Well-Being Competition - BAIL203

The Wellbeing Competition gave us the opportunity to create a piece/s of work in response to the topic of ‘wellbeing’. These pieces would be put forward into a selection process, where the best outcomes will be showcased in an exhibition. The aim was to promote awareness of mental health, and the help that is available to students.  

(laser cut box, metal gold leaf, LED lights, and ceramic lion painted in acrylic)

The Objects 

The box itself looks boring and mundane, however it’s the glowing gold cracks which lure you in, and make it beautiful. Inspired by the Japanese art of ‘Kintsugi’, the flaws and breakages of the piece are highlighted and seen as part of the history and value of the piece, rather than something to disguise and cover up.

The interior of the box has been gilded with gold, showing that one’s value comes from within. The lion that sits inside shows how even the ‘strongest’ of animals can feel scared, afraid and anxious, (all of which are unexpected emotions to be traditionally associated with a lion). This can be compared to the world that we live in, as society expects certain people to be strong and resilient (e.g men), but actually they are as susceptible to feelings of the opposite.

The lion is inside an enclosure to represent a barrier/comfort zone; anxious and afraid of life beyond the box. However the box is showing signs of deterioration, symbolising that this barrier is being overcome slowly - a sign of progress and hope. These small indications of progress are showcased in gold, conveying their importance and significance.

The Experience

Another element to this piece is the emotions that it makes you feel. Firstly, animals are scientifically proven to lower stress and blood pressure levels, and improves your general feelings of happiness.

Furthermore, the surprise of finding something unexpected inside an ‘average looking’ box makes you feel happy too. The act of peering inside something small, to find things smaller than life resonates with things from our childhood (dolls houses etc), this again fills us with joy and nostalgia.

Therefore, not only does this piece convey topics of wellbeing through symbolism, but the emotions you feel in response to it actively improves your wellbeing too.

Art in the Experience - BAIL203

For my outcome for the Well-Being project, I really want the experience that you get from the piece to be part of the focus. I want the emotions that you feel in response to my art to actually have a positive effect on your well-being.

I have found several examples of artists who make art to brighten up people's days: Jan Vormann, Paige Smith, and Jim Bachor. These all however use the experience as a 'secondary meaning', and the main motivation for these artists are bigger world issues - the experience isn't always the sole focus.

I've been trying to source a piece of art where the experience itself is the art. I've managed to come across the work of James Turell, specifically his exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum: Aten Reign.

The exhibition piece itself deals with such simple and ordinary things: light, space and perception. His work encourages you to reconnect you with your senses, and it's the experience itself which is the art form. A request was put forward for visitors not to photograph the exhibits, as Turell really wanted to put emphasis on the experience - and that it is an essential and vital part of the art (which cannot be replicated on any level through photos).

Happiness - BAIL203

For my wellbeing project I want my piece itself to improve your wellbeing. I want people to walk away smiling, feeling inspired, uplifted, positive, and ultimately happy.

To give me the best judgement and understanding, I conducted some research into happiness itself, and what factors cause people to be happy.

Happiness is defined as, "the state of being happy" [1], of which is "feeling or showing pleasure contentment". [2]

During the 2011 UN General Assembly, the importance of happiness was discussed. It was not highlighted just as a priority for global health, but it was also acknowledged as a 'fundamental human goal', in which even economic growth can benefit from [3].

The study of happiness has been a global focus for scientists, psychologists and Buddhists. The exact formula of which still hasn't been pin-pointed. However, there are a handful of things that we can surround ourselves with, and do, in order to make ourselves happier people:

1) Caring about other people
Within all of us we have something called the 'moral molecule', which is associated with love and pain relief. This molecule releases oxytocin when we think about the ones that we love and care for. Looking at photos of your friends and family can raise oxytocin levels - making people happier. Ultimately personal relationships are a vital component to happiness.

2) Old Age
Studies have shown that elderly people are happier in their later years, than they were when they were teenagers. This might be because they had more knowledge and life experience, so they can consequently enjoy life more.

