1st March- Reflections

1st- Reflections 

I began the day today reading 'Ethics' which is a book by Whitechapel gallery. I am well into the fort chapter and already seeing a great correlation between politics, social issue and ethics even when this is linked back to art. This is interesting as the essays and works the book contains are part of wider essays/texts/books, therefore the Whitechapel book has helped by putting all of these vital parts in one place. The editor decides this, if allows me to see a lot of the things I am interested in one place linked to the things my work delves into. (Full book reflections on separate blog post + relevant quotes)

Although the cross Course collaboration task is drawing to a close I have been thinking more deeply into the use of PSA's and looking about over my sketchbook research. I have realised and seen through my research that they are a tool for social control very often and to install desired norms. The irony is that these norms have changed over time leaving some very dated and irrelevant. However, compared to the amount that get released and made to day there seem to be very few tacking some massive issues that our society has. Such as the environmental catastrophe we will be facing very soon if the 'everyday person' (exactly who PSA's are aimed at) changes. Therefore the question has been raised within me as to what exactly the reason for this is and in what other ways social control is now exercised, or is it just that now the control is in different (private) hands instead of government or public bodies. This was my co temptation as I have been working on a series of written works in my sketchbook musing on this subject and allowing free flowing thought. This interpretation of information mixed with my own outlook will give a different slant to any series PSA's we view at the screening. We as a production team are of a very different profile compared to the typical PSA 'producer'. Our end goal will have much less vested interest compared to private or (elite) government.

I have also been contemplating the plans I left the last unit with, to make a film series, focused on research writing and text interpretation. I have been considering the use of government language and how accessible it is made language wise in correlation with the underlying research needed to unpick those very simply written lies. This imbalance is a cause for concern as is marginalises so many people into the 'unaware' bracket through no fault of their own as the entire system is built to allow compliance. I think to move forward with this work I will do a filmed re writing of a document (by hand) with all the scribbled edits visible. This next to a spoken version as well as Brail would allow for the most obvious statement regarding accessibility. I think this to be displayed in a simply lit room/photographed in the dark would further the concept of forced compliance and misunderstanding. Working through my PSA research has therefore lead me full cycle back to my own practice and plans. I have also received the prep material for the Claire Potter workshop coming up soon. I hope that engagement with her, the workshop and that material will allow slight relief from my investigation of how this work can 'successfully' live with the intended impact and effect.