Sunday, 8 November 2015
Wednesday, 7 October 2015
Representing FCP3 Negotiated Project Ideas
Feedback: Both ideas are suitable for an FCP project, consider if I want to create a publication as there is a Live Brief which features creating a publication.
THOERY: Jean Baudrillard
The interaction between reality, symbols and society.
Baudrillards theory of simulacra and simulation discusses the ideas of symbols in modern society. He argues that culturally we have replaced all reality and meaning with signs and symbols, leading to a complete simulation of what reality is. He states that the human experience is no longer 'real' and is simply a simulation.
Baudrillards theory of simulacra and simulation discusses the ideas of symbols in modern society. He argues that culturally we have replaced all reality and meaning with signs and symbols, leading to a complete simulation of what reality is. He states that the human experience is no longer 'real' and is simply a simulation.
Dismaland: A Hyperreal Playground for The Everyday Cynic
The art gallery come theme park curated by Banksy and 50 other artists has now closed it doors to the hoards of hipsters who flocked the seaside town of Western Super Mare. Highlights included; a miniature town complete with sirens, riots and police vans, remote control boat loads of refugees (some floated eerily in the surrounding water) and a performing (model) killer whale leaping from a toilet. Ticket prices reached £6000 on eBay and the new burst in tourism offered up an impressive £20million for the town. Once dismantled, the instalment materials will be taken to the Calais Refugee Camp to help build shelter.
The exhibition itself is a huge tangle of examples of hyperreal in theory and in practice. The irony surrounding the instalment is huge. Theme parks are built as distractions, entertainment and escapism from what is going on in the world, in this instance however the distraction has taken on the form of what is happening in society currently. This refugees, for example, seemed a very fresh example of this, some could say it's a little close to the line following the images in the papers. But how else do we raise awareness. Some of the other pieces aren't necessarily as current, the Cinderella carriage crash? Could it be Diana? The hoards of photographers trying to capture every grisly detail.
However you interpret it, it is an example of hyperreality in popular culture today, an ironic simulation of events which have happened are happening. A micro universe.
However you interpret it, it is an example of hyperreality in popular culture today, an ironic simulation of events which have happened are happening. A micro universe.
Monday, 14 September 2015
Infographic Design Research: 70's Influences in Fashion
The 70's have been a huge trend across the catwalks in 2015 and look to be staying on into 2016. Influences have cropped up in everything from prints, enormous sunglasses to boys in pussy bows. I'll give a nod to this when constructing my infographics and use it throughout the aesthetics of my work as it's one of my favourite trends. Bring on all the jazzy wallpaper!
NYFW and The #BlackLivesMatter Campaign
It's been appearing in pop culture since those haunting scenes emerged of a New York's Staten Island Police Office holding Eric Garner in a fatal choke hold. The death, or rather murder, sparked a political uprising and The Black Lives Matter campaign, which has now worked its way onto the catwalks of New York Fashion Week '15.
Pyer Moss opened their show with infamous footage of Eric Garner, and a Texan teenager being manhandled by Officer at a party. The collection was then presented with the slogan 'I can't breath' appearing throughout. Accessories reminiscent of gun holsters and 'blood' splattered boots were an eerie addition to the collection.
REFLECTION:
Political messages in fashion collections are a reminder of the blurring lines between the two, whether fashion is seen as a distraction to the worlds problems it's becoming clearer than ever that, no matter how hard we try, we can't escape the worlds problems through the distraction of popular culture. And rightly so.
Pyer Moss opened their show with infamous footage of Eric Garner, and a Texan teenager being manhandled by Officer at a party. The collection was then presented with the slogan 'I can't breath' appearing throughout. Accessories reminiscent of gun holsters and 'blood' splattered boots were an eerie addition to the collection.
REFLECTION:
Political messages in fashion collections are a reminder of the blurring lines between the two, whether fashion is seen as a distraction to the worlds problems it's becoming clearer than ever that, no matter how hard we try, we can't escape the worlds problems through the distraction of popular culture. And rightly so.
