feedback and Critiques

My last pin up was not only interesting but

also somewhat frustrating, The critique from

tutors indicated that the message that I tried

to convey with in my images was fundamentally

flawed for the following reasons

Firstly the social and cultural implications of

the slogan Love Lives Hate Kills can be mis -

understood as they do not correlate as two

sides of the same coin, also the possible

relation to skin head culture, could also act as

a catalyst to dilute the message futher.

Secondly from a graphic design point of view, the

design I constructed, had several mistakes in it, in

terms of it's typography. these cardinal mistakes

went further to cloud the message i attempted

to portray.

Personally I am not sure that I was attempting

to make an political statement as was suggested

to me, more over an statement about life in

general. However for the sack of personal growth

I think it would bee relevant to research the

following theories and artist.

Barbera Kruger

Skin Head Culture

Slogans

And Basic principles of graphic design

While my execution of the photography was well

done expanding my boundries by using a medium

format camera for the first time, develop the

negatives myself .

I am disappointed that the slogan I designed did

not have the visual credence i was hoping for.

I still stand behind the concept that support

the slogan. Over the week coming I will

revisit and try to develop this idea

Stephen Shore

Stephen Shore can be described as an seminal

figure in the art of photography and as with his

peer William Egglestone I find it interesting to note

that many parallels can be found between these two

artists, one major similarity is the early age they both

emerged as artists although it is safe to say Shore was

still an adolesence (14) when his pictures where first

acquired the Museum of Modern Art. Three years later

at the age of 17 Shore was documenting scenes at Andy

Warhol Studio and in 1971

Andy Warhol shot by Stephen Shore

at the age of 23 Shore became the first living photographer

to have a one man show at the the Metropolitan Musuem of

Art. Shore's contribution to the acceptance of color

photography in Art circles is beyond

reproach

His use of the technical accurate 8 X 10 camera, a format that

requires both patience as well expertise in a BBC commissioned

documentary, Stephen Shore on the Road .

Shore stating that using an 8X 10 camera

"is like communicating what the world looks like in

heighten awareness"

8X10 camera

in the several interviews I read and watch about Stephen

Shore an reoccurring theme of Visual Thinking, this is a

concept that I have much subscribe to, the idea that i image

can beyond word or moreover no words can be placed on it

is refreshing to me

afterall sometime it's good to stop talking and just

admire the image

Discourse discussion

Fridays discussion was interesting to say least. And In typical style,

I was arguing against the house, in justification.I will quote Nietzsche " student that does question the teacher is not learning anything"

I must say for the record that I have enjoyed discourse although am still not a fan of Nan Goldin. And whilst I'm giving out kudos I would like to thanks to Greg and Ellias and the peeps that did turn up for a good discussion.

(apologies if I have spelt his name wrong) .

The house stated that computers have made this world worse to paraphrase.

A view point that I fundamentally disagree with for a myriad of reasons.And although the house won, my viewpoint has not changed on this topic.The valid arguments presented by the house, still boiled down to one single thing,

personal human choice and that to me is paramount.

A computer is a inanimate object, it is circuitry and microchips.And in it application this tool is greatly advantageous,the key word there being tool.

The two examples I must give are (1) paedophilia existed before the computers did,the internet did and indeed before facebook did,in the 80's they just hung around schools. And (2) There are amany things that we don't need, living in a rich privileged country like England, furthermore the capital city of this privileged country.I think people forget many of things we enjoy are luxuries.

Arguably the consumer nature of modern world is not as rewarding as the corporations would hope in this time of the signifer and the signified.

So then it again boils down to the same choice.

Do you live to consume or for something else?

The only thing that annoys me about losing a phone. Is losing the information contained in it. I still understand that a phone, the blackberry I'm always on is a tool. I do not feel instantly feel

depressed if I lose it. I know I where my friends and loved ones are..

So again do we live for love, life, art, laughter, learning and

companionship, or use inanimate objects to fill the void that exist in some peoples lives?

Either way computers are just a tool. Which I personally use

for many things. And If I leave my phone at home life is still an adventure.

