God knows how old!
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
Missing (2)
Below is a current analysis of my ideas involved in the new brief:
"How many sides to this story are there? Is it simply betweem the missing and the missed or do characters intervene between the two? And why is it only when it’s realised someone is gone are they desired. If they ever did come back, would that yearning for the other person dissipate gradual or stay consist when reunuited? I could also look in to how effort in the searches can deteriate from certain sides, covering efforts from friends and family, the council, the police and any police abroad. Do people just disappear for a reason? Is it an escape? And if so what degree of self indulgency and selfishness would it be classed as? Maybe it varies from one case or the other, when you investigate the private lives of those that go missing, do they have a homelife? I’ am trying to think in a backwards way, working backwards from the point that the search is ended. There aren’t a great deal of steps to trace, but this is a possible lead for how my project could evolve. The question is, will I focus on the missing persons side or the idea of drifting apart from the rest of society within a closed environment, no matter what type of doors are shut. So that’s my choice at the moment, what route do I go down? First of all I need to think about how open each side is research wise and how “available” the topic is, where can i get leads for research, what resources are available and how available are they?
Ok, so let’s start with the entire missing persons theme. The right place to start would be by researching past and most “standout” disappearences that resonate the most with the public, because of how they’ve been covered in the media this side of the millenium. Working backwards is Claudia Lawrence. It feels most relevant to work from here, due to the fact that the case is within Yorkshire, and Laurence was working as a chef at the University of York at the time of her disappearance. And than you start looking for reasons and answers, why? Was Claudia leading a double life? Were the rumours of multiple relationships with unknown men true, and if so would it be the reason for laurence to go missing in the first place? Or was it something else? There are endless amounts of leads you could ponder and consider, but the likelihood is that only a small amount of them speak any truth or sense. The Claudia Lawrence case will most likely remain a mystery until Claudia is actually found, unless any investigation provokes new promise in finding Lawrence. The comes the aftermath, the influx of these rumours start to become severely public and and sometimes seen through rose tinted glasses. No debate can bring her disappearence to justice, no matter what questions you ask yourself. It’s the “news” that encourages these mindsets, to start out your own investigations and boil up obscure thought processes that are probably totally unrealistic.
But then there are other examples of missing persons claims, take the Shannon Matthews case for example.After just under a month of police investigations, fundraising, spreading awareness and general searches, the massive police operation ended at Batley Carr, where Matthews was found alive and well in the house of Michael Donovan, the uncle of Shannon’s father Craig Meehan. At the time, this seemed like a repeat of the awful case of Madeliene McCann in 2007, but on a more localised scale. The entire story was propelled in to a scandal as both Matthew’s mother Karen and Craig Meehan were arrested on seperate charges. Both were eventually given a maximum of 8 years in prison for possession of child pornography, kidnapping and false imprisonment (regarding the actions of Craig Meehan) and for child neglect and perverting the course of justice (against Karen Matthews). The stories of Shannon Matthews’ kidnapy shock the nation, via the media who desperately seeked people who may of seen Matthews after the time she was reported missing. Over the course of her 24 day disappearence, the Matthews family recieved both criticism and sympathy from various nation-wide newspapers, comparing it closely to Madeliene McCann’s disappearence. It was also speculated at the time that this was in fact a stunt formed in the Matthew’s family in order to earn money from news coverage, but until Shannon was found under Michael Donovan’s bed, the family were publicly shamed for the atrocity"
Of course, this needs to be extended to include the case of Andrew Gosden, Matthew Wilcox, and talk further about foundations and charities that are acting and preventing missing persons cases such as Shelter, along with The Big Issue, the social business that allows the homeless to earn money, and to start rebuilding their lives. It's key that I also look in to the turmoil caused by these vanishings, their effect on friends and family. Finally I'll cover finding those that go missing, and where life goes from there. It's quite a gargantuan task but I'll try my best to undertake it in a dignifying and truthful way that discusses and informs the audience about loss, how it's dealt with and how to move on.
"How many sides to this story are there? Is it simply betweem the missing and the missed or do characters intervene between the two? And why is it only when it’s realised someone is gone are they desired. If they ever did come back, would that yearning for the other person dissipate gradual or stay consist when reunuited? I could also look in to how effort in the searches can deteriate from certain sides, covering efforts from friends and family, the council, the police and any police abroad. Do people just disappear for a reason? Is it an escape? And if so what degree of self indulgency and selfishness would it be classed as? Maybe it varies from one case or the other, when you investigate the private lives of those that go missing, do they have a homelife? I’ am trying to think in a backwards way, working backwards from the point that the search is ended. There aren’t a great deal of steps to trace, but this is a possible lead for how my project could evolve. The question is, will I focus on the missing persons side or the idea of drifting apart from the rest of society within a closed environment, no matter what type of doors are shut. So that’s my choice at the moment, what route do I go down? First of all I need to think about how open each side is research wise and how “available” the topic is, where can i get leads for research, what resources are available and how available are they?
