COP2: Study Task 1 - Illustration & Authorshop (Kyle T Webster)

Screen shot from kyletwebster.com

I was first introduced to Kyle T Webster last year, when I was using photoshop brushes, and I was recommended to download his custom kit, which are engineered to create the look of analogue media. I recently was part of the audience in a Big Heads session with Kyle himself, where he offered thought provoking advice, and introduced the discussion of analogue vs digital media, and how as technology advances, the world of art will change. 

Webster is primarily a digital artist, and is praised for his immense diversity of work. From looking at his website, it is clear that he does not have a "style" of working, and in turn just creates work that answers briefs appropriately. He has said that he draws using his own voice and opinions, however not maintaining visual consistency . Roland Barthes says "The voice loses it's origin, the author enters his own death", referring to how any kind of author or artist can be contradicted for using their own style/voice, as it cannot be completely original. As Webster makes artwork mainly for briefs and commissions, it can be said that although his work does not maintain any sort of style, his work is not completely original because of a number of factors; colours, visual semantics, text, fonts, words etc. Which then leads to an even broader question, can any form of illustration be completely original?

As illustration as a practice relies initially on communication, visual semantics play a huge role. The transaction of an audience interpreting illustrative works, relies hugely on an inate database of reoccurring colours, icons, shapes, etc, each with their own connotations, which ofcourse, have been used to shape the world we live in today. So once again, drawing back to the idea of "the voice losing it's origin", it is impossible to be a successful illustrator, without "dying".  

COP2 Seminar: Roland Barthes - Death Of The Author

- An author is a writer of a book, article, or document. 
- A creator, a person you identify with a particular piece of work, a controller, a communicator.
- Death of the author is a very intense piece of literature, discussing the idea of authorship. It questions who is the real author of the text. It is widely accepted that that an author is a person who is responsible for a particular piece of work, art, music, or literally anything that has been created by a conscious mind, that can be judged or interpreted by another person. The creator of these works believe their ideas are their own. However, Barthes claims that the author has borrowed everything from previously existing texts that he or she has become aware of, using words that are already in existence, theories and ideologies that may not be completely original etc.
- In the world of illustration, the artist, or the author of a piece of work, can also be questioned in terms of Barthes theories. Each contributing factor to an artists work, such as certain ways of drawing, or concepts used, can also spark a discussion on originality and ownership. 
- In terms of technology (my chosen theme), barthes theories can also be applied. For example, an Iphone is a product of artistic movements, developments in hundreds of different technologies and people's ideas, such as the idea for a telephone which came from it's original inventor, Alexander Graham Bell. 
- Overall, Barthes' theories and ideologies about authorship can be applied to pretty much anything that is man made, swaying us to question is anything that we make truly original?

COP2: Seminar + Find, Observe, Record

During this seminar, we were given 40 minutes to go out and record information visually relating to our chosen theme. I found this task really difficult to do at this moment in time, as (worryingly) I'm still completely unsure about the theme for my essay. In an attempt to gain inspiration I chose the really broad theme of technology to explore.

Throughout the task I found myself drawing the same stuff over and over, phones, macs, headphones etc, which I think reflects my interest in this theme (of which I have none). There were alot of aspects that reflected the technological side of art, and how it is developing, including tablets and cintiqs, which may be a starting point, but once again i don't think it interests me. I'm not sure if it's because I'm not feeling particularly intuitive today, or that this theme is generally boring. I suppose the theme of technology can be applied to mostly anything, I just feel I should tackle the obvious before digging deeper. I'll give this task another attempt when I am confident about a theme.

- Idea snowballing
Be creative + inventive
Use your initiative
Interpet things outside of YOU.

COP2: Lecture 2 - The Flipped Classroom

- This lecture was about the radical philosophies of education, that were popular amongst progressive educators. The theory of the Flipped Classroom hypothetically changes the process of teaching, flipping the hierarchy so that the student is in charge of their learning, as opposed to the tutor. It involves taking teaching away from a person, empowering them through deeper personal learning. 

