Introduction to Digital Tools

Introduction to module with artist references.

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This module requires I produce a weekly blog evidencing and documenting what I'm doing, including 3 digital artifacts that relate to my own practice, using a combination of different practices.

During my studies, I am encouraged to come to the High-Tech building to expand my ideas and further develop my digital work in my own time.

This module is open to cross-collaboration with other departments and people on other courses who can help with research, furthering skills and adding to my development.

It's important to reflect on contemporary contextualisation, ownership of my work, and shaping my projects to project my own purposes and backgrounds while complimenting my other art practices.

This module strongly emphasises evaluation - document all processes clearly and concisely, including failings and successes, how I could improve and take this forward in the future, etc.

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Artists:

Historical godfathers of film and media - started in analogue

Bill Viola: The Raft - big video art name - collective experience in contrast to the very individual experience - always uses water - creation, life, death, time, humanity - exhibitions are interactive and all-consuming.

I have an appreciation for the simplicity of this video. The artist has clearly thought a lot about how to portray a strong message within a small narrative. There is an invitation for chaos and spontaneity within the filming process, leading to natural and visceral reactions from the subjects.

Pipiloti - Ever is Overall - Beyoncé is said to have copied this video in her performances. Pippiloti's film was criticised for being too accessible and straightforward/too obvious. Is the female police officer allowing the subject's behaviour in solidarity for the feminist message?

Here we see space used in a way we as an audience may not be familiar with - woman taking up space.

For anybody who loves to follow the rules, this film may create a sense of discomfort. This may be turned on the head with the reactions of the public who witness these crimes.While the subject seems happy, carefree and liberated, this is a stark contrast to the message they are portraying. There is a freedom here that many women may relate to; a break from the oppressive ideologies of a patriarchal society.

Doug Aitken: Mirage - transforming architecture to give them new meaning or life. Incorporating galleries into the open-air street creates an exhibition which is more accessible and in your face. Transforms the architecture (project) into anything you can imagine.

How might this change the meaning of your work? How does it change the viewers experience of your work?

Aitken challenges the very fabric of reality with his mirrored buildings. His use of materials and scale redefines the boundaries of the everyday. I have an interest in the infinite and infinity mirrors; this video makes me want to challenge the scale of my previous work and research materials and ways to manipulate an audience's perception in new and exciting ways.

Jonas Mekas - Walden - Known as 'The Godfather of avant-garde cinema'. Jonas is known for his documentary style, visual diary, slice of life, silent film-esque movies. He employs a light-hearted and humorous approach and slices snippets of film together to create a story/narrative

Jonas's use of short film clips invites endless development of narrative. In the contemporary world, we are used to taking video snippets and photographs of the everyday. There is endless opportunity to develop these into any type of story, not just a documentary style video. The simple text slides within the video add a rough, homemade quality to the piece, adding a sense of relatability and nostalgia for the audience.

VALIE EXPORT - Syntagma - performance artists - uses her body in weird and wonderful ways to add different meanings and highlight different parts I of everyday objects architecture etc. activist so her work is political - religion in daily life, hihghlighting women’s uncomfort and hihghighting women’s place in the business world

VALIE EXPORT's use of repetition and overlapping of audio and imagery denotes confusion and irritability within the subject. The feminist message is clear and poetic, once again touching on the confines of the female experience. Something as simple as a heeled shoe walking down the stairs immediately highlights the struggles of the modern-day woman and all the ways she must attain discomfort for the pleasure of the male gaze while working even harder in every aspect of life. With a rise in equal human rights for both genders, the disparity is still prevalent in the workplace today. The scales are tipping ever more towards imbalance for families who can no longer survive on single incomes, forcing the mother to both maintain the household and bring in a full-time wage.

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Going forward, this module requires I create...

BLOG POSTS:

• Weekly updates from workshops - notes, thoughts and evidence

• Minimum of 3 artefacts - any piece of work using digital software - anything you want, use different programmes for each piece

• Start with project proposal - what I plan to do for each project, why I’ve chosen this, what techniques and tools, issues that come up in the process - 250-500 words

• Research - inspiration, historical context, process and how it’s changed historically, artists who’ve done similar things

• Links to anything I’ve taken inspiration from

• Production Diary - details on creating artefacts (how to guide), screenshots/videos of processes to go alongside write ups, any issues that come up

• Evaluation - describe skill level started at, software and what learned, what enjoyed, challenges, study I need to further, skills generated and new ideas, developing in the future