Essay begginings

Despite having done an essay last year in COP1 I wanted to record a layout that I'm going to follow to complete my essay and keep my mind on the same level with my writing

Layout of my essay

Name, Course

Title/question

Intro:

 How am I going to address the question 

Main body:

Offering different viewpoints on the topic with a logical progression of ideas 

Conclusion:

 Try not to sit on the fence, say something conclusive and original

Bibliography:

10 sources in which I used to influence my essay 

refer to 4 as quotations in the main body/conclusion

3000 words including quotations (10% tolerance)

lecture 4 Identity

Identity!

This lecture was all about identity obviously, but also the lecture spot lighted various aspects of identity that could benefit our practice, such as how identity was approached historically. but also to look into the Foucault's 'Discourse' methodology to consider post modern theories and to consider identity today.

There are two main theories of identity: Essentialism and Anti-essentialism.

Essentialism

Essentialism is the traditional approach to identity and states various rules, that include but are not limited to the notions that our biological make-up makes us who we are and this is governed by an inner essence that makes us who we are. Post-Modernism disagrees with this theory.

Physiognomy is an essentialist theory that has various values that aren't necessarily agreed with, such as the fact that they believe the intelligence is derived from the angle of the face, if the face has a vertical line where the eye brow joins the chin then this person is considered to be more intelligent than that of someone who has an angled line. this is legitimising racism due to the nature of the human body, here is an example:

as you can see its quite a radical notion due to its heavy racial standing.

There are various stages of historical identity:

Pre modern identity

personal identity is stable, defined by long standing roles. where institutions determined your identity, such as: Marriage, The Church, monarchy, Government, the State and work.

Modern identity

modern societies begin to offer a wider range of social roles. Possibility to start ‘choosing’ your identity, rather than simply being born into it. People start to ‘worry’ about who they are. possibly from the rise of artists and media which is widely consumed, Baudelaire introduces concept of the ‘flaneur’ (gentleman-stroller).

Post-modern identity

accepts a ‘fragmented ‘self’. Identity is constructed.

this is where the analysis of discourse started:

what is a discourse?

‘… a set of recurring statements that define a particular cultural ‘object’ (e.g., madness, criminality, sexuality) and provide concepts and terms through which such an object can be studied and discussed.’ Cavallaro, (2001)

Here are a few examples of discourse:

Age

Class

Gender

Nationality

Race/ethnicity

Sexual orientation

Education

Income

here is a good quote surrounding the issue of identity: 

‘ “Identity” is a hopelessly ambiguous idea and a 

double-edged sword.  It may be a war-cry of 

individuals, or of the communities that wish to be 

imagined by them.  At one time the edge of identity 

is turned against “collective pressures” by 

individuals who resent conformity and hold dear 

their own ways of living (which “the group” would 

decry as prejudices) and their own ways of living 

(which “the group” would condemn as cases of 

“deviation” or “silliness”, but at any rate of 

abnormality, needing to be cured or punished’

Bauman (2004), Identity, page 76

This lecture benefits me because of the writing task I have to complete where I have to analyse and compare two animations which are solidly based on identity, so this lecture made the process alot easier as it let me understand identity from its historical origin.

Lecture 3 - Sub Cultures

Sub Cultures

A Sub Culture is a community of people who wish not to conform to society and stand alone on their own values. there is a very fine line between sub culture and mainstream (not to be misconstrued with a hyphen)

Lets take for example the sub culture of punk:

Wiki pedia describes 'Punk' as:

The punk subculture, which centres on punk rock music, includes a diverse array of ideologies, fashions and forms of expression, including visual art, dance, literature and film. The subculture is largely characterized by anti-establishment views and the promotion of individual freedom. The punk subculture emerged in the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States in the mid-1970s. In the late 1970s, the subculture began to diversify, which led to the proliferation of factions such as new wave, 2 Tone, pop punk, hardcore punk, no wave, street punk and Oi!. Hardcore punk, street punk and Oi! sought to do away with the frivolities introduced in the later years of the original punk movement.

