Assignment 3: Tutor Feedback

Overall Comments

Very well written and expressed intro/evaluation/proposal for this assignment. Its evocative yet draws attention to the mundane regimented life under Covid-19 lockdown. The decision to approach this using a Typology strategy and presenting them as ‘cinematic’ diptychs allows all sorts of ‘meanings’ to emerge though recognisable social phenomena and codes of self-portraiture – even a postmodern nod to ‘google box’ – even though perhaps unintended – the connotations are all there which make for a rich, well researched and appropriate under the circumstances interpretation of ‘putting yourself in the picture’. 

Clear integration of concept/theme and the approach strategy with which to express it. The idea to use the auto timer of the camera, captured without your knowledge or input is a very good one. The combination of the staged ‘Tableau’ self-portraits which, although a ‘mundane’ setting are rendered in a high quality, albeit machine like way with the diary entries as a narrative and formal counterpoint provokes the viewer with its mix of syles. 

You could as you reflect both in the written introduction and reference to the blog (of how you got there) use more critical terminology such as ‘medium specific’ ‘Tableau’, ‘Performativity’ and ‘The Banal’ (as a photographic discourse). With particular reference to readings and research, including Shinkle on the mundane and practitioners such as machine made images of Walker Evans and the Staging questioning of representation of Philip-Lorca diCorcia (see – Readings). The emphasis on the interplay between the ‘grand picture’ (Tableau) and about the subject matter of the domestic and quotidian is well formed. 

Feedback on assignment Demonstration of technical and Visual Skills, Quality of Outcome, Demonstration of Creativity 

• Drawing from Peter Mansell’s work looked at in the course document (p; 64) there is a clear context of claustrophobia and compression but rather than use as tight square format in that series you have opted for a more ’cinematic’ 24 x 36 and tiling. 
• Expand on the reasoning behind this more – even though the decisions came out of a process, they still allude to contexts such as Renaissance portraiture and the self- referential (television looking back at you). 

Coursework Demonstration of technical and Visual Skills, Demonstration of Creativity 

• Reference your findings from course work exercises in your written intro and say how you used strategies you have uncovered and been influenced by in the exercises in your assignment. 

Research Context, reflective thinking, critical thinking, analysis 

• Not sure if I would have described it as ‘It isn’t exciting work and the images are far from fabulous’ as that’s the point! Understand the frustration of Covid lockdown but this is a very creative interpretation and in line with some contemporary practitioners. You should name it. 
• The images work well to represent the mundane and banal and some strong juxtapositions (for example Oreo having his biscuit (self-referential) in the diary with the more performed self-portraits. Have a look at the ‘multi-modal’ work of Jim Goldberg (i.e. diaries, mixed with snapshots mixed with more staged set ups and ‘automatic photographs) so that you see that you are borrowing traditions, ‘quoting’ from them and mixing them (which is a contemporary way of working rather than sticking to one approach). 

Learning Log Context, reflective thinking, critical thinking, analysis 

• The blog is very well structured. Keep this idea of the ‘learning log’ as a reflective summary at the right – drawing on the ‘research’ skills in the exercises applying that to the assignments and referencing in the ‘log’. Use of Harvard in text is leading the reader to these points. Just make sure you reference the critical terminology in any written intro. 
• In that way strong reflective thinking in the written introduction to the work as well as the blog. 
• Do be rigorous as you move forward use the critical terminology in your reflections so for example: 
• Typologies 
• Medium Specificity 
• Staging & Tableau When it comes to the context of presentation (tile images) perhaps talk about Diptychs rathe than use vague terms such as ‘two tiled images were more interesting’ as ‘like’ and ‘interesting’ aren’t really specific enough to talk about the codes and genres that you are clearly making sense of and working with. 
• A nod to renaissance ideas of self portraiture combined with snapshot diaries. Page of 2 4 

Suggested reading/viewing Context Camera as auto recording device. 

• Walker Evans: Labor Anonymous: https://davidcampany.com/anonymous-and- incognito-walker-evans/ 
• Many Are Called: 

Tableau / Staged in order to re-inforce that “people represent things. Its not personal”: Philip-Lorca diCorcia: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=So_FK4qnz5Q&feature=emb_logo 

‘Multi-Modal’ use of photographs, diaries, staged and snapshot: 

• Jim Goldberg – The Last Son: https://vimeo.com/196430394 

Theoretical Readings on ‘The Banal’ 

• Shinkle (2004) boredom-repetition PDF enclosed 

Pointers for the next assignment / assessment 

• Do caption your images – rather than ‘_K3P0709’ etc use a naming system that describes the picture (could just be ‘Hollli Kalina Living Room HK001 – where HK is your initials and the first image from that iteration. 
• This will become ultra important in the next level when you are responding to the codes and conventions of genre and attempting to place your work within a Proffesional context (intending them for exhibition, image libraries, for publication. 10 years from now you will be try gin to find ‘ah those self-portraits I did in the living room’ and your hard drive will be full of 24 TB of ‘K3999899 random titles. 
• Don’t be tempted to caption images with their ‘meaning’ allow context to emerge as you have done in your very well written proposal. 
• Strengths Areas for development 
  

  Creative approach sampling a range of approaches 

  Name them and reflect on the practitioners and theoretical influences by referencing the blog. 
  

  Learning log summarising your research. Research has a function to inform the practice work so (see above) reface where you got these ideas from and use terminology 

  Well expressed. Not a negative point. Keep up by reading others blogs, treatments for films etc – to see how they engage the reader and ‘put images in their head’ in order to ‘sell’ the project. This can be done in a poetic way (as you do) rather then just a report. I recommend Wim Wenders (enclosed a as PDF)