Back at University for another year, and I was briefed today by Lawrence Giles on our first module of the year "Areas of Photographic Practice A". The module seems to be quite interesting and something that will challenge us as individuals and as a collective.
We started off by looking at a slideshow of work that delves into the narrative format by photographers such as Duane Michals, Cindy Sherman, Karen Knorr, Colin Blakely, Red Saunders and Dina Goldstein. All these photographers presented their work in a conceptually driven way, with a strong and powerful story. I really liked the work of Dina Goldstein, I had come across her work before but did not know the name of the photographer, therefore, I could not personally research more into her practice as a photographer and any other sets of photographs she has produced. At first I was unsure what the brief was asking us to do, but then it became clear when I was given my keyword.
"SEAT" is my keyword, which can involve a vast amount of things. Since I received this work, ideas have been going over and over in my head as to what I can produce relating to this image. The thought that keeps repeating itself is the thought that people automatically think that seats are stationery, and you don't move in them. This lead me to think about transport seats, such as bus, train and bicycle seats and the effort that is made to use them. I also thought of the impact of the "routine", and how people can fall into a routine, whether it be to go to work or school, or just a general routine when they have a day off.
We also learnt about narrative codes and structures, and what they mean. I learnt that "open structures" have no set perceptions, you are left to think what you think and not drawn to a certain end, such as a cliffhanger in a film. A "close structure" is quite the opposite, there are set perceptions that you must follow and the story always come to a conclusion, and a certain one at that. Then there are "circular structures", which are the ones we are focussing on in this module. The ending is the starting point, they share the same photograph or scene and relate back to each other. We then started to discuss films we had seen that fit the pathway of a circular structure, I thought of the film "Momento" where the main character has 5 minute amnesia and forces himself to remember, but the film runs in a backwards fashion, meaning we learn more about his past further through the film. Other people also discuss the circular narratives of "Kill Bill 1 and 2", "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", "Pulp Fiction" and "500 Days of Summer". I have not seen these films, but make it my aim to watch at least one to get more of an understanding of the circular structure.
"SEAT" is my keyword, which can involve a vast amount of things. Since I received this work, ideas have been going over and over in my head as to what I can produce relating to this image. The thought that keeps repeating itself is the thought that people automatically think that seats are stationery, and you don't move in them. This lead me to think about transport seats, such as bus, train and bicycle seats and the effort that is made to use them. I also thought of the impact of the "routine", and how people can fall into a routine, whether it be to go to work or school, or just a general routine when they have a day off.
We also learnt about narrative codes and structures, and what they mean. I learnt that "open structures" have no set perceptions, you are left to think what you think and not drawn to a certain end, such as a cliffhanger in a film. A "close structure" is quite the opposite, there are set perceptions that you must follow and the story always come to a conclusion, and a certain one at that. Then there are "circular structures", which are the ones we are focussing on in this module. The ending is the starting point, they share the same photograph or scene and relate back to each other. We then started to discuss films we had seen that fit the pathway of a circular structure, I thought of the film "Momento" where the main character has 5 minute amnesia and forces himself to remember, but the film runs in a backwards fashion, meaning we learn more about his past further through the film. Other people also discuss the circular narratives of "Kill Bill 1 and 2", "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", "Pulp Fiction" and "500 Days of Summer". I have not seen these films, but make it my aim to watch at least one to get more of an understanding of the circular structure.
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