3) Positive Thinking 
Thinking positively vastly contributes to happiness. There are 5 ways of thinking that can help you to adopt a positive mindset:
- Be grateful
- Be optimistic
- Count your blessings
- Use your strengths
- Commit acts of kindness [4]
Being aware of your strengths and noting all of the positivity in your life will encourage better well-being and overall joy.

4) Exercise
When you exercise, endorphins are released. These are natural painkillers and create feelings of euphoria

5) Enjoying Culture
Immersing yourself in the outside world and the different aspects of culture has been proven to boost your happiness. Going to an art museum, a ballet show, seeing a play, or even attending church are a few ways this can be achieved.

6) Having Pets
Studies have found that some of the happiest people around are the ones that have a pet. Pets not only increase our self-esteem, but they also give us a sense of belonging and meaning to our lives. Being around animals can also reduce blood pressure, and reduces stress too.

Other things that can boost your happiness:
- Nature (being surrounded by plants)
- The outdoors
- Music
- Looking back on memories, reminiscing
- Doing a hobby, e.g gardening, dancing, drawing/painting
- Meditating

[1] https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/happiness
[2] https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/happy
[3] https://www.bustle.com/articles/70762-what-really-makes-a-person-happy-9-things-science-knows-about-what-really-keeps-us-content
[4] https://www.livescience.com/9824-5-happier.html
[5] http://changingminds.org/explanations/emotions/happiness/what_makes_people_happy.htm
[6] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016/03/15/the-33-things-that-will-make-you-happyand-the-seven-that-definit/

Great Editorial Race 2018 - BAIL203

For the past 2 weeks I have been taking part in a 2 week project called the 'Great Editorial Race'. This takes place every year at the college, and is aimed at simulating a brief with a very quick turn around. This encourages you to think quickly, made crucial decisions, and to work and communicate efficiently with your peers.

Below are the two finished editorials that were submitted for the GER:

I won 2nd prize for my design of 'Can basil grow on the moon?', and 1st prize for my design of 'Little White Lies: Arrival'

Note: Images have been uploaded in a low resolution for copyright reasons

Bookbinding - BAIL201

For my final book, I plan to bind the whole thing together by hand. As a beginner, I had to undertake loads of research, not only to know how to do it, but to choose the right type of stitch for my book.

I found a series of videos on YouTube, which shows detailed steps on how to bind together signatures into a text block, and then how to create a hardcover to fit.

I will follow both of these tutorials closely in order to achieve a neat and professional finish.

Gender - GCOP200

Toxic masculinity e.g stereo types associated with males e.g they don't show emotions... depression.

Shakespeare played on gender stereotypes, commonly reversing the roles between male and female. Men played women in theatre as women weren't 'allowed' to be actors, and he 'messed' with the conventions of his time.
Other playwrights and directors have played on this. Julius Ceasar is a play that has almost an all male cast. However, a version was made where there was an all female cast.

Hamlet being played as a women means that the play becomes a story about a 'human', rather than a specific gender, and their typical relationship associations.

There are many fluid ideas of gender.
Males look back, as they are already in a privileged position. There's no need for change, and they prefer how it's always been. Females on the other hand have to look forward, push for change, and try to move forward in history.

Socrates "I know, I know nothing"

The Fantastic Masculinity of Newt Scamander
- Unconventional male hero
- Atypical form of masculinity
- Quiet, confident type of manhood
- Connect with magical creatures
- Socially awkward
- Empathy
- Sensitive masculinity

Due to this alternative representation of a lead role male character, it has received many bad reviews: 'boring', 'ill', 'simple'. Everyone has been conditioned to expect a certain type of masculine performance.

He has a sense of vulnerability, whereas men are expected to be strong (not weak).

In movie posters of the modern day, there has been an increase in strong female characters. However, upon closer inspection, they all have been adorned with powerful weapons, e.g guns, swords, arrows. This demonstrates how even to this day, there is still a struggle to present women as strong individuals, without any need for anything else.