With that here is a song for you.

Blackalicious - Make Your Feel That Way

the lyrics seem appropriate

Nan Goldin

This is a book about beauty. And about my love

for my friends. - Nan Goldin The other side

Goldin is one of photographer who most

obviously and directly influenced the

style of photography termed as intimate

life.

Born in 1953 in Washinton DC Goldin

graduated School of the Museum of fine arts,

Boston/Tuffs University in 1977/1978.

However her first solo show was held in Boston

was in 1973 and was based on her photographic

journeys through the cities homosexual and

transsexual communities

Bea with Framed Photo of Bernie

Nan's life itself can be described as colourful

and her obsession to have her camera with her

at all times allow Goldin to document the life

lifestyle that she was a part of .

Nan is quoted as saying in a interview that

the camera functioned as her memory which

would of been very useful considering the

narcotic additions she had.

the lifestyle that Nan Goldin choose to live

put her in a prime position to capture the images

she did. And I force to question if most of her

friend did not die of HIV would she be so critically

acclaimed

There are many sign in Nan Goldin work I just

can be bother to look for then through the

chaos , I question all that celebrated in Nan

Goldin not a fan, not a fan, not a fan

Robert Frank

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Feminism

Feminism in it's basic form proposes or demands a political and /

or ethical viewpoint towards cultural experience emphasizing

all types of social conditioning towards gender or sexual

difference. Modern feminism further focuses on the aspects

of sexual orientation, racial and ethnic identification.

Suffragette movement

Feminism itself takes it's roots from the suffragette

movement of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century

continuing to the women's lib movement of 1960's however it is

difficult to map historically, and is not a singular discourse

that can be simply defined. In The Feminism

and Visual Culture reader edited by Amelia Jones, feminism

is loosely defined as "any argument (whether visual or verbal,

embodied, virtual, or textual) which takes an interest in, or can

be deployed to explore , the ways in which subjects take on,

perform, or project gendered identities is, to some extent,

feminist, or at least is useful for feminist study of visual or other

kinds of culture"

Amelia Jones

Whether or not the definitions around what feminism are

clear, one thing is certain, there is a direct correlation between

feminism and postmodernism. Alice Jardine was quoted in Steven

Conner's book Postmodernist Culture An Introduction to theories

of the Contemporary

"To give a new language to these other spaces is a project filled

with both promise and fear....."

The quote above indicates how key works in the field of

linguistics and semiotics (Roland Barthes) coupled

with developments in the field visual culture which

in similar way to cultural studies has the impulse to reject

disciplinary hierarchies have given feminism a critical voice.

Roland Barthes

"Men look at women. Women watch themselves being looked at.

This determines not only most relationships between men

and women but also the relation of women to themselves"

artists like Cindy Sherman and feminism artist like her have

taken this voice and embraced it

Cindy Sherman

Modernism/Postmodernism

Photographs are perhaps the most mysterious of all

the objects the make up and thicken, the environment

we recognize as modern (p4 Susan Sontag on Photography)

Modernism usually refers to an overarching aesthetic

movement that started just before the twentieth century approx.

1890. Empowered by an rejection of old victorian standard of

how art should be constructed. Applying to visual art, music,

literature and drama and fueled excuse the pun by the new

technology of the age such as internal combustion, telephones,

aluminum, and indeed cameras

Between 1910 to say 1930 the so called period of high Modernism,

intellectuals such as Marcel Proust, Virgina Woolf and James Joyce

helped to radically redefine what art, poetry and fiction could be .

james joyce

Joyce was quoted as saying "History is a nightmare from which we

are to awaken"

it is not possible to discuss Modernism without referring to the term

Modernity that refers to a group of philosophical, and ethical ideas

that provide the foundation for the aesthetic aspect of modernism.

If I am to paraphrase Marshall Berman in his book in All that is

solid melt to air.

Marshall Berman

"To be modern is to find ourself in an environment that promises us

adventure, power, joy, growth, transformation of ourselves in the world"

quite paradoxically this new world this comes at the price of

destroy the same existing practices we already have and know,

in terms of beliefs and traditions, this principle cuts

across all borders from ethnicity, geography and class

to religion and ideology.

