Saturday 30 May 2009

Copy of Induction Exercise





























The purpose of these sessions is quite straightforward. It is to learn how to look, speak and write about images and objects in both a reflective and critical way.



As part of this process of discovery we need to find out how images and objects communicate with their audience. This process of communication requires two basic elements: a ‘sender’ and a ‘receiver.’ To put this as a question to be answered:

How is meaning provided by the ‘image’ (the sender), and how is that meaning understood by its audience (the receiver)?

Over the years these kinds of questions have been answered by various frameworks or methods (methodologies), and we will consider some of those methods as we go along. But for now, let’s just look and consider how meaning is provided and understood.

So I want you to look at these objects and environments and begin interpretive discussions within your groups; one person can be elected to give the feedback.

Here is some basic information to start you off. They were made by the sculptor Elisabeth Frink and then cast in bronze, each figure is life-size, and they are displayed in the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Try to answer the following question: Who are these bronze men? Why are they naked; why are the faces painted; why are they in a group; why have they been cast in bronze? Can they tell you anything about the artist?

What’s obvious about them, what kind of ideas to they bring to your mind, what do they remind you of, what do they signify or ‘connote’ to you?
Just begin looking and writing.

Now try a similar technique with this image:

















Can you make any productive comparisons between these images?

Friday 29 May 2009

Hello, and welcome to the Critical Perspectives blog!

Critical Perspectives: BA HONS DESIGN AND VISUAL ARTS

http://criticalperspectivesbadva.blogspot.com/

Hello, and welcome to the Critical Perspectives blog!

My name is Peter Muir, and I’m the moderator for this forum, as well as being one of your tutors for Critical Perspectives.

The Course Discussion forum is open to all Level 1 students, Pathway Tutors and the Critical Perspectives course team. It is intended to provide you with a place where you can ‘meet’ other students from this and other Levels, to discuss the course with them and support each other throughout the year. Do use it straight away to post a brief introductory message, letting other students know your previous academic and artistic experience and interests, and your thoughts about the coming year’s work. This will be a good way of getting to know each other and also getting used to the blog.

As you get into your work, we will also use this forum as a place to discuss the course materials you’re studying. If necessary, I will initially post some points to get the discussion going, but do feel free to raise issues and questions and introduce topics of your own as they crop up during your engagement with ideas and materials. What we hope is that this blog will provide a place for lively and interesting debate by all students. I hope you'll also use this forum to let us all know about current or forthcoming exhibitions and other events that might be of general interest, useful websites you've found, interesting books and articles you’ve read, and so on.

With very best wishes for a good year’s study,

Peter

Some general guidelines:

1 Discussion of themes and topics generated by study of the course material is encouraged. However, material which could be incorporated directly into a formal assignment brief is not permitted, and will be deleted from the blog.

3. Please keep subject headers brief and relevant to the thread of discussion.

4. All use of third-party material should be acknowledged, whatever the source. Messages should not be forwarded without the originator’s permission. This includes material provided by your tutors.

5. Messages should be relevant to Critical Perspectives and of potential interest to the majority of participants in the forum. Messages intended primarily for an individual should be sent to his or her mailbox.

Critical Perspectives: BADVA