Ok, so let’s start with the entire missing persons theme. The right place to start would be by researching past and most “standout” disappearences that resonate the most with the public, because of how they’ve been covered in the media this side of the millenium. Working backwards is Claudia Lawrence. It feels most relevant to work from here, due to the fact that the case is within Yorkshire, and Laurence was working as a chef at the University of York at the time of her disappearance. And than you start looking for reasons and answers, why? Was Claudia leading a double life? Were the rumours of multiple relationships with unknown men true, and if so would it be the reason for laurence to go missing in the first place? Or was it something else? There are endless amounts of leads you could ponder and consider, but the likelihood is that only a small amount of them speak any truth or sense. The Claudia Lawrence case will most likely remain a mystery until Claudia is actually found, unless any investigation provokes new promise in finding Lawrence. The comes the aftermath, the influx of these rumours start to become severely public and and sometimes seen through rose tinted glasses. No debate can bring her disappearence to justice, no matter what questions you ask yourself. It’s the “news” that encourages these mindsets, to start out your own investigations and boil up obscure thought processes that are probably totally unrealistic.
But then there are other examples of missing persons claims, take the Shannon Matthews case for example.After just under a month of police investigations, fundraising, spreading awareness and general searches, the massive police operation ended at Batley Carr, where Matthews was found alive and well in the house of Michael Donovan, the uncle of Shannon’s father Craig Meehan. At the time, this seemed like a repeat of the awful case of Madeliene McCann in 2007, but on a more localised scale. The entire story was propelled in to a scandal as both Matthew’s mother Karen and Craig Meehan were arrested on seperate charges. Both were eventually given a maximum of 8 years in prison for possession of child pornography, kidnapping and false imprisonment (regarding the actions of Craig Meehan) and for child neglect and perverting the course of justice (against Karen Matthews). The stories of Shannon Matthews’ kidnapy shock the nation, via the media who desperately seeked people who may of seen Matthews after the time she was reported missing. Over the course of her 24 day disappearence, the Matthews family recieved both criticism and sympathy from various nation-wide newspapers, comparing it closely to Madeliene McCann’s disappearence. It was also speculated at the time that this was in fact a stunt formed in the Matthew’s family in order to earn money from news coverage, but until Shannon was found under Michael Donovan’s bed, the family were publicly shamed for the atrocity"
Of course, this needs to be extended to include the case of Andrew Gosden, Matthew Wilcox, and talk further about foundations and charities that are acting and preventing missing persons cases such as Shelter, along with The Big Issue, the social business that allows the homeless to earn money, and to start rebuilding their lives. It's key that I also look in to the turmoil caused by these vanishings, their effect on friends and family. Finally I'll cover finding those that go missing, and where life goes from there. It's quite a gargantuan task but I'll try my best to undertake it in a dignifying and truthful way that discusses and informs the audience about loss, how it's dealt with and how to move on.
Monday, 4 October 2010
Missing
Ok. So I've had a "brainwave" or a eureka moment... I'am not sure how to describe it just yet. But it's an idea nonetheless. Our next brief, which I mentioned earlier, is based around us producing a book that MUST include Leeds in the title.
Now, I'd seen a Channel 4 documentary ages ago about how people can disappear without a single trace, with no family, friends or vague relatives to lead back to. Maybe not even neighbours. These people (who might live in a house as opposed to being homeless) can often either simply disappear without a trace or sadly pass away. I want to highlight the harrowing side to this truth, and describe in a dignified language that plays tribute to the lost souls of Leeds.
I'm also quite interested on the scale this happens, and where it happens. How in a place in Leeds you can remain practically invisible to anyone and everyone, as long as your behaviour is pretty much unassuming and not elaborate or aggresive so as to attract attention to one's self.
I'am going to debate the idea of interviewing homeless people or seek out people that often feel alone and ghostly, somewhat. Obviously, I'd use a dictaphone to record the interview(s) and then copy them in to the "book".
As not too much other information has been revealed as far as the brief's detail is concerned, maybe it's best not to think too ahead, but approach it with a design state of mind, as opposed to rushing in to the whole thing.
x
Now, I'd seen a Channel 4 documentary ages ago about how people can disappear without a single trace, with no family, friends or vague relatives to lead back to. Maybe not even neighbours. These people (who might live in a house as opposed to being homeless) can often either simply disappear without a trace or sadly pass away. I want to highlight the harrowing side to this truth, and describe in a dignified language that plays tribute to the lost souls of Leeds.
I'm also quite interested on the scale this happens, and where it happens. How in a place in Leeds you can remain practically invisible to anyone and everyone, as long as your behaviour is pretty much unassuming and not elaborate or aggresive so as to attract attention to one's self.
I'am going to debate the idea of interviewing homeless people or seek out people that often feel alone and ghostly, somewhat. Obviously, I'd use a dictaphone to record the interview(s) and then copy them in to the "book".