Understanding modernity is about creating order out of chaos

according to Frederic Jameson an American Literary Critic and

Marxist political theorist.

Frederic Jameson

I personally note that Post Modernism as before it with Modernism

was a code of practice, A way of doing things that challenged the

ideas that came before it. A intellectual renaissance if you will

"Modernism and post modernism are cultural formations which accompany

particular stages of capitalism"

to quote Frederic Jameson again

In understanding modernism it makes it easier to understand the

complicated set of ideas that form Post Modernism , as post

modernism as a concept covers a wide variety of disciplines

including art, music, film, fashion and technology to name a few.

This principle emerged within academia in the mid- 1980's.

Post modernism like modernism follows along the same theme

rejecting boundaries between high and low forms and art,

rejecting rigid genre distinctions, parody, irony and playfulness

Steve Conner in his book Postmodernist culture: an introduction

to theories of the contemporary states that" post modernism is a belief

that, when we experience life, we partially understand it and when

we try to understand life, we are no longer really experiencing it."

Post modernism is infinitely complex subject with many sub

constructs because of it broad application. However the most

simple definition was presented by

John Rajchman in Sylvia Harrison's book Pop art and the

origin of post-modernism.

John Rajchman

Post Mordernism is "A hybrid field of social theory,

literary criticism, cultural studies and philosophy"

With a smile I will recount a thought that occurred to me,

so if we have an intellectual renaissance every about 50 year

is the next movement coming or is it here??

Dreadiknight

Philip-Lorca diCorcia

fig 1

Philip-Lorca diCorcia was born in 1951 in Hartford Connecticut he attended the school of the museum

of Fine Arts,Boston in 1976 and passed to post graduate level. His work has been described as evocative and enigmatic. with his

use of elaborate staging he takes everyday scenes to what I read described as "beyond the realm of Banality"

(Noun 1 - Trite or Obvious remark ), I really had to look that one up.

fig2

diCorcia's work has practically exhibited world wide New York's MOMI, London's TATE, and Tokyo's Art Space Ginza

to take three from an extensive list, as far as i can count 5 publish books and several award under his belt it is more than general consensus

Philip-Lorca diCorcia is artistically and critically acclaimed.

Personally i love his work and enjoy his dark sense of humour, It where find the punctum of his work, diCorcia is quoted as saying

“As a photographer you are completely dependent on the object,” this is the studuim of his work. Turn ordinary situations in to something unreal. Which again personally I believe the job of any photographer who considers themselves an artist

Erno Nussenzweig

In 2005 Philip-Lorca diCorcia was sued by Erno Nussenzweig, over an image from his book heads which he shoot in times square. Using lights connected to construction scaffolding diCorcia controls the lights and shutter from twenty feet away so the subjects where not aware

that their image was being taken. At the case in 2006 Nussenzweig maintained that taking his image without his permission was a violation of his privacy rights under New York law arguing the images where for the purpose of trade diCorcia argued that the piece where artistic expression protected under the first amendment, the judge voted in diCorcia favor and dismiss the case. Alllow his book to be published.

I would say Philip-Lorca diCorcia one of the great photographers of this time.

Deutshce Börse Photography Prize 2010 at the Photographer Gallery

So the photography prize at the photography gallery

the nominee are as follows

Anna Fox(b. 1961, uk)Was nominated for her exhibition Cockroach Diary & other stories at Ffotogallery, Cardiff (28 july-10 October 2009), initiated by impression gallery Bradford

Zoe Leanard(b. 1961, USA) was nominated for her retrospective exhibition Zoe Leonard: Photographs, at the Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich(1 April-5 July 2009), initiated by Fotomuseum Winterthur

Sophie Ristelhueber(b. 1949, France) who is nominated for her retrospective work Sophie Ristelhueber at the Jeu de Paume, Paris (20 January - 22 March 2009)

Donovan Wylie(b. 1971 UK) who is nominated for his exhibition MAZE 2007/8 at Belfast Exposed (27 March - 1May 09)

So First Anna Fox

According to the brochure accompanying the exhibition.

