#westminsteruniversity

[gambinijournal]

Women Rise Up  part2

Gaza border protests. 2018

A woman argues with a riot police during a protest against Chile’s government in Santiago. December 2019.

Saffiyah Khan confronts EDL protester. Birmingham 2017.

The woman from Seoul, South Korea.

The woman from Amazon.

Pakistan gender equality protests.

Ni Una Menos protest.

Chile.

Ecuador, 2019

#westminsteruniversity #visual research #activism #womenempowerment #womensrights #women #womens strike #RiseUp #6IMAG001W #research #content creation #ecuador #chile #digital archives #journal task #photojournalism

[rviale]

Week 3 - ARM, Gallery visit

Today we have been taken for our first gallery visit at the Tate Modern to see Olafur Eliasson’s exhibition In Real Life. 

After documenting myself and researching a bit about the artist and his work, I definitely engaged and understood more today than the first time I visited it, in July. 

Olafur Eliasson is a Danish artist whose major interests concern elements (such as water, light, air) and space (and the relationship between everything that is in it). In Real Life shows both of these aspects and applies them to the more and more concerning environmental problem. 

Using a mixture of different media (photography, lights, material objects...) he tries to sensibilise the audience in order for them to realise the problem through engaging and immersing themselves into his artworks. 

The exhibition, mainly made of hypnotic installations, has many points that can be discussed and analyzed. Firstly, the big and important message that can be found behind every piece relates to the global environmental issue. Everything presented has something to do with the natural world and the way natural forces act around us. The ethic aspect comes up spontaneously. How far can technology and art installations go in order to not distract the audience from the real message? How differently could he portray this matter to make it more immediate (if there is a way)?

I don’t think his artworks are deceiving at all. In fact, I think they actually make you realise your relationship with space and the outside world in a way most people might never do naturally. Seeing water fountains and walking across a misty and humid corridor, for example, inevitably lead you to think about the nature of the elements you are sensorially witnessing. I think there’s no more immediate way of fully understanding something than experiencing it. 

Eliasson has been criticized for one of his pieces he exposed last year in front of the Tate Modern and Bloomberg headquarters. He brought 30 ice blocks from the glaciers in Greenland and exposed them to melt in order to sensibilize towards global warming. Critics have accused him of contributing to the issue by willingly taking the ice from its natural environment. He defended himself saying Greenland loses 10,000 of those ice block daily, 30 more wouldn’t have made any difference there but possibly would have made a big impact in London way of thinking. Where does the right thing stand? Probably in the middle. 

The last bit of the exhibition consists in a wall completely covered in words and images related to many pieces of research and theories Studio Olaf Eliasson has been investigating. It is full of inspiring starting points for different arguments and analysis. 

Since my major interest is connected to our relation to space, I found the exhibition very much like something I would one day like to do. I think the best and easiest way of communicating through art HAS to involve engagement.

Olafur Eliasson - Beauty , 1993 

Media: Spotlight, water, nozzles, wood, hose, pump

Olafur Eliasson - Glacier Series, 1999

Medium: Photography

Olafur Eliasson - Din Blinde Passager (Your Blind Passenger)

Media: Fluorescent lamps, mono frequency lamps (yellow), fog machine, ventilator, wood, aluminium, steel, fabric, plastic sheet

#olafur eliasson #tate modern #advanced research methods #westminsteruniversity #reflection #5IMAG016W AdvancedMethods Journal Task

[melakas-finalproject]

BA (Hons) Photographic Arts Major Project 1 Research Report

This should be a summary of and a critical reflection on your research process so far. You should try to give the reader a sense of the process you have been through - your journey, your thoughts and decisions along the way and what has informed the choices you’ve made. Try to be as honest and as critically reflective as you can.

Please extend boxes as required (length 1000-2000 wds)

Name

Emily Kopaskie (Mela Kas)

Major Project Title

(Or working title - how and why did this title develop?)

They Are Me and I Am Them (working title)

No Costumes but All Mask (Working title)

Research Methods

(What methods have you used during this phase of the project and how have they helped you develop your ideas and inform your major project proposal?)

As my dissertation topic goes along with my initial project idea, that research has been apart of my thought process when photographing. Currently I’m writing about about the comparison of two female tropes (Femme Fatale and Manic Pixie dream girls) from completely different time periods but were both formed out of the males perspective and anxiety towards the changing times.  Femme Fatale and MPDG were both tropes that I would see in movies as a kid but never knew what to call them until recently. I have looked into why the men wrote these types of role, what iconography goes with it and how the fact that cinematic language can be more impactful than dialogue.  Part of this research will also include how these tropes had evolved by pop culture or the public redefining their roles and adding visual check lists to spot other examples of these tropes. This also set off a number of blogs and journal entries online by women who declare themselves the real life versions of these tropes, so I was interested in why so many people felt like they were a one dimensional character in real life.