But when a sub culture gets well known, and involves numerous followers, then society has a fascinating ability to draw it back in to make money off of, they sell merchandise and accessories valued by the sub culture. and so the sub culture grows but slowly but surely gets embedded back into society as they can control the following of the culture which in turn defeats the object of it being a 'Sub' culture.

Sub Culture in Animation

There are two ways in which we can approach sub culture in animation, 

Are we talking about a sub culture in the 'content' or the 'animation'

 Firstly:

If the animator adopted a certain style in order to reach a certain sub culture then that would reflect on the animator, for example:

Tim Burton

Who adopts a very 'Gothic' theme, does this mean that he is reaching out to the sub culture of 'Goth' but if this is the case would it be very restricting for him to explore different styles of animation as it might not adhere to the Gothic values.

if we were to take the content into account, there are a few animations that involve sub cultures, for example there is the group of Goths in South Park:

So how (in animation) does one represent what is underneath the surface of a subculture, and how do you contextualize subculture to animation. 

In my opinion its down to the style of the animation, as restricting as it is to create a demographic of a subculture if that is the intention, its not strictly speaking the content of the animation, which could be perceived as just being introduced for comic value, and could offend the followers of those sub cultures.

Lecture 2 - Gaze and the Media

"According to usage and commercialism which are at last being questioned but by no means have been overcome - Men act and women appear. Men look at women. Women watch themselves being looked at"

(Berger 1972)

This very accurate quote by John Berger is one of the first of its kind which started to question how women are portrayed in the arts and media, and this lecture was to determine what was a passive photo/painting to one which challenges the 'Gaze' of the human nature.

John Berger started by looking at paintings to explore his statement (Above). The first painting studied was Hanz Memling's 'Vanity' :

John goes on to explain that the use of a mirror in the painting represents a false permission to look at the subjects body, in other words he says "you put a mirror in her hand so YOU could look at her" this is because the mirror represents vanity, and so if the subject is being vain then its okay to look at her nude. also notice that the subject isnt looking back at the viewer, this is another tool that gives the viewer permission to view her nude, it was said that Gaze means 'our permission to look is given when the model doesnt look back'. this is an example of a passive piece.

To present an example of a piece where the 'Gaze' is challenged we must compare two very similar pieces (one being passive to show the comparison).

Firstly we will see the passive piece, Titan's Venus of Urbino (1538)

Although she is looking at the camera her body is very relaxed, a soft expression, and a laid back pose.

Compare this to Manet's 'Olympia' (1863)

Although it is a very similar to Titan's work, there are a few subtle differences that changed it from a passive painting to one that challenged the 'Gaze'. The facial expression is more stern and you can tell she is thinking 'why are you looking at me?' but also the hand resting on the leg is very much more of a 'covering of her genitalia' rather than just part of the pose.

The world was very aware of the way women were represented in the arts and media after the awareness was raised by John Berger and many others like him, another example being a group called the 'Gorilla Girls' who campaigned to raise awareness, one of their quotes is:

"5% of artists are female but 85% of the nudes are female"

So now we are aware of determining a passive piece of work and a challenger to the gaze we can start contextualizing this thoery.

we will compare two animations, one being passive and one being a challenger.

the first is the passive one.

in the animation 'Who Killed Roger Rabbit' the main female animated character is a prime example of how women are represented in media, a very exaggerated figure with an attitude to that of a flirty sexualised female.

the character knows that she is being watched and 'Gazed' at but just accepts it, at around the time of this film there was an ethos that many women did stick to, which was that it was unfashionable to not want to be described as a sexual icon/object.

Next we move onto Wendoline from 'Wallace and Gromit'

in this animation, Wendoline is the complete opposite to how most female characters in animations, she doesn't necessarily challenge the gaze because she is not represented in that way, but the fact she is a love interest in the film shows a different representation of how women act than most animations.

But sadly to say Coward.R is very true in what she says, that men are the active characters in the media and females are the passive ones who don't add the the progression of the story.

I will continue to spot these aspects of how women are being represented in animation/the media to expand my knowledge of the concerns of the modern media. and to raise awareness of other animators of this situation.

COP 2 Lecture 1

Introduction to Level 5 Context of Practice!