"Fox is considered part of the wave of British colour documentary photographers that emerged in the 1980's"

And after watching Anna's video interview at the photographers gallery my initial response was, oh not here we go again in typical art intellectual form, what the hell is this. I fail to see the narrative, and in term of studium the only thing i would suggest was going through the artist mind was her next fix, but in all seriousness the bizarre imagery for one example "Gifts from the Cat". That features a dead bird on a carpet and forces me to question what direction modern art is taking, is a pickled cow not enough? With regards to punctum, my only feeling towards Anna Fox work was annoyance, especially with the realisation that she may win this prize.

In stark contrast Zoe Leanard. The brochure describes Zoe as recording urban landscape. I enjoyed viewing her work very much, in term of puntum the images speak of the spirit of the photographer catching moments that are overlooked by many. I would also submit that this ideal is interchangeable with the studium. The use of traditional printing techniques in true William Eggelston stylie creates vivid colours that translates the mundane in to something magical, and inspires me to try dye transfer.

Sophie Ristelhueber's work deals with the impact of human conflict on architecture and landscape and of all the images that I viewed on my visit to the gallery I would have to say that it was one of Sophie's pieces (because of dust breeding) that had me transfixed, the use of aluminum gave a ghost effect that haunted this viewer about the travesty of war, and that the point or studium of this picture is to highlight how fickle war is and the fact no matter who wins wars everyone loses. The puntum for me was the depth of the destruction so simply captured.

Donovan Wylie's work is concerned with post-conflict Northern Ireland and the deconstruction of MAZE prison after the conflict. I enjoyed his work the point (punctum was clear) the detached style of the picture reminded me of a catalogue although i am not sure why at this point. The images show a sterile/uniform place designed to break down the spirits of the men that where imprisoned there, but some how failing. Even in it's destruction it remains sterile and this was the artist (point) studium.

I have voted for Zoe Leanard but don't mind who wins just as long as Anna Fox doesn't

DreadiKnight

semiotics

Semiology, or semiotics, is the idea of a science of signs and originates from comments in Ferndinand de Saussure's general theory of Linguistics(1916) but was not developed further until after the second war Saussure stated:

" it is... possible to conceive of a science which studies the role of signs as part of social life. it would form part of social psychology, and hence of general psychology. We shall call it semiology (from the greek semeion 'sign') it would investigate the nature of signs and the laws governing them. Since it does not yet exist, one cannot say for certain that it will exist. But it has a right to exist, a place ready in advance. Linguistics is only a branch of this general science. the laws which semiology will discover will be laws applicable in linguistics, and linguistics will thus be assigned to a clearly defined place in the field of human knowledge". (Saussure 1983, 15-16; Saussure 1974, 16)

Apart from Saussure other key academics working in in this field where Umberto Eco(b 1932) Jacques Lacan (1901-1981) however Semiotics only became a major approach in Art and photography Studies in the late 1960's, due in part to the work of Roland Barthes(1915-1980) with the translation of his popular collection of essays entitled Mythologies(Barthes 1957) Barthes observations of different cultural phenomena made him propose that everyday culture can be analysed in terms of language of communication both visual and verbal. Barthes integrally associated myths or culturally specific discourses.

In terms of photography Barthes takes the image away from the Artist and makes it the property of the viewer. For the record I have another 2 years to understand why this highly subjective viewpoint is relevant. I was told recently by an art intellectual friend that I should embrace semiotics and any other type of psychoanalysis in order to A complete this course and B to ascertain the level and success that I strive for. And even though I understand this viewpoint, I find it bemusing that a person with seminally no photography skill has made rules, don't get me wrong i like Barthes writing. But struggle to see the point. Why critique for critique sake. I freely admit it is important to understand the concept of semiotics, i just do not know if it will change the puntum of the pictures I take.

after all to quote cs lewis

Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it.

for the record please do not misunderstand my viewpoint I recognize the importance of semiotics especially with regards to advertising and the strategies that are used in order to market consumer items to us. The use of the signifier or message portrayed by the image, and the signified the implication behind that image. To give an example please see image below.

soco ad

The advert above is a Southern Comfort the caption reads Southern Comfort between friends

making the (signifier) in this image the group of friend obviously enjoying each other company sharing laughter and stories over a glass or two of Southern Comfort , what is interesting to note is that in the image no single individual in the ad is holding a glass, however the bottle of Southern Comfort in the foreground of the advert send a message the (signifier) in that if you drink southern comfort you will have great friends and great time..

DreadiKnight

Biography William Eggleston

the red ceiling (1973)

William Eggleston was born in Memphis Tennessee on July 27, 1939. He lived in his home town Sumner, Mississippi with his father an engineer and his mother who was the daughter of a prominent local judge. it's is a safe assumption to say that William was a creative from an early age although an introvert, his hobbies included playing the piano, working with electronics as well as being drawn to visual media, buying postcards and cutting out pictures from magazines. Eggleston also developed an interest in audio technology.

Eggleston was sent to the Webb boarding school at the age of 15. in an interview Egglesston recounted few fond memories to the reporter stating "it had a kind spartan routine to build character ".

While Eggleston experience with formal education was not good attending Vanderbilt university for a year , Delta State college for semester (term), and the University of Mississippi (ole miss) for approximately five years , but not achieving an formal qualification. It was however during this time at university that Eggleston interest in photography began, a university friend gave eggleston his first camera a Leica.

Most of Eggelston's early works where inspired by the work of Swiss-born photographer Robert frank and the book by French photographer Henri Catier-Bresson's entitled decisive Moment. Eggelston recalls in another interview that Henri's book was "the first serious book i found".

Eggelston first began experimenting with , in 1965 and 1966's by the late sixties color transparency becoming his dominant medium . to this point Eggelston development as a photographer seems to of happen in isolation to other artist

In 1969 Eggestion had his first encounter "with the artistic community was a meeting with John Szarkowski of New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Szarkowski stating in an interview " the meeting with the young Eggelston, was totally out of the blue". And after reviewing Eggelston's work Szarkowski prevailed upon the photography committee of MoMA to buy one of Eggelston's pieces.

By 1973 through to 1974 Eggelston was teaching at Harvard. it was during this time he discovered dye- transfer printing. It is safe to say that the process of dye transfer resulted in Eggleston most striking and famous work. A good example of this is the 1973 piece entitled The Red Ceiling. Eggelston commented on his work stating "The Red Ceiling is so powerful , that in fact I've never seen it reproduced on the page to my satisfaction. When you look at the dye it is like red blood that's wet on the the wall.......A little red is usually enough , but to work with an entire red surface was a challenge "

At his second year at Harvard Eggleston prepared his first portfolio titled, entitled 14 pictures(1974) it consisted of fourteen dye -transfer prints. these pieces where featured in a 1976 MoMA, Eggelston created a guide to accompany this. The MoMA show is regarded as a watershed moment in the history of photography. It marked the acceptance of colour photography by one of the highest validating institutions.

During the period of his 1976 exhibition, Eggelston was introduced to the Andy Warhol circle the influence of such artist helped eggleston to develop the idea of the "Democratic Camera". Eggelston also experiment with moving image during the seventies producing a roughly edited piece entitled Stranded in Canton writer Richard Woodward liken it to a "demented home movie"

Eggleston's work is recognizable by it's subject matter, the use of ordinary things Eggleston unique ability to find beauty and vivid color in the most mundane of things.

I find Eggleston an inspirational character for 3 main reasons. The first is despite have no formal qualifications he was able to make a success and show his art to the world, the second is this vision that unique ability to see what others do not and third for bringing colour photography to the world. I am like so many others a fan

Hot Ghetto Mess

So first the disclaimer, I know this blog site is for my Photography course in order for me to demonstrate my verbal and written communication skills, but i could not resist writing about this one, and in my defense I am definitely communicating and i was taking pictures.

