Week 3 - Barbara Bolt's essay 'The Magic is in Handling'

 This reading was predominantly about 'practice-led research' and the benefits of learning as you go, rather than having a dedicated time to prepare before you start your practice. Practice-led research is a process where the 'theory emerges from the reflexive practice at the same time that the practice is informed by theory.', in some sense it is a mutually beneficial process for both areas of the practice as they grow together. 

Within the reading there is an argument from Martin Heidegger 'In being and Time' where he states 'we do not come to 'know' the world theoretically through contemplative knowledge in the first instance. Rather, we come to know the world theoretically only after we have come to understand it through handling'. This is seen extremely often, even at University. In our course it's all good learning about the different theories, but you only truly learn and understand them, when you finally put them into practice yourself. There is also the idea that 'practice can become theory generating', this is another reason why being hands on and active is a beneficial way as you can work backwards as well as forwards.

There is also another term used in this reading that Paul Carter uses to explain 'material thinking'. This term, 'originary', is 'a way of understanding that derives from the thing in question, in this case the 'thing' is practice. Originary for practice led research is 'understanding that originates in and through practice'.

Overall, this reading has given justification to something I previously thought, that you can in fact do the work first and then eventually find the theory within what you have created. Of course it's important not to neglect the theory and messages behind what you are producing, but there is a benefit with doing it the way practice-led research suggests.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Week 2 Question - How might it be possible to hide or even negate the "self" through the acts of self-portraiture or self-representation?

Within self-portraiture there is of course a representation of the individual who made the piece, however this does not mean that in these pieces of work the work doesn't negate from the individuals actual 'self'. A prime example of this is looking at Cindy Sherman's work, where she photographs herself, but in a form that is of course not her true 'self'. Within her work she presents herself in a grotesque manner that defers form the norm of how women are presented in the media. This is an example of a Masquerade, as she is hiding herself with something else. In this case, she is hiding herself with an excess of make up and props. This is one example of how you can hide your 'self' through self portraiture or self representation.
Read more

Week 1 Question - How do we identify/locate/describe 'value' in works of art, particularly media art?

 The idea of 'value' in any piece of art is extremely subjective for each individual who indulges in this craft. This value may be in the work of art itself, a reproduction or not, by enjoying the work of art for what it is. It could also be in knowing that the one piece you have is the only piece in the world, the value being the authenticity of the piece.  There are many different ways a viewer of art can deem the value of it. But, a more objective way of looking at it is the monetary value some artwork hold. The higher the price is a much more objective way of looking at the idea of more value. We see the highest priced artwork is in fact the authentic piece of work, the very first piece. This is due to the fact this original version is deemed to still withhold it's 'aura' and therefore it's true value. So one way to identify 'value' in a work of art is to identify whether it is the authentic piece of work and not a reproduction. Of course that object...
Read more

Week 6 Reading - Sharon Daniel's Public Secret, critical discussion of her work

The main thing I took from this reading is how it may benefit me in my documentary making process, in finding ideas and choosing to persue them. There is an explanation in this reading about the benefits of voyeurism and looking into minority groups' stories, as you can give a platform for these people to get their message out there. The reason for documentaries with people in less fortunate positions being so necessary and needed is it gives those that wouldn't otherwise be able to speak out, the possibility to do so. Where we mostly see the news manipulate stories on them, we are able to get a truer depiction through voyeurism and looking into them. 
Read more