In this first lecture of the year we were introduced to some of the things we would be questioning, answering and discussing through the year.

the main concept of the lecture program in level 5 is to research into historical philosophies and theories in the various disciplines involved in the programme (which are all connected by a similar language that each discipline values from each other).

I will be questioning more aspects of historical and contemporary theories this year as we progress into second year, asking why and interpreting my own educated responses with help from the lectures and the class sessions.

Final animation

Evaluating the module.

Here is my final animation, sound clips are few of my own and other samples pulled from other clips to create a moving awareness video much like Dorothea Lange's intention was. although her main focus was in documentary photography it did raise awareness of what is going on in the world.

The lectures were very informative, i enjoyed the things that i learnt as it backed up my learning practice also, as well as making me aware of different movements and examples of such.

if i was to revisit the module at a later date there are a few things i would change, firstly i would schedule better to allow more time to be devoted to the actual animation so i can fill the whole 30 seconds with animation.

this brings me to the animation i did, there are things that i liked and things that i didn't, the brief states a 10 to 30 second animation. the final cut was 30 seconds but only 10 of which were pure animation, this is what i would change first, because it seems i just couldn't be bothered doing more, which wasn't the case. also the fade out at the end, it would have been nice to gradually simplify the block colour until the character completely disappeared, along side the script 'ignoring me wont make me disappear' this is what I'm most upset about that i didn't have time to do this. the flickering of the eyes was intentional, it shows the fragile existence of the homeless community, that like an old light bulb on the blink, you never really know how long they have, due to the harsh conditions in which they live.

The actual content of the animation (the script) was derived from a conversation i had with a homeless man that me and my drunken friend talked to for about an hour, the stories he told me were incredible, too much to condense into 30 seconds, so instead of representing those questions i stated i was going to ask, i instead created the animation as a brief conclusion of how he was treated and what he thought.

the essay that i submitted was very different for me, as I've never been taught how to write at such a professional level, so the main aspect that was frustratingly annoying is the referencing system and how challenging it was to put it all together. but as far as content goes i am fairly happy with it, but i have been known to waffle, so i am quite apprehensive as to how it turns out.

overall i am fairly happy with the module, i do think my time management skills only developed nearing the end which could have been too late due to the slight rush that i had, but today on deadline day i am quite relaxed because everything is done! so that is another thing i would do in future: implement my new schedule design!

Final style!

Final style shot!

I finally came to a conclusion on the style i wanted, its not too simple, but it also dissipates the features of the human face into block colour, after a process of filtering and going in and editing certain aspects to refine features to allow the animation to run smoothly! now to start animating!

Rotoscoping test shot

Test shot

After much deliberation i thought that this style was a bit too simple, i do want to get the feeling of 'annonymising' the homeless but i fear that the viewer might not see the lips moving s the animation develops!

Lecture 10 - Post Modernism

Lecture 10

Post - Modernism

After the lecture, what does post - modernism mean to me?

• there is a definite shift from modernism to post, which can be distinguished as a reaction to world war 1
• Complexity 
• parody, pastiche and irony
• chaos
• post - modernism questions conventions
• using previous historical art styles in their own post-modern work, not necessarily a response
• questioning old limitations

this lecture cleaned alot more up than i hoped, it explained the way it differs from modernism and i really understood this movement, the complexity, and the chaos, you can see it everywhere. my favourite example is the Beijing Olympic stadium, a very post modernistic building.

it cleared up how confused I was about modernism:

• simplified ideas
• utopian ideals
• simple materials

etc 

Lecture 9 - Modernism

Lecture 9

Modernism

Here is  very thorough analysis of the definition of modernism:

       is the term used to describe the cultural expressions of modernity in relation to the experience of modernity. In essence, there was a ‘utopian’ flavour to the modernist ‘project’. In design, it was agreed that designs should not be illusionary or create false impressions. Modernists embraced new technologies. Also, design initiative had to allow for the mass production of goods – thus, simple forms were preferred over complex ones. The idea that design was functional was of prime importance, a key idea being “Form Follows Function”. The shift away from ornate decoration was politically inspired as fancy decoration and ornamentation was equated with the bourgeoisie and decadent frippery. Modernist philosophies embraced the idea of change for the better. In the aftermath of World War 1 (The Great War 1914-1918), it was felt that such a tragedy and waste of life could not happen again. The feeling therefore in the 1920’s was one of optimism and that modernism would direct the way towards a progressive society. For the modernist, it was an appealing idea that a design/artwork would be instantly recognisable to an international audience. Part of this internationalist tendency derived from the post WW1 attitude towards the need to bring countries together. There was a belief held amongst modernists that design and art could change the way people think. Underlying the Town Planning Movement and mass housing projects was an idea that such projects would improve the public. Modernism was adopted almost as a religion. It constituted a set of beliefs, which sat within a context where people felt they were living in a ‘new age’. The term ‘Zeitgeist’ refers to this feeling of “the Spirit of the Age”. Modernist Critics such as Clement Greenberg championed abstract art above figurative work, but by the late 1960s the dogmatism of modernism came to be challenged by post modernism.

What i have learned from the lecture:


there is a huge religious presents in the modernism movement

the movement is becoming very simplistic and the medium they choose is starting to go in a strange direction, using concrete etc.



i struggled to get my head around this lecture also, and i really didnt get anything out of it, the examples did show a sense of simplicity that was emerging but underlying that was still a very traditional art style.

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Lecture 8 - Communication and Mass Media

Lecture 8

Communication and Mass Media

"In the matter of layout forget art at the start and use horse-sense.  The printing-designer’s whole duty is to make a clear presentation of the message - to get the important statements forward and the minor parts placed so that they will not be overlooked.  This calls for an exercise of common sense and a faculty for analysis rather than for art"

"Whatever the information transmitted, it must,ethically and culturally, reflect its responsibility

to society"

After the lecture, what does communication and mass media mean to me?

• if we strip the phrase to the bare minimum, it is: communicating to the public on a large scale, using media that is sympathetic to the topic at hand
• there are various ways in which mass communication and media are achieved, and not necessarily the mainstream ways you would imagine!
• mass media encompasses every aspect of communication, whether it be illustration, animation, advertising etc.
• pamphlets, bar mats, adverts, radio, tv, internet, billboards. all sail under the flag of mass media.
• the barriers between graphic design, and all principles of art are being increasingly hard to notice.
• it relates to all the other lectures i have attended but it explores the content in a more sympathetic approach.

this lecture was hard to get my head around but overall it was very entertaining, it made me think about the link between all disciplines of art, and how they can merge to communicate through mass media, but also how they stand alone to achieve this.

Lecture 7 - Photography

Lecture 7

Photography

         "In many contexts the notion of a literal and objective record of ‘history’ is a limited illusion. It ignores the entire cultural and social background against which the image was taken, just as it renders the photographer neutral, passive and invisible recorder of the scene. (Clarke:1997:145)"

         "Clarke suggests a set of visual strategies are employed to provoke and emotional response, the kind which might result in charitable giving"

After the lecture, what does photography mean to me?

        To speak of documentary photography (at this point in it’s history) is to run headlong into a morass of contradiction , confusion and ambiguity, a position made more problematic by the way in which the increasing sophistication of visual technology makes it difficult to know what is ‘real’ and and what has been ‘faked’

This lecture really spoke to me because i love to make an impact on the viewer, and these examples were are great example of a very mild shock to an otherwise ignorant viewer. like i stated in previous blog post, i am going to use dorothea lange as inspiration, but instead of making a static response, i want mine to come alive!

Lecture 6 - Advertising

Lecture 6

Advertising 

"often considered as a tool used by capitalism to change established values within society"

"also considered influential in changing our perception in what we may need and want"

After the lecture, what does Advertising mean to me?

• Often used in a more influential way to change current social values and or needs
• some would say it changes us over a long period of time
• often accused of being sexist, presenting a stereotypical views of gender
• but the lecture also sparked a thought that what is sex did actually sell? (not in a prostitution-al kind of way) 
• it drives global economies!
• drives creativity
• advertisements are a artistic representation of making peoples dreams come true
• Art feeds advertisement and visa versa
• it shapes popular culture

So over all, i really enjoyed this lecture, it shows the world of advertising that i wasnt aware existed, it asks questions but answers twice as many, the way it shapes social communities, inspires, and invokes powerful emotions that make people ... Act.