To say it in colloquial terms I have lived in the ends all my life (East London), I'm not a tourist, nor a shrinking violet. Those that know me well would describe me as several variations of nuts. I have been a club photographer for a conservatively estimated 7 years, Damb it I could say I am the, archetype urban club photographer of my generation, but on Saturday gone I had an experience that traumatised even me.

Last Saturday /Sunday was not especially different from any other weekend in the life of this creative, I was taking pictures. The single thing that differed was that I broke two cardinal rules, the rules in question are Don't take pictures in the REX, and don't ever go back to the REX. I ask how do you describe the REX to someone who has not been there, the magnitude of the response I had to this 3 hour time slot. Well within the Black community there is the term, Ghetto which refers to embarrassing ,uncouth , uneducated behavior that make you cringe when you see it, I truely feel that this mode of behavior transcends communities, races and religions . And the REX is GHETTO. Now at this point you might be asking yourself what is the REX? To answer that question the REX is a nightclub, A ghetto nightclub, a extremely ghetto nightclub. Only the lure of money convince me to break my rules after all, I'm a student now.

I was very careful to bring just the minimum of everything i needed. Especially when i was informed the event was called breasts, yes breasts you read right. Now I had an idea of how ghetto this event would be, but the stark reality of it was a completely different monster.

The first thing that I found perplexing was the amount of photographers that where in the club taking picture against walls of the club, and even more perplexing where the poses adopted by the women that I would not attempt to do in the most provocative of erotica shots and little kim would be proud of .

THEN THE WOMEN OMG THE WOMEN, now as person who is advocate of natural hair I find weave and wigs distasteful and bad weave deplorable, but if the bad weave was the end of it, it would of been a tolerable evening but, it wasn't can you imagine a person like me who shoots art nude photography and enjoys that medium being appalled by the amount of naked flesh on show. If I wanted to see that much silicon I would of bought it in B&Q. This combine with the hard back course nature of the women in this event made me what to run away,the men in the venue did not worry me. I was careful to not step on on anyone shoes and watch my P's & Q's. but the women OMG the women, the women where scary, i have no more words to describe it please just look at the pictures and you tell me if this is a hot ghetto mess

Melanie Manchot: Celebration (Cyprus Street)

Melanie Manchot: Celebration (Cyprus Street)

Whitechapel Gallery

Outset Project Gallery(Gallery 5)

Despite the title of Melanie Manchot's exhibition. I could not get past a start feeling of despair in the images displayed. The punctum of the images was revealed for me in the subjects eyes, the distant glances and wary stares of the participants tell the story of the struggle of East End Life transcending all ages, ethnicities and religions. To find a point of which we can truly celebrate is to acknowledge that we all struggle together

In terms of studium I can only estimate that Melanie was trying to highlight the evolution of East London's status from working class to middle/ upper class. the use of Cyprus St one of the most affluent roads in the area would suggest that East London is on the up and that is to celebrated. In addition to this the use of extra character such as the pearly king and queen would suggest Melanie wanted to use the street party as a sign of community cohesion long lost and the power of that. I can only speculate,under that notion one could infer that the artist wanted to showcase community strength reinforced by East London's multiculturalism. However to a certain extent I feel the subjects in the images have be objectified like prostitutes in Amsterdam red light district. Another opportunity for art intellectuals to wax lyrical while drinking champagne before going back to their middle to upperclass lives. Again maybe I'm just a cynic , which is my prerogative, but maybe melanie should stick to the feminist perspective and leave community cohesion alone

The accompanying video installation had what I will describe as a LSD quality about it the slow tempo of the footage that takes you slowly ambling down Cyprus St, gives a surreal feel that creates another world. I do question if that world will ever exist again, and the cynic in me asks if it down the road from Sesame St, but i digress.

The lighting on the portrait images are as I already stated are stark, dark and even broody, the sun does shines in East London, I know I have seen it and there for me, lies the rub. On my travels of late to several london galleries I have began to notice the type of images favored by organisation such as the Art Council and National Portrait Gallery to name a few. Now is it that bright happy pictures are to closely associated with fashion and advertising and to be a real artist you have to be dark and depressed or was it me who missed the point. Either way I did not find the the celebration very celebratory.