With this in mind, I will be researching the pschyological impact of the cinema language of these tropes.  As Laura Mullvey discusses in her essay Visua Pleasures and Narrative Cinema, movies invite audiences to drop their ego and have it be replaced by the ones on the screen. As this is the process subconisouly I believe some of those images stay with us and persuade our own idea on how we should act and look. As for many years the film industry specifically hollywood was written from the males point of view, these tropes were written with a preconceived idea on how their leading ladies should act in the world.

This topic comes from a subjective place as I have realised I Identify with femme fatale and Manic Pixie dream girl greatly. As a kid I looked up to these characters for being different, independent, interesting and saw how desirable they were. I feel subconcisouly I have learned how to act and cultivated my own identity with them in mind.

Specifically this aspect of my disseratatiing will influence my photographing process as I personally identify with her argument. The easiest way for myself to escape was to loose myself in movies and tv shows. When the fact i didn’t understand my emotions was too much I would try to forget myself by loosing myself into movies and tv shows.

This research helps me be more  thoughtful in examining of my impulse decisions i make while producing self portraits that are inspired by the cinema.

Pilot Project

(What have you achieved through the development of your pilot project/s? What have you learned from the process? Identify the main concepts that might direct or drive your major project.)

I have achieved a decent amount of photos to ether choose from or that are usable  as a inspiration board when continuing.  I have also achieved a bit more of a appreciation of my impulse issues as it helps me be more passionate about photography.

I have learned to pay more attention to my settings on the camera as its important for these photos to be crisp  as I plan on displaying them on a lightbox. I will continue to watch more films for my research and engage with my emotions when watching characters that inspire me.

Audience and Context

(Has a consideration of Context and Audience made you think about your project in a particular way? Have you been aware of the histories, conventions and audience expectations of particular contexts? Have you considered different contexts and how have you responded to them?)

I’m aware that my project is in the same realm as Cindy Sherman, Nadia Lee Cohen and Anja niemi. All of these artists who identify as female work in self portraiture that are inspired by ether common cinema narratives or classic vintage Hollywood fashion of dress. While some are an obvious critique on roles that are available for female and on hyper femininity, I would mention that my project isn’t about critique the misgony towards women in film. It is a clafiricay or a statement that I am them and have been greatly internally influenced by the females I have seen on film. This project is admitting that my authentic self is not as authentic as one would believe. These tropes were a medium that I felt the most comfortable with when picturing what was desirable to men  I have been striving to cultivate the ideal version of my self with the help of these tropes and other female narratives.

Production and Presentation

(Discuss the production methods you have been exploring through your pilot project. What effects do these different approaches/ visual strategies have on the work?  What choices have you made in the refinement of your visual approach and why? Is the approach you have chosen effective in communicating your ideas to the identified audience?)

As this project is about my natural impulses, I am choosing to shoot in digital as this is where I am the most comfortable since I’m shooting self portraits. I have also downloaded a canon capture app on my phone which connects to my camera so I have more freedom with framing and focusing on my own. As I primarily work alone this is very helpful.

The things I found difficult is that I rely on all natural lighting I choose not to plan and set up my shoots to bring outdoor lighting as I feel it goes against the spontaneity of the project. That being sad that means during the low lighting moments are not the best quality as I had to use a high ISO often.

Also there has been times when shooting on my own has gotten difficult as the connection from my phone to the camera didn’t not work within places with very little service. As I will be planning on shooting up north preferably in the moors I am thinking of bringing an assistant as I’m limited to a 10 second timer to get into the desired position.

The fact that I choose to take photos of myself acting out these different scenarios  in my own clothing that i wear to a day to day basis I believe does begin to clue in on the meaning of the project. Going forward I am considering on research the places I visit more clearly to better plan out the images and really think about using lower ISO’s to improve the quality of the photos.

Visual References / Bibliography

(List the key visual and critical references you have explored during the research process. Discuss how useful these references were for the project and what you learned from them).

Francessca Woodman

She is a self portraiture photographer who primarily works in black and white analogue film. She is the one who said that she shoots herself out of connivence and photographs how her body interacts with environments. The movements made are very expressive and often comes out blurred. The locations chosen are often abandoned old looking houses or gothic style nature.

