is showing that the boy is more significant?
They have chose a very simple location, with just two children perhaps brother and younger sister, sat waiting for what looks their school picture, this is suggested by the background and at the start of the advert and the man setting the scene up. This is a very average thing for children in there uniform when they are attending school.

The props have been selected very carefully but what children would really play with: such as a small watch of the boys which is the only sound which they are in rhythm with and a balloon which the girl uses which is also a noise that they move there eyebrows to. These are things that make sometimes quite annoying noises which parents don't tolerate. However we have all made that noise with a balloon. 

There are not many camera angles use: I think they tried to film it as if you where stood in front of them. So you are almost the same height as them and there is not sense of authority or anything. There is a point where they have taken a birds eye view at the children are looking up at the camera, this is a good angle as it is showing the basic surroundings and making us really focus on the children. There are also a few close ups. 

The lighting and colour of film is very basic I think they have done this as they are pining all the attention on what the children are doing and don't want to distract our brains.
No one has ever relieved how this advert was actually made however I think that this was done with special effects on the eye brows as I don't think they would be able to have so much movement and such a rapid speed.

The adverts is actually advertising Dairy Milk Chocolate but the children don't really signify that (Well perhaps the girl purple dress) but I think we remember there adverts as they are very clever and as this one is.. Funny. There for, we remember it, this is a very clever tactic.
There adverts made you laugh and perhaps sharing there chocolate does? Perhaps this is the underlined message.

Cadbury Eyebrows (official version)

Thursday 2nd December

My 60 second pitch; Once being timed I actually ran slightly under rounding it to 50 seconds. I was very nervous which is why I tried to rattle through it quickly. After I had presented to the class, I felt quite relieved that it was over; however I would like to say it was an enjoyable experience. I felt I could have fitted more into the pitch but I didn't want too much information as it could have been overwhelming. I also felt I had a good slide show that wasn't too busy with too much happening.
Overall I enjoyed this task.


Word count 100

Wednesday 1st December

Images as a language
Semiotics: The 'Science of sign systems'
The way we understand images
Semiotics well known, as they have been 'taught' widely even if your not in the art industry


Structuralism
System of though
Analyse it- you can understand it
You can find information out for example: when they where made, who by ect
Plays, Images, Literature (examples of..)
Anything can be broke down so you can read it
Visual, structural signing- visual spelling things outs


Sent to space
10"x15" Copper plate with special ink so this plaque could degrade, communicating from our world to another world
We make massive assumptions. First on the plaque was two hand looked like they where praying however someone felt that this didn't really represent the human so they changed it.
Socially and contextually communicating doesn't mean that somewhere else people will be able to understand it, it hard to understand if you have no idea of the meaning
The meaning of something occurs from the society


We can understand people for example with facial expressions as we can understand if someone is frowning at us. So we can read facial expressions and body language. We take this sort of language for granted. How we construct meaning with sounds. From noises we can construct a sense even if for example you miss out a piece in the 'puzzle' a sound works with our brain and figures out the missing piece. 


The Tate Modern:
Had 'street art', large paintings around it and on the outside of the building. Strong street art was political such as the ones in Belfast they shows a symbolic history of politics


Comparing the Apple logo and the IBM logo- both computer companies

Old Apple: 
Colour for the first coloured mac
Colours to show it can be used universally


New Apple: 
Futuristic
Good computer designing
Stylish
Can tell its produced on a computer
Appealing to the eye
Simple recognisable shape
Temptation-taking a bite from the apple, inspiration from Adam & Eve, biblical story
"Apple of Knowledge"
Sophisticated
Pictorial logo- symbolic
The logo is moving with the times
Based at the art world: Flashy ect so they must reflect this with a new logo to go with there brand name


IBM logo: (International Business Machine)
Now looks dated
Looks like graphic columns
It looks industrial not a design computer (more practical)
Looks like lines of text
Linear
Haven't changed the logo perhaps to show that their still running as the first computer company
Its wrote how it would looked typed
The company hasn't changed
Not actually readable away from the Weston world unlike the apple logo
Looks like a bad print out
The logo represents what it does- normal office based typing and use not for designers or the 'arts world'


The logos are about functions

Language & Communication
Absolut Vodka adverts:
The Absolut vodka bottle is always in a central image bottle 
Very clever images
Commissioned artists
We don't see things without seeing it in connection to something else












Spoken text:
Agreed through history
Sign=From which is an image or a text + Concept
Meaningless without both parts 


The word CAT
CAT= 'cat' the letters + the image of a cat
The word doesn't actually mean CAT its just three letters together
Similar understanding of the cat even though they differ between 'breeds' of cats
You would argue if cat was said with a picture of a dog was shown


Sign:
Iconic signs- Look like the things that they signify
eg portraits, photos ect


Indexical signs- refer to our knowledge eg footprints in sand, clearly someone has walked there.. Basically stating the obvious


Symbolic signs- have meaning only due to convention- eg words, flags
Flags nationalism placed on a flag-agreed system convention does that


Arbitrariness: The spoken language
A phonetic alphabet records sound values
-'a' with a sound, different systems use a different language that changes and evolves
Meaning can change and loose meaning when being translated through languages


Bob and Roberta Smith:
Seen as a trickster
Using lettering and letter forms.
Odd noises with a symbol
Developed and playing with noises and images however they don't make much sense unless you know the 'language'
Website : LEARN TO SPEAK BOB


Fashion designer
Fashion is not just clothing
Shared meanings
A system of signs, symbols and iconography that non-verbally communicates meaning about individuals and groups


Impossible to see a language that isn't shared- that makes it nonfunctional


It exemplifies peoples identifies particular clothes, hair cuts, attitudes, this gives a sense of belonging


Graphics Design
A sign is:
"Something which stands to somebody for somethings in some capacity" Charles Sanders Piece 1977


First & foremost human communication. Stuff that people understand and that sends the right image


STRUCTURALISM:


Syntactic relation 
A relation that links signs (or even text) into a more complex 'text'


Hussein Chalayan.
Table Dress. Winter 2000. Art world where amazed, however the public weren't very pleased- they were outraged. Is it a fashion garment? or a internal designer? Crossing boundaries and meanings


Fashion evolves but there still a clear structure of the body but you can see that its still broken up. For example shoes, head, neck, top ect.
Language and rules. Working in a system but playing wit the parts and changing it differently to match the current time


PINK: STUPID GIRL video
Right and wrong: shown by angel and demand, this is biblical and religious
Fashion- Bodies, clothing conveyed as stupidity is much flesh is shown
Culture- Buying a dog. Materialistic. Driving not paying attention, surrounded by coffee and lip gloss and her phone covered in diamonds
Saying big breasted says you can be stupid
Body modification- not in a good way
How celebs affect our younger generation
Appearance-how groups are seen and fit in by clothing ect
Gender stereotyping
Personal acceptance: Not trying to be someone your not
Everything is constructed thinking of what was used


Clothing: Clear comparison with Paris Hilton- spoilt, rich, bimbo. Real and artificial. Dog in a cage all wrong
Special affects: Devil and angel sat with the girl and her barbie, pig tails and rugby shirt on. Innocence. 
Makeup: Bubble gum pink, barbie bimbo pink. Gender stereotyping.  Grotesque trying too look younger than they are but dressing younger
Bodies: Stereotyping men looking at the breasts, clearly they aren't that bug
Extras: Clear reference to bulimia which is reference to models. 
Location: (Gym & Salon) Places where you make yourself look better and have a better appearance
Slogans involved in the video
Props: Coffee spilling, air head, not paying attention
Camera Angles: Looking up at the person shows authority, this is a sub text that we understand. Impact and how they want to be represented, How they position themselves.
Lighting colour/film:Black and white shows olden days also recognised by the hair, clothes, glasses, all girls class. Pink teddies, dollies to be shown as stupid compared to the other pile of items.


POSTSTRUCTURALISM:
suggests we need to convey in other forms on knowledge


Mayra Hyndley- made from children's hands. Ironic. Must know the background to the story otherwise its not recognisable. Looks like a pixalated image. Was offensive


Audience dictates meaning, perhaps both dictates meaning crossing between artist and audience


Inter textual- text only has a meaning when its reference to other texts
Direct references to other stars from Pinks music video


Whats Pink's paradigm?
-Rebel- songs,  dresses leather jacket. Short hair cut. Is playing sex symbol but not in the same dizzy Blond way as we normally see
All embedded in our culture as to where we place her
Signs being use- reference
Conflicting value systems- Pink drinking Pepsi in a mini skirt... doesn't seem like its her


Oak tree- our symbols ascetic- what we respond to be 
Signs standing in for thing