Despite this, there has been a stronger focus on enlightening female characters in texts. Damsels in distress doesn't have to be female, for example in Star Wars, a female rescues a man. There is a Bechdel test, which can be used against different texts to see if:
- There are 2+ named female characters
- They must have a 60+ second conversation
- Conversation must not be just about a man.

Texts that pass this test: Ghostbusters Reboot, Star Wars, Hunger Games, Doctor Who (female doctor).

Narrative Theory - GCOP200

'Narrative' and 'Story' are two different things, although sometimes they can be easily confused.
'Narrative' is the way that the story is told. The way that the events are put together to be presented to an audience.
'Story' on the other hand is the sequence of events. The plot.

Using this vocabulary, you can easily contrast and compare different types of medias/texts (e.g films, books) that share the same STORY, but the NARRATIVE is different. Alice in Wonderland can be a good example of this, as there are many similar stories that share similarities e.g someone going into a dream world.

'Texts' can be anything, e.g book covers, photos, paintings, animations, logo design...

Marina Warner (1994), noticed that contemporary worries were always applied to folk tales. Mankind was concerned about the same stories all of the time leading to repeated narratives. Myths that keep reoccurring.

Prometheus (from Greek mythology), was about a man who made another man to accelerate progress. This creator was punished. This story is echoed in many other stories e.g, Frankenstein, Jurassic Park, Rocky Horror, Adam & Eve, Utopia, Avatar, Humans (TV series)...
These all use the same basic story, but take on current contemporary concerns. They all include:
- Ego/isolation of creator
- Sense of futurism (at the time that the film was made)
- 'God' complex
- A consequence/something goes wrong
- Character playing the monster
- Creations become aware & seek out meaning

Throughout history, there have been loads of people who bring forward different models that help to break down stories/narratives.

Vladimir Propp - Looked at fairytales, and identified different character types.
- The protagonist - HERO
- The antagonist - VILLAN
- The sidekick - HELPER
- Dispatcher - BOSS
- Fairy - DONOR
- Princess - GIRL
- False hero - BETRAYER
(Not all appear in stories. Character can be more than 1)

Tzvetan Todorar  - Looking at the plot of the film
- Equilibrium (the normal) (This can be carried on from an already altered equilibrium from a previous episode/film)
- Disruption (the problem)
- Uncertainty (solve problem?)
- Repair (go back and return) (maybe slight changed/altered equilibrium)

Structualist - Claude Levi-Strauss 
Binary oppositions between people/ideas = tension
Opposing ideas = conflict
Better understand the message of story to understand  them (overcoming the problems)
Good/Evil, Villan/Hero, Corruption/Innocence, Age/Youth, Reality/Fantasy, Mundane/Special, Freedom/Oppression, Trust/Betrayal , Holding on/Letting go, Savagery/Civilisation, Peace/War, East/West, Science/Religion, Rich/Poor, Hunger/Fullness, Insufficiency/Poverty, Excess/Consumerism, Developed/Underdeveloped...

You need the opposite in order to notice one of the extremes.

Roland Barthes
Explored the way in which texts make meaning. He did this by pulling apart texts into semiotics and understanding how they fit together. The meaning was created by the active audience. The text remains open.
Shift from PASSIVE audience to ACTIVE audience.

Narrative Codes = meaning is made by following 5 codes placed into be read by the audience.
1) ENIGMA CODE = puzzles to be solved. Delay the ending. Maintain interest and anticipation. Resolution at the end (keeping engagement).

2) ACTIONS CODE = Progression of narrative expects consequence. Action/behaviour = consequence, e.g development of character's relationships

3) SYMBOLIC CODE = Process of representing an object/idea/feeling. Visual metaphor (e.g mockingjay pin)

4) SEMIC CODE = Use of connotation = insight to characters/objects/settings. Learn to be able to read through/understand the narrative.

5) CULTURAL CODE = Outside knowledge. Culturally specific knowledge outside of the text. What knowledge do we bring that helps us read the text. Easter eggs. Influences from 90/80s etc.