While her work doesn’t use a kind of cinematic language that I am striving for, the quickness and spontaneity of her process speaks to me as well.

Wuther Heights, Jane Eyre, 2011 Movie

The cinematography of the landscape in proportion to the subject had always intrigued me. The lone subject

The moors, which describes the land and kind of terrain that was the backdrop to Bronte sisters novels. As these novels were often about isolation and loneliness in the movies, the moors symbolised these feelings. The shots of the lone subjects with the vast flat foggy moors and brown but yet cool coloured terrain was beautiful shown through feelings of melancholy.

Cindy Sherman Unitled Film Stills

She was the first fine art photographer that was I was introduced who really spoke to me. Beforehand I felt lost as none of the photographers talked about in my lecture inspired me. She has influenced me greatly and allowed me to admit to myself how much I do not know myself but rather the image of who I want to be.

#research #photography #fine art photography #westminsteruniversity

[itsannajovanovic]

Beyond the Frame, Salt Print Workshop:

On Thursday, 22nd of November, I had the salt print workshop with Ulrike Leyens, It was very interesting although it is a very long process. I think this is going to be the final decision of technique for my project. I loved the result and I really enjoy the time past in the darkroom, I find it very relaxing. 

#5IMAG001W #beyondtheframe #saltprint #workshop #archives #westminsteruniversity

[parametricarchitecture]

Just one days left for the opening of the Fab Fest 18. We see amazing works by students from all over the world. Still waiting for the final results. @fabfest.london . #fabfest18 #westminsteruniversity #structure #installation #fabrication #digitalfabrication #fabricate #digitaldesign #design #designer #parametric #grasshopper3d #rhinoceros3d #parametricarchitecture #parametricdesign #parametricism #architecture #architect #architectureporn #mimar #mimarlik #construction #amazingarchitecture #archilovers #architecturemodel #architecturestudent #studentwork #architecturestudents (at FAB FEST '18)

#architecturemodel #fabrication #structure #archilovers #designer #digitaldesign #architectureporn #studentwork #parametricarchitecture #parametricism #mimar #architecturestudent #architecturestudents #grasshopper3d #construction #amazingarchitecture #westminsteruniversity #design #mimarlik #architecture #installation #digitalfabrication #rhinoceros3d #architect #fabricate #parametric #fabfest18 #parametricdesign

[herrdavidgz]

This, was part of a project my colleagues at Westminster and I had to work on. Also it reminds me that about this time last year we were in lockdown all over the world and nonetheless, I got accepted with a great grade at the university I’m finishing my master now. #tbt #london #westminsteruniversity #master #projects & #supdepublyon #master2 #design #graphicdesign #lyon (à Lyon, France) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNavf_rJaQK/?igshid=1663xn4l7dcle

#tbt #london #westminsteruniversity #master #projects #supdepublyon #master2 #design #graphicdesign #lyon

[anastasiachristou]

#modern #staircase #pink #westminsteruniversity #modulea #module1 #photography #highaperture #sharp #4IMAG001W

[cianmars]

2 hours before the exam is the right time to study for the first time.... right? #uni #englishliterature #literatureexam #westminsteruniversity (at Little Titchfield Street Library, University of Westminster)

#westminsteruniversity #englishliterature #literatureexam #uni

[popgoesthenow]

I'm excited to be leading the new cross-disciplinary Pop Goes The Now module

#WestminsterUniversity

[fionaharnett]

#westminsteruniversity #photographer fiona harnett

[gambinijournal]

Girls making petrol bombs during the Battle of the Bogside, Ireland, 1969.

Two Armenian counter-militias fighting the Armenian genocide perpetrated by the aturkish Ottomans, 1915

Leap Radić hanged by Nazis for being a Yugoslavian Partisan during WW II, 8.02.1943.

Annie Oakley, 1899

An old Armenian woman defends her house, 1990.

Rosa Parks, mugshot after being arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a public bus to a white passenger, 1955.

Women protesting forced Hijab days after the revolution, Iran 1979. Photograph by Hengameh Golestan

Palestinian fighter Leila Khaled poses with her weapon and grandfather in 1969. She became a vocal fighter often speaking in Europe against the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.

Four women from Maryland chased the men down and surrendered them. The men were terrorising the neighbourhood for several weeks. 1950

Girls at school in USA protesting the school dress code. 1940.