Lecture 5 - Animation

Lecture 5

Animation

"animation is not the art of drawings that move, but the art of movements that are drawn"

"in order to move forward you need to know where you have come from"

Lets begin from the start:

• Animation, is derived from the Latin word 'Animare' which means, to give life to.
• Animation requires an individual to artificially create a series of images that give the illusion that movement has been given to an object or form. 
• This series of images when played back fast enough fools the brain into thinking that movement is taking place.
• This is known as 'persistence of vision!
• Humans have been recording sequential images for over 1000 years, on cave walls, pottery and much more
• slowly the techniques developed into little mechanisms that looped sequences of images
• then as better technology was introduced (and the technology itself sky rocketed) the world of animation changed drastically!
• With the advent of film artists were able to record a series of drawing (frames) to create moving images.

Although animation is my course and i already had various previous presentations and seminars so i am very up to scratch with it. but there were aspects that i did take from it, more so the effect it had on people from the overall animation movement, and how people were fascinated by making their images come to life!

Lecture 4 - Print

Lecture 4

Print

"If it is print then it is seen to be true"

"Documentation. Communication. Reproduction"

"it is correct. it is factual"

After the lecture, what does print mean to me?

• Mass communication!
• Knowledge is power
• the whole kind of theory surrounding print is the ability to make an impact, the ability to mentally subdue a viewer to thinking something you want them to think

i wasnt too keen on this lecture either, as you can see from the lack of lecture notes i have written, i only really got that print was about mass communication and affecting the people, not in a manipulative way, but in a passive way.

Lecture 3 - Illustration

Lecture 3

Illustration - Pictures at Work

"Strategic image making, used within the context of visual communication to convey meaning or concept."

"It is this combination of both an individual visual aesthetic and use of functional visual symbols that allows illustration to communicate both an explicit message whilst also being able to convey more subtle, nuanced or abstract sensibilities."

After the lecture, what does illustration mean to me?

• There is a combination that one must consider to create what is considered a 'good' illustration
• its not the illustration that is the main focus, its the context in which it is created
• With the inclusion of moving image and the web, there is a massive demand for visual content within contemporary media. Brands, publishers, businesses and products are all desperate to develop deep and genuine relationships with consumers.
• no matter whether the skill level is high or not the illustration is good if it combines various different things

There wasnt alot that i took from this lecture purely because my views have been very similar before, such as, the common misconception that something is a 'good' illustration, but there were a few items that i grew fond of that i will keep in mind for the future.

Lecture 2 - Type Production & Distribution

Lecture 2

Type Production & Distribution

"Type is what language looks like"

"Typography is the raft of endowing human language with a durable visual form."

After the lecture, What does Type production and distribution mean to me?

• There is so much to take into account when it comes to type
• Every single character has deep analysis that describe a formula which makes it so appealing
• There are more tricks that meat the eye when it comes to type, such as when the brain can read a text even though the letters in the word are completely scrambled leaving only the first and last letter in the right position, even though it looks like a foreign language, our brains decipher this in a very clever way, it recognizes what word it is just from what letters it contains in a split second
• the definition is: 

1. The art and technique of printing with movable type.

2. The composition of printed material from movable type.

3. The arrangement and appearance of printed matter.

• the technology has developed so much since the early machines that used huge letter blocks to print characters.
• using type can make the difference between a sale and not
• we spend our whole lives using words, and if type can improve our words then the use of type can improve our lives.

There are several things that I have taken from this lecture, such as, that type is a modernist obsession.

And the theory that Type is what language 'Looks' like, I always struggled getting the right type but I think it has opened my eyes to certain possibilities.

500 Word Essay Comparing The Hand and Surogat!

There are several elements that distinctly tell these animations apart, also a few more subtle things. In this short essay we will investigate both animations in a technical and psychological view. I will try not to put a biased view on the analysis due to the lack of fondness I have for one due to its underlying messages.