- Jacques Ranciere / The Ignorant School Master: 

"He got a job teaching French to Flemish students when he himself didn't speak Flemish. He found a dual language edition of the French classic, Télémaque (1699), and, using an interpreter, asked his students to learn the French part by heart with the help of the translation. Memorising a long text was a classic humanist method of instruction, but the results more than surprised him. The students' comprehension of the text was amazing, without the benefit of his usual teaching commentaries and explanations, but that was not all. They had also learned to write in good French without any instruction in grammar." 

Quote from http://www.libed.org.uk/

- 1968 Sexual Revolution - a social movement that challenged traditional codes of behavior related to sexuality and interpersonal relationships. Involved students charging into Universities to create awareness. The Autonomous People's University. 

Prints/Posters from The People's University - people use these posters for decorative purposes, which impairs their function and effect.

- Jaques Ranciere / Distribution Of The Sensible: "social system that distributes the visible and the invisible."

- Pedagogy / Pedagogical - . the function or work of a teacher; teaching. 2. the art or science of teaching; education; instructional methods. Origin of pedagogy Expand.

- Is educating about supporting teachers? Do they need students more than students need them?

- The School Of The Damned

- Find things out for yourself. 

COP2: Lecture 1 - Research and Epistemology.

- Think about how your practice exists in the world. 
- Research is the driving force behind your practice as an illustrator, Experiential Learning. 
- Growth is a representation of research. Research process is a step into the unknown.
- Success is process not product. 
- Embrace your failures, learn from them.
-  Go out and look/see/read. Do something that starts ideas flowing. Stimulated Approach. 
- Systematic approach / Intuitive approach. 

What is Research?

Primary - self generated, your own experiences. 
Secondary - Already exists, analyse to fit your problem. 
Qualitative - Defined by fact/numbers.
Qualitative - Subjective / Opinionated.
Thoeretical - Knowing it exists without experiencing it. 
Practical - Through physcial investigation. 

- Initial Research Question - what interests me? The way I see things and my view of the world. 
Intuitive body of knowledge, manipulate into something new.
Paradigm position - my view of the world affects how, what and when. 

How research is done:
- Assimilation: get the information
- General Study: investigate the information
- Development
- Communication: resolution

COP2 : Intro to Level 5

I am really excited for a fresh start on this years COP module. I feel that last year COP was a really daunting module that I didn't enjoy, mainly because of the way I didn't engage with it fully and focused a lot more on other modules. However, especially in the practical side of the module, being speculative using sketchbooks etc is something that I am really trying to improve on. I also feel that I struggled with the academic writing side of things, and intend to use all resources available this year to help me with this. After last year, I understand what is expected of me in terms of workload, and dedication, and I am feeling really motivated to get started and stay organised. 

Module Brief 

- Friday is COP day
- This module has to be driven by YOU
- Make notes during lectures and blog about them.
- Make notes on films / existing work/ exhibitions
- This module expects BLOG / 3000 WORD ESSAY / VISUAL RESPONSE in the form of an 8-12 PAGE PUBLICATION. 
- Critical Understanding. 
- Sylvan Barnet / A Short Guide To Writing About Art

Preparatory Task

Social - "relating to society or its organisation."
Cultural - "relating to the ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a society."
Historical - "of or concerning history or past events."
Political - "of or relating to the government or public affairs of a country."
Technological - "relating to or using technology."

Quotes relating to Technology - 

"Technology is supposed to make our lives easier, allowing us to do things more quickly and efficiently. But too often it seems to make things harder, leaving us with fifty-button remote controls, digital cameras with hundreds of mysterious features and book-length manuals, and cars with dashboard systems worthy of the space shuttle." - 

James Surowiecki

"You're talking about a younger generation, Generation Y, whose interpersonal communication skills are different from Generation X. The younger generation is more comfortable saying something through a digital mechanism than even face to face." 

- 

Eric Qualman

"As technology has improved, our digital lives have only grown more tangled and cluttered." 

- 

Ryan Holmes

Here I have chosen some images, some from highly regarded contemporary artists, commenting on Technology in today's society:

David Doran 

Jean Julien - commenting on how our lives are by controlled social media, and struggle to escape it even in the company of others. Holding a conversation and manners are ceasing to exist.

Commenting on the future of learning, how technology is taking over, even our bodily functions(seeing through your eyes) become second best.