#visual research #journal task #westminsteruniversity #6imag001w #baphotography #journaltask #new woman #womensrights #demonstration #strike #womens strike #materials #womenempowerment #rosa parks #dress code #representation of women in photography

[rviale]

Friday 11th - Vision and Technology

During last Friday lecture, we discussed “Spiritual photography” and the idea of “Haunted media” as in the idea of technology controlling humans. 

Spiritual photography didn’t interest me very much. It’s curious to know, though, how it developed during the 1850s and it’s also quite interesting to get to know how photography was seen in that period and to what it was associated. 

Daguerrotypes were considered as an instrument of almost disembodiment and dematerialization of real objects for their unclearness. With the developing of Spiritualism, the figure of the Medium started to become more and more common in societies and people started to rely on these figures in order to find answers to their questions. 

Photography then started to be used in order to give people what they needed and, especially during WWI period, Spiritual photography became an actual thing. Families were being destroyed by the war and many lives were lost. Wifes were looking for ways to somehow communicate with their dead husbands and parents looking for answers on their kid's death. Photos started then to be manipulated in order to give peace to them and also to, of course, make a business out of this tragedies. 

Right after WWI, Surrealism started to develop taking inspiration from the fashionable mediumism and the common idea of the influence of Death and subconscious in real life. 

The concept of Haunted Media is still quite current and it reflects in many aspects of contemporary lifestyle. The idea that technology in some way controls human lives through some kind of emanations or radiations is still very common and hugely discussed. Artists often still work with (or against) conspiracy theories regarding the use of technology by powerful organs in order to maintain some kind of control over the more weaks. 

#vision and technology #lecture #westminsteruniversity

[melakas-finalproject]

Jane Austin Longing Part 2

Decided to skate to Hampstead Heath, one of my favorite parks.

This has been a park that I run too when trying to comfort my loneliness and feelings of isolation.

During times like these, going to beautiful old parts of London that makes me feel like I am transported to another time reminds me why I chose London to move too. 

I continued to channel my feelings of isolation and loneliness into an Austin/Bronte sisters aesthetic like narrative as that is one of the themes of these novels I was always drawn too.

 As a kid before I was old enough to read these novels, I found great beauty in seeing the moors and desolate terrain landscape that was set as the backdrop of these dramas in the movies. (shown in the move specifically the Brontes Jane Arye, Wuthering Heights etc. )

The environment and surroundings were a big part of these novels and were one of the many things that made me pay attention to cinematography.  

This was only shot in one part of the Heath, I continue to explore the rest of the heath to find more desolate places.

Then eventually plan on traveling up to Yorkshire to shoot at the actual places the Bronte sisters grew up and wrote there novels about.

#finalproject #univeristy #westminsteruniversity #BAP3 #Photography #jane austin

[itsannajovanovic]

Just a small video of backstage during the shooting

#westminsteruniversity #4imag003w

[parametricarchitecture]

@burningman festival has revealed a spiralling wooden pavilion as the main temple to be built and then sent up in flames in the Nevada desert this year. The design, by french architect Arthur Mamou-Mani of London-based Mamou-Mani Architects, was selected by the Burning Man Arts organisation, which oversees the creative programme for the annual nine-day event. @mamoumani Named Galaxia, the temple will be formed of 20 timber trusses that spiral up and form a tower as they converge. The triangular trusses will create different paths into the centre of the pavilion, where a giant 3D-printed mandala will be placed. Small alcoves along the routes will provide spaces for visitors to write and reflect. . Please follow us on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/parametric.architecture . #burningman #nevadadesert #frencharchitect #westminsteruniversity #wood #woodwork #installation #fabrication #digitalfabrication #3dprint #3dprinting #digitaldesign #design #designer #parametric #grasshopper3d #rhinoceros3d #parametricarchitecture #parametricdesign #parametricism #architecture #architect #architecturedesign #architecturaldesign #architectural #architecturephotography #architectureporn #mimar #mimarlik

#architectural #frencharchitect #nevadadesert #wood #architectureporn #digitalfabrication #architecture #architecturaldesign #design #woodwork #parametric #westminsteruniversity #fabrication #3dprint #rhinoceros3d #parametricarchitecture #grasshopper3d #parametricdesign #architecturephotography #mimar #architecturedesign #parametricism #installation #3dprinting #digitaldesign #designer #mimarlik #burningman #architect

[linjianglongyi-blog]

Selfie.#westminsteruniversity #leicamp240 #selfie (at London, United Kingdom)

#selfie #westminsteruniversity #leicamp240