As not too much other information has been revealed as far as the brief's detail is concerned, maybe it's best not to think too ahead, but approach it with a design state of mind, as opposed to rushing in to the whole thing.
x
Corinne Bailey Rae
Can't wait to see her this sunday, such a marvellous talent. Bursting at the seams with a lot of personal lyrics, makes listening to her all the more worth the while x
The Scroobious Pip
And not the Edward Lear poem. But the Scroobius Pip. His pseudonym's basically a miss spelling of Lear's poem, and Pip is of course a poet. In a different way though. The songs produced between himself and sidekick Dan Le Sac are lyrically binded with Pip's words that resonate on the beat. It's all well and good being able to debate common subjects with guns, bitches and bling as our standard "rappers" tend to word it. But Scroobius is completely different, practically the polar opposite. He speaks sense and absolute intelligence, which in this day and age is incredibly difficult to come by. OK, so he might cover subjects with capitalism, self harm, suicide, and violent relationships, but only a fool could reject Pip and Dan's music because of this. These treacherous topics aren't just tip-toed around, neither are they stamped on, but they are instead discussed in a musical way that reflects are truer reality, clearer than what the news might tell you. To me, the spoken word that comes from Pip is sublime and often surreal, but after hearing a few tracks you can't help but immerse yourself in every spec of detail and possible meaning. It's music that causes you to follow down the garden path, to make you think and to sometimes ponder. But Pip isn't a preacher or a ranter neither. He's not forceful or political as such, but asks for your attention. Which is why at times it's hard to write anything about people like this, because 99% of interpretation in any sense becomes bent and distorted every time it's heard by someone new. He's nothing like Skinner, Green or Example. He's more Gil Scott Heron, Mr Mojo and Rakim, boiled up with anarchic attitude and The Specials.
And he focuses on reality that hasn't been processed or edited, there's no post production and no view of how someone else sees things. Just one guy's observations, placed in the most intelligent language that the man's blessed with. In the least cliched way possible, I admire Pip more than a lot of people outside of family blood.
It's just a personal yearning for other people to simply listen and understand.
Scroobius Pip 1# - Original black gel pen illustration coloured in Photoshop
Scroobius Pip 2# portrait complete in 9B pencil, with poetry background written in black gel pen.Deadline
Today didn't feel like such a remarkable relief that it should be compared to anything so remarkable, but just a relief. And kind of peculiar, knowing that it's the first project been and gone in 3 weeks, and I've been on this course for a month already. Crikey. My intentions have been heightened for this next pending project - "to make a book" - which at the moment deems itself to be rather cryptic and cloaked in mystery, but I'am sure all that'll evaporate tomorrow.
And there's a bonus as project numero deux marks itself as independant, which feels reassuring,
knowing there's no-one to depend on, but probably nobody to compare with either. At the moment I just have pure excitement coursing through my veins. But it's only a brief!
And there's a bonus as project numero deux marks itself as independant, which feels reassuring,
knowing there's no-one to depend on, but probably nobody to compare with either. At the moment I just have pure excitement coursing through my veins. But it's only a brief!
Sunday, 3 October 2010
Printing
Printing is something I really could do with exploring, but I'am new to the whole thing and more or less clueless to any form of printing except for the digital type. Oh and the one where you dig out the rubber mat and make a print. I'am pretty dumb. So hopefully in the near future I'll get round to making prints of some of the work I have hanging around, including these circular designs that measure 12" in diameter and were originally drawn and coloured in single black gel pen. They took bloody ages. So it'd be quite nice to draw out the entire potential of these illustrations, amongst others.Just waiting to be taught, but I'am in the best hands. Patient.
The Villagers - 'Becoming A Jackal' on Later Live...with Jools Holland
Beautiful. Winter anthem, so fortunate to be seeing him in 3 weeks time x
Saturday, 2 October 2010
Ilkley - FanZine entry (2xDPS)
Here are the final output designs for my first "proper" brief starting the Visual Communication course. I havn't really placed any real focus on this brief unfortunately, so it's about time. We've had approximately 3 weeks to produce an informative but not necessarily formal publication in the style of a homemade "Zine" - most popular in the 70s and 80s - and decided within a group of five to draw upon being "Lost in/around Leeds".
Our "Zine" - entitled "The Donut" - covers the surrounding areas that radiate out from Leeds City Centre, but are still categorized as being included within the Leeds City Council area.
Each person in our group will play an integral role of creating a diary-esque overview of our chosen destination that we decide to focus on. My choice was Ilkley - a town I was already knowledgeable of, but not in such great depth.
Essentially my Zine entry describes a guide of Ilkley's most well known characteristics, in a way that could be directly understandable and helpful to anyone inquisitive enough to visit or "get lost" on a magical mystery tour.
Here are my two double-paged spreads based around Ilkley (there might be a third on it's way). Enjoy!
p.s I'am not entirely content with the title font for "Ilkley", so I intend to go through a phase of experimenting with this little piece of text to find the best combination that works with the whole composition.
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