Modernism or Postmodernism? That is the question.

This was the final lecture of the media histories and culture module, which was quite sad, as I've gained so much information from them. Especially, regarding an insight into interpretation and an insight into the journey of photography through the years.

This lecture was vital to the understanding of how views and methods have changed or developed around photography. I personally think it is crucial to have an understanding of both to ensure you're aware of the constantly changing medium, what has been before, and that there will always be a 'modern' - a new approach or technique.

"Modernism can also be called a way of thinking that supports the ability of humans to be able to change their environment in ways that make it more practical for their use. It also rejects boundaries between high and "low" forms of art. Before modernism what was considered to be art and in museums were things that were associated with the upper class. This began to change in modernism when different things could be looked at as art." (Mann,S.2010)

A modern day artist who intrigued me with the lengths she went to, to produce what she was conveying as an art, is Orlan. Something so controversial would never have been produced through traditional photography and art. This is due to the severe development with technology and how things are interpreted. Below is a clip of some of her creations and a short interview.

Alternative Processes
Below is a short film I found on how to make a cyanotype image. Hopefully this will help me to learn the process.

Encounters in London Town & gallery visits

An Englishman in New York: Photographs by Jason Bell

As I'm aware that the next project will be based on the genre of portrait photography, I felt that this exhibition would be rewarding to see, as it relates strongly to the brief. 



Zoe Heller by Jason Bell



"Inspired by some of the 120,000 English men and women living in New York City, Jason Bell has identified and photographed leading British born figures setting the cultural agenda in New York, including Thomas P. Campbell, Director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, