MANIFESTO FOR A THEORY OF THE 'RE-POSITION'
At this stage of studying, the end is near and we have nearly reached our pinnacle point of development for the 'Re-Position' within University. Should we inform our professional practice or relay to postgraduate study? James Pentland suggests revelance to this debate
What is the 'Re-Position'?
through a body of research was challenging, but nevertheless articulated through relevant and professional contexts to support a coherent body of work. Identification of these certain areas and topics through the six weeks enabled a sense of progression, rejuvenation for the subject of; Graphic Design.
If, according to Buren, 'it is impossible…by definition, to see a work in its place. Buren suggests that nevertheless to see work within it's primary situation is to define it from the hyperreality of the real world. 'Re-Position' (RP) enables the designer, the consumer of who may perceive such Researching through the vital information accessible Whitechapel series of 'The by what is represented. Documents of Contemporary Art' showcased the The RP is not solely justified by generalisation of major themes the concept of perception but and ideas from a series of the ideology of the context of artists, theorists and writers which we situation ourselves who have published their work in. You may 'situate' yourself within a professional and before you actually understand cultural context. the context of the individual whom you have developed into. From this, diverse patterns The 'Re-Position' is not new (but of research methodologies something that has already began to appear from initially existed). reviewing the Whitechapel series to books that crossWhen a concept (like the referenced theorists who 'Re-Position') is initially followed similar ideas and established and presented, it concepts that were followed is arguably abundant to leave within my individual work. the realisation of the broader subject topic, in which can Attending talks and exhibitions be undermined by the simple that have been going on in a connotations that are offered. external context has further communicated an independent Let visual hierarchies and willingness to grasp and learn positioning lead the confusion the context that we apply of being lost within translation. ourselves through today's society. Research: Determining the 'Re-Position' However, determining what is valuable within research relates Determining the 'Re-Position' to Karl Marx's theory on the use
value of consumption. This theory may be relevant to consumerism but it's ideology of consuming a good can relate to the research methodology, in which developing a general understanding of research enables the starting point for methodical practice. Development: 'Re-Position'
Refining
the
Refining the 'Re-Position' through the development of work is a key value to identify and develop an autonomous practice. This allows the feedback found within critiques, comments from others and tutorials to be a resourceful way of intwining a professional context to situate in. For the last two weeks, the development of the brief 'Appropriation' was a clear interest in mine and held a clear message in which a visual can say more than a thousand words itself. Psychologists such as Jacques Lacan and Sigmund Freud studied the idea of a 'gaze' in which was heavily influential within the starting elements of the work that was produced within the two week period. However, film theorist Laura Mulvey discusses the idea further through Visual Pleasures
MANIFESTO FOR A THEORY OF THE 'RE-POSITION'
and Narrative Cinema in which incorporated 'the male gaze' and how women are objectified through a male viewpoint.
how i'd situate my work in society. On the other hand, enabling a better understanding will not only take more research and development but is an onThis turning point within the going process that only time research of 'the male gaze', can tell. allowed specific examples of imagery to be utilised within This term has not only shaped advertising, films and music my working process but enabled videos in which could be re- me to understand and push, appropriated to consumers as an idea from a visualisation something over-sexualised if to creating a solid body of emphasised. work that is experimental and communicates a message This allowed myself to behind it. deconstruct and reconstruct new narratives with the Positioning: the 'Re-Position' medium of videos for the two week development. Positioning myself within the expanding field of graphic From this new working design, was at first a scary methods came apparent such thought due to ever-changing as storyboarding in which nature of how it is perceived visualising ideas with pen and and the context it's applied paper was a great way to note in. Through this semester my down frames and key scenes to position at first, I thought was include within the video work clear. produced. Evidently, this was not the case Furthermore, editing skills on as of a professional position technological programs such i'd see myself going into is a as Final Cut Pro X and Adobe multimedia designer who is Premiere CS6 were advanced defined by photography and much more in-depth than usual film. to try and test methods within a computer based program. But, through this term has opened up the practicalities Developing and visualising of why I chose design and concepts was not only done by something i'm intending to storyboarding but by mocking progress through after this up imagery seen in real degree is a post-graduate study professional context such as within Visual Communication. advertising billboards to justify
The skill set needed to progress is a portfolio that shows an experimental body of work that is developed through a capability to communicate, visualise and interpret ideas in which I believe has been done extensively through this semester. On the other hand, the work produced by companies such as Gas & Electric, Mother London, MTV and Tomato have added great substance to where I would align myself professionally but practitioners such as George Barber, Grayson Perry and Guy Debord add context to my creative choices of what direction I would steer my work into.