Evaluation

Context of Practice has been a really fun and interesting module for me and I feel that I have learnt a lot from it. During the briefing in the beginning we were advised to choose a topic that we have an interest and could really get into. I chose the question 'Does exposure to violence through the media provoke aggressive and violent behaviour?' the reason I did this was because I myself enjoy watching horrors and listening to heavy music and lead me onto thinking about peoples behaviours towards this type of media. Once I got into the topic I got really enthusiastic and passionate; and began to form my opinions on the matter. I found that people believed that this type of media inflicted a lot of violent behaviour and a lot of real life crimes had been blamed upon them.  I find the darker side of life really interesting and like to know why people do things that they do. I easily found relevant books to help inform my research in which some had conflicting opinions on the matter; which helped give me a stronger and more informed opinion. 

In the beginning of my practical side I initially didn't really know where I was going with it. I don't see that as a bad thing though as I did a lot of experimenting and exploring. The images I created I felt reflected violence and horror quite well but had no substance to them. Therefore, after my first sketchbook and starting a fresh one I stepped away from what I was doing and did a bit of contextual research before I began. This helped and inspired me greatly. The research I found made me want my work to say something. I knew by then that I didn't want my work to look as dark and scary as the first sketchbook but still get across the violent side. I am really pleased with the outcome that I created. It really brings out my opinion on the matter in a sarcastic and funny way. This year I have really been trying hard to work digitally as it has always been a weakness of mine but I feel like I am getting more and more confident with it and I am pleased with the outcome of this work. I want to continue working in this way as I feel like the outcome had my personality shine through a bit. I made a set of stickers to go a long side the book. This was influenced by other modules we have currently on the go; forcing me to think about the importance of product and packing and range. Furthermore, made me think that if I could go back and do more on the project I would like to expand on the product range for this. 

Unfortunately, I believe that writing is quite a weakness of mine. I really do struggle to articulate what it is I am trying to say. Despite this I feel like my research has helped me quite a lot and couldn't of done it without the depth of research that I did. I've learnt from this module that research is key; as it has greatly helped inform both the practical and theory side of the module. I have enjoyed researching and finding things out that I didn't know a long the way. 

Overall, I am pleased with the outcomes for both the written and practical sides of the module. I managed to find and choose my topic for this module quite quickly and early on which therefore allowed me the maximum amount of time to complete this without any rush or panic. I feel that visual work is quite astetically pleasing. Some of the images could probably do with some more work on them but as a whole works really nicely together. The essay I believe was well informed and interesting to write about and feel that I am quite pleased with it. 

Practical Response

Overall I am really pleased with how my practical response has turned out. I also, decided to make a set of stickers to go along side with the book. I decided to make both clear and white backed stickers so that it can give options and range on where you can put them. If I had time to develop further the clear stickers gave me an idea of creating another book. Having drawn up different scenarios and then the audience being able to stick on the Nanna in the book where they would like her to appear. I think that this would be a great interactive piece and would be incising for the audience. However, I am very happy with the book I created and think that it coincides with my essay nicely.   

Essay

Placing Pages On InDesign

For this page of my book I struggled with as I originally drew this landscape but the whole book is portrait. I first re-jigged the composition and placed the old lady and the pond on one landscape A5. But I didn't feel like this looked right as she wasn't pointing towards the pond. I did think that it could look like she was searching for the duck; however, I just felt like it wasn't right. I then went back on Photoshop and made the same composition on A4 landscape so when I put it into InDesign it would go across the two pages. But again I didn't think it looked right. So in the end I separated both the drawings and have placed the old lady on one page and the pond on the other. This will go in the centre of the book so you can see both of the pages and work as a whole. 

Edits that need to be made:

After having all my drawing designs done. I thought that it would be a good idea to print them all out and write anything that needs to be changed on them before I go to get them printed on Monday. Which I have got booked for 19:00. 

All the Grannies for book

Here is a complete view of all the illustrations that will be in the book. I think that some of them still need some alterations tho. But it's good to see them as a whole.

More Grannies

Thoughts on title...

Because my book is quite sarcastic. Illustrating the ridiculousness of the thought that listening to metal music makes people violent and aggressive. I really want my title to be witty and to the point and shows the sarcasm. The books about her listening to metal music so I want metal to be in the title somewhere. 

Here's a photo of the different titles that I was trying to come up with: 

In the end I have decided to go with 'Nannas Gone Metal' ....I think that this really goes well with the images and what I am trying to say. I think that the word Nannas goes a lot better than Grannies. Sounds a lot smoother. Also, like the use of the word 'metal' as sounds like it should say mental. 

Planning

I've made a plan of what needs to be done between now and tuesday. A lot to do, but it can be done. 

Also when making this plan I thought of a good idea for the front cover of the book. To have the old lady on the front doing the typical satanic symbol that metal fans do to show their appreciation to the music. I thought that this would be good to have on the front to show that she's listening to heavy metal music, which begins this killing spree she is about to go on. In my original drawings she had her iPod in all of the drawings to show that the music is influencing her. But I think that it looks better to be a bit more subtle and just have that on the front cover, as in most of the situations that she's in such as the bingo scenario she would probably look a bit odd listening to music at the same time. 

Final Crit

The feed back I received was positive. People have suggested that I make a zine/book. I have actually been thinking about doing that. But was worried as it's different to the type of thing that I like to do. But I think that turning it into a book would work quite well for the context and bring it all together. Now I am going to go with the idea of making a book I need to edit some of the images that I've made already. The majority are portrait, so the ones that aren't I need to play around with the composition and make them portrait. 

Development