Sunday, 13 September 2015
Hyperreality: The Chinese Addiction to Escapism
Documentary: BBC 3 Secret Life of China - Fit in or Fail. http://bbc.in/1LyTFFF
Presenter: Billie JD Porter
Shown: 25th August 2015
The pressures a Chinese teenager face are arguably the most stressful of any population. 'Problem Children' are those who can't focus, smoke, drink or generally disobey elders. Their way of dealing with these teenagers is to send them to bootcamps reminiscent of military bootcamps. They are disciplined, made to follow orders, daily, for up to nine months including cleaning toilets and exercises such as standing, staring at a spot on the blackboard for periods of time. Another huge part of these programs to 'fix' problem children, which we would consider completely and utterly normal teenagers, are long arduous marches which can last up to two weeks. On these expeditions the students walk in excess of 40km, sleep in trucks and have buckets as lavatories. Is this the correct way to help? In many cases children are sent to these bootcamps due to addictions to online gaming. In China it's thought that up to 24 million teenagers are addicted to online gaming, even with an online gaming population of 368 million (motherjones.com, 2015) that seems an awful lot.
In fact, online gaming is such a popular activity over there is has developed to a giant scale spectator sport. Pro gamers are bought and sold, a la footballers, earning up to six figure salaries. The players are idolised by young girls with fans obsessing over them, they're seen as sex symbols, the boy band members of the gaming world. Would all this obsession over virtual reality worlds not hint towards a generation desperate to escape the pressures of the modern world? Surely an addiction rate that high shows how hyperreality is becoming ever more present, with the virtual and physical worlds merging, quite definitely, into one.
Presenter: Billie JD Porter
Shown: 25th August 2015
The pressures a Chinese teenager face are arguably the most stressful of any population. 'Problem Children' are those who can't focus, smoke, drink or generally disobey elders. Their way of dealing with these teenagers is to send them to bootcamps reminiscent of military bootcamps. They are disciplined, made to follow orders, daily, for up to nine months including cleaning toilets and exercises such as standing, staring at a spot on the blackboard for periods of time. Another huge part of these programs to 'fix' problem children, which we would consider completely and utterly normal teenagers, are long arduous marches which can last up to two weeks. On these expeditions the students walk in excess of 40km, sleep in trucks and have buckets as lavatories. Is this the correct way to help? In many cases children are sent to these bootcamps due to addictions to online gaming. In China it's thought that up to 24 million teenagers are addicted to online gaming, even with an online gaming population of 368 million (motherjones.com, 2015) that seems an awful lot.
In fact, online gaming is such a popular activity over there is has developed to a giant scale spectator sport. Pro gamers are bought and sold, a la footballers, earning up to six figure salaries. The players are idolised by young girls with fans obsessing over them, they're seen as sex symbols, the boy band members of the gaming world. Would all this obsession over virtual reality worlds not hint towards a generation desperate to escape the pressures of the modern world? Surely an addiction rate that high shows how hyperreality is becoming ever more present, with the virtual and physical worlds merging, quite definitely, into one.
Infographic Design Research: 70's Interiors and Mario Degrada Covers
Researching visuals for infographics and data visualisation. Taking inspiration from 70's interiors and retro book covers, Mario Degrada's work in particular. Bold shapes and colours can clearly show data information, whilst maintaining the 70's aesthetic.
Introducing Villoid: The most addictive app to date.
Created by 'fashionista' Alexa Chung for us amatures we're presented with Volloid, a stylish cousin to Polyvore, in which the user puts together outfits of images from brands online stores. An added feature, which differentiates itself from the pack, is that you can buy from the app think a Depop, Polyvore hybrid. With brands from ASOS to Valentino it would seem this is the latest development in the ever changing e-commerse industry, combining luxury with online convenience appealing to an audience who have spawned a love of #ootds through Instagram and Pinterest. Inspired by Cher's computer program in Clueless (1995) this app allows the user to explore, follow, buy, create and interact with other users. Not to mention be a good bit of addictive, procrastination while we're at it. As our online personalities flourish, merging with further with the real world, at last we can all pretend to be Chung living out fash dreams and #fblog to our hearts content.
Tuesday, 8 September 2015
FCP 3: The Beginning
To begin the third and final year, I have set up this blog to try and force myself into organisation. The purpose of this is to ensure all my ideas, thoughts and inspirations are captured a. so I don't forget all the fab ideas and b. as proof that I am actually thinking about things other than food etc. I will add images of hand written notes, brainstorms and diagrams as well as links, images and articles all relating to my chosen subjects. Everything from planning research methods, call sheets, results from actual research, BTS images and information from seminars and lectures. I will touch upon the research and brainstorming seshes carried out Pre-FCP3 Proposal and go on to expand and investigate further. Tags will be used separating each topic, style of post and define if I am referring to individual or group work. A la the humble post-it.
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