Category Archives: Project 6

Tutor feedback #6

Tutor feedback for my assignment 6 took the form of a video chat.

I spent time this month on my first attempt at a literature review so received tutor feedback on that attempt. My literature review was based around a section of Barthes Camera Lucida. I didn’t attempt to review the whole book but instead focussed on his ideas which was similar to the background and reason for my own research.

I was advised not to embed other sources into my treatment of the original source. Instead keep the treatment of sources separate but after I have discussed each source it is appropriate to also discuss where they converge or diverge from previously discussed sources. If the source extends the previous source’s argument, then this is something you can flag up at the beginnig of the subsequent source’s treatment before elaborating on the particulars of the source.
Trim my detail on biography of Barthes’s family and instead be brutal in summarising. A simple statement along lines of “Barthes’s life was been framed through loss” is sufficient to give context around Barthes and his attitude to death.
Crucially, if I spend too much time (and word count) there is less space left to consider the theory.

I also received helpful feedback on my creative test pieces. One important point which struck me was that some of my work seen as being literal and some more philosophical. Literal work allows less space for the audience to form their own ideas and opinions and to make their own sense of my work. My tutor described this as beginning and ending with the description of the idea. This isn’t always something I find easy as there is an element here about losing control and of ownership of the ideas behind my work.I will make a conscious effort to consider this literal/philosophical divide.

Progress review against learning outcomes

This was an idea from previous feedback session and I think is a good one. It provides an opportunity for me to return to the basic outline and aims of the unit and then stop and think about what I have done so far and to summarise my progress so far in relation to learning outcomes and to think about what I can do better.

Photography 3.1: Practice and Research (PH6PAR) Learning Outcomes

In general terms, I feel that my understanding of the terms knowledge, understanding and application have shifted many times over the course of my studies. This is a good thing as it implies deeper consideration of my areas of study and of the basics of learning.

LO1 – Examine your emerging practice through a considered body of self-directed work

My work on research, written works and creative test pieces is developing in pace with my emerging practice. It is far from polished and at this stage, I have no clear or definite idea of where exactly I am heading.

When I started this unit, I thought I had that clear and definite idea of my level 3 project but the more I research and practice and stop and think and then research and create more test pieces, the more different questions occur to me and different paths of research. Quite apart from the terms of this course and any assessment, I am learning, through my work, about myself. There was always going to be a very emotional and introspective element to my chosen field of interest. I increasingly feel through trying to understand the fields of death, symbolism, loss, grief and memory, very close to my own personal relevation and better understanding of a crossroads in my life when in space of 3 days, I lost my mother and then my daughter. I realise now that I didn’t even mention my mother when I was articulating this project. Strangely it was as if there was a gap in my head. In my research this is an important idea around loss and the impact on the living.

LO2 – Apply relevant research methods and subject knowledge to test, inform, and develop your work.

My research is developing. I have not been trying to force any set direction in my first half of course. Instead, I have been researching areas of interest. There is a feeling that the research drives me rather than me driving my research. My analogy would be allowing the wind to take me where it will. I do feel that there is a gap between my research and how this relates to and informs my creative attempts and the development of my practice and areas of specialisation.

LO3 – Present informed connections between your research and practice interests.

I mentioned that I felt there was a gap, or maybe a mismatch, between my research and practice interests. I think about these but need to be more definite and organised about recording my thoughts and plans. It not so much a failing with what I have done so far, it just an area that I can improve upon looking forwards. I thinbk as I approach my research and creative works in more depth in this half of the unit, these connections will become defined. I am aware of this so will make a conscious effort to think more on these connections as I work. Crucially, I need to force myself to bring some of my research back to foundation that this is a photography degree. I therefore need to conduct my research thinking of my themes of things such as death, loss and memory through the prism of photography.

LO4 Articulate your creative ideas and critical thinking using suitable communication methods.

I think I have been articulating areas of interest, ideas that interest me from my research and creative works, interpreting my creative impulses using a variety of techniques and am comfortable with different routes on how to communicate these interests.

I have identified areas I can work better, or in business speak, work smarter particularly in recording my thoughts, the links between my practice, my research and including a feedback loop, by which I simply mean trying something, reviewing and then trying again.

As the first month in second half on unit, I have tried to look in more depth this month especially around my creative works, my initial attempt at a literature review, my revised plan and my expanding list of sources which interest me. I will be interested to receive feedback on these things to see if my conscious attempt to shift my energies are moving me in the right direction.

Project plan review #6

This is start of second half of unit following first half which was punctuated with midpoint review. It feels to me almost like the unit has two parts. This second half of unit needs more tightly refined research and creative works made with a purpose and then reviewed and revisited if required.

Last month I focussed my energies on the midpoint review so this month have revisited my plan and how my planning for this second half of the unit should evolve.

I have refined my plan using the improved structure I introduced a few months ago. My changes recognise the second half of unit will have different emphasis from the first. I have changed my milestones to make them more relevant. At this stage have not expanded my tasks for month 6 into month 7 and beyond and will look again next month to see if am happy with my plan’s relevance to my work.

Here is an image of my revised plan.

Reflective commentary #6

This month my work was a little different in feeling from previous months which took up the first half of this unit. This is first month of the second half of this unit.

I have produced some creative works, I have had my first attempt at a literature review. As I was working on this has opened up some new sources which are very interesting within the confines of my research. In addition I have tried to summarise my progress in unit so far in relation to learning outcomes.

I am currently reading the following source material

Death, Ritual and Belief by Douglas J Davies
A Social History of Dying by Allan Kellehear
Family Frames: Photography, Narrative and Postmemory.

In addition to these I have been looking at the following sources but in less detail than the 3 books above.

Hold Still: A Memoir with Photographs by Sally Mann
Visual Methods in Psychology: Using and Interpreting Images in Qualitative Research by Paula Reavey
Myths and Legends of Flowers, Trees, Fruits and Plants by Charlkes Skinner

Creative works. As I was laid low with Covid and have not been out of house much I adapted my process to construct some work on the computer using my own photographs and some found images of gravestones and altering these. I was interested in expanding on my previous creative works and to explore some of my ideas using both known burials where the gravestone is clearly marked and also unknown burials where gravestone has decayed and I do not know who lies there. The ideas of memorial stones being cared for or forgetten and left to decay has a strong link to human memory. I have introduced text and layered known images and unknown images of people into my constructed images and have attempted to age and weather known gravestones to imagine them as forgotten. I have also been experimenting with using the symbolism

Project plan review #6

As the start of second half of course, I feel a more detailed and in-depth plan was required so I have spend some time reviewing and revising my plan.