                Firstly lets introduce the animations themselves, The Hand by Jiri Trnka from 1965, a very politically smelling animation that describes a disconcerting protest against authoritative violence, human rights and freedom. The plot is as follows: a puppet like humanoid is determined to make a plan pot for his flower but is beset by the ever lingering Hand which is much larger than him that makes him instead construct a monument towards it.

                If we analyse this animation it is a very political protest, as it was created in Czechoslovakia who have suffered as a nation, the animation seems to be a submission of rebellion, the way the characters act, especially the hand with its strong presents and its aggressive controlling behaviour, show the struggle that the country could have experienced. But what gives this away is towards the end, a very powerful gesture that resembles that of Adolf Hitler, the arm extended cast outright, which is a big give away that the animation is a plea for awareness of the matters at hand.

                This brings me to the second animation in question, Dusan Vukotic and Zagreb Film, Surogat (Ersatz), 1961. A brief summary of the plot is this: a very plump looking man (bearing in mind this was animated using a very simple look using block colour and basic textures) drives to the beach, and everything he brings is inflatable, he pumps everything up to enjoy his time at the beach. Including his companion, but after disapproving of her physical appearance he decides to pump a different companion up.

                Similarly to the previous animation, it does hold a very strong social protest, this word also being used to describe The Hand. this protest is the uprising of sexism in culture across the country/ the world, if we look at the animation, the main male character dislikes the look of his companion so he blows a different one up, this is very controversial due to the social aspect of that era, the tradition of being married by your parents has started dissipating and the option of choosing your life partner more predominant, it seems as though this animation encapsulates this but also infers various stereotypes.

                The first stereotype is that of the newly blown up companion, this character is very arrogant and goes for an equally arrogant character, a muscular male, rather than the ‘less than muscular’ protagonist, this also brings us on to the issue of appearance and how people judge eachother on their appearance and that when you marry someone it is based on looks, this is not the case.

                So both animations have a very strong message that are very different but can be related by its following of the time, and what is happening socialy and politically, this is seen a lot in animation and these two animations are a very good example.

                

My rotoscoping test!

I love the effect of rotoscoping

and it fits very well with my project

i want to strip a face of its identity, to make an impact on how people see homeless people!

Rotoscoping!

Here is an example of rotoscoping

I have a love for skateboarding so i'm even fonder of this video! 

I wanted to go for a more 'Annonymising' effect, as you see it everyday where people walk past homeless people without even acknowledging they exist, so i wanted to make an impact on people, to make them realise that they are human beings as well.

The Questions i will ask

What is your name and how old are you?

Where were you born?

When and why did you become homeless?
(if you don't mind me asking)

How do you make money?

How do you feel about how people treat you?

What is going through your head when people ignore you when walking past?

If you could say anything to those people what would it be?

What is the kindest thing someone has done for you?

Has there been any negative experiences?

If there was a 10 year old child standing in front of you is there any advice you would give them?

My previous confrontations with the homeless

There are two different types of confrontations i've had with the homeless:


The first kind is very much a negative experience: abusive, intimidating and inconsiderate ways of trying to 'demand' money from me, which i don't appreciate because a lack of respects is not the way of begging for money.

but the second type is very much the opposite, a much more beautiful experience, its very rare but it has happened.
there was my favourite where there was a man in an indent in the wall where a door had previously been, his leg was missing and he obviously has had a rough time, i got closer and said hello, he didn't say anything. not in a bad way, he was maybe shocked that someone was actually talking to him, i reached into my pocket and gave him 10 pounds ... the look i received will stay with me for as long as i live, it was like i had just given him a huge block of gold, again his voice was very subdue ... again though it was because of the shock, i would do it all over again to see that reaction. some people would argue that homeless people don't deserve it ... maybe they don't ... but this is why i'm doing the research.

Brief conversations with the homeless

Being as though I've chosen what i'm going to base my artefact around; annonamising the homeless, i wanted to get as much conversation material between people and the homeless, so i can better understand how they feel so i can right a script that would be sympathetic to their experiences.

Here is one article i found on the internet of a conversation held by Josh Terill with homeless man Joey:

What’s your name and how old are you?Joey, and I’m 27

Where were you born?Here in Modesto…I’ve traveled around quite a bit but I always end up back here.

When and how did you become homeless?I became homeless almost four years ago and it was really just a bunch of shit that led up to it. First I had my two baby girls and tried my best to make it work with their mother, but it just wasn’t working out. I used my relationship problems as an excuse to relapse on heroin after six-years of being clean. Then very quickly, I started to lose everything. I got laid off at work and thought I could depend on my parents to support me until I got clean and back on my feet, but they had already been fed up and kicked me out. So I’ve been on the streets since.

How was your upbringing?I had a perfect, “Leave it to Beaver”-type family. No abuse or anything like that…my parents didn’t even raise their voices at any of their kids. I had every opportunity and advantage to succeed in life…I really have no excuse to be where I’m at. Both of my parents make more than $100,000 a year and are amazing people. I don’t really seem them anymore, but I’d like to.

Are you religious?I grew up in the Catholic church and was baptized as a baby and what not, but I wouldn’t say that I’m religious. More spiritual than anything.

Spiritual?Yeah, not Christian, not anything like that. I know there’s a God, but that’s all I know. Any attempt to comprehend or understand “It”, or “Him”, whatever, it’s just not possible. There’s no human, no book, no church or anything that can tell me something about It that I can’t find out on my own. It’s not like they are better than me or have some sort of super power. But yeah, i believe in God, and I know He’s looking out for me.

How do you make money?Well I was on unemployment for a while, but two months ago that got shut off. Now I just pan handle and hustle here and there. I make anywhere between $50 and $150 a day. I’ve got a $100-a-day habit right now, so most of my money goes to that.

Do you think there’s a stigma that comes with pan handling?There are way more good people than bad people out there in the world. People are naturally selfish, I think. However, maybe it’s just me and my experience, but I run into a greater number of people who are willing to help me out than people who don’t and just say “fuck you”, or something.

Are you happy?No, not at all.

When was the last time you were?Fuck, I honestly don’t know if I’ve ever been truly happy.

Do you have any short-term or long-term goals?Yeah, I need to get clean and sober, man. I need to pull my head out of my ass and get my life together. I need to get a job and try to salvage what relationships I can or seek out new ones. I need to be happy. I’m so fucking sick of doing the same shit every day. Nothing changes if nothing changes, but it’s so fucking hard when you have nothing and no one to encourage you.

If you had an infinite amount of money for one day, and then the next day you went back to how you are now, what would you do for that day?
I would spend the day with my daughters and spoil the shit out of them. I’d let them know that daddy loves them and that I’m going to get better.

Imagine 10-year old you is in front of you. What advice would you give him?
Listen to your parents. They are right about everything. And even if they aren’t, they definitely have your best interests in mind. Shut your fucking mouth and listen. Be humble and stay on track.

The next thing i need to do is speak to a homeless person myself and get a first hand experience.

Lecture 1

Visual Literacy - The Language of Design 

"We need to effectively communicate ideas, concepts and content to a range of ideas using a range of context"

"We solve problems of communication through type, image and/or motion"

After the lecture, what is Visual Communication to me?

• sending/ receiving messages using images and/or type.
• the content of the message is effected by the target audience, method and media.

And what is Visual Literacy to me?

• the act of interpreting someone obscure/abstract images to understand the meaning.
• The lecture presentation had a great quote saying "Visual Literacy is giving the idea that images can be read"
• its a way of (as a community) defining what certain symbols mean
• semiotics: the study of symbols

The things i have learnt and will take away from this lecture is the way that everyday symbols are taken for granted and the use of semiotics could easily be used in any work to get across a meaning with more effectiveness.

The Lecture i have chosen to link my finished artefact with

After much deliberation i have decided to base my Animation on the lecture i attended about photography. the reason for this is because of some of the photography by Dorothea Lange, some of the images she has produced has a very powerful effect on the viewer, invoking many emotions including empathy sympathy and worry. with all my animations i try to invoke various emotions too, i want the viewer to finish watching it being affected in one way or another.

so if i use Dorothea Lange as an inspiration with a certain subject matter i can create the same effects!

My first idea is to document a homeless person talking about there life and rotoscope the footage to 'anonymize' the homeless community to raise awareness as to how certain people treat the homeless: walking past them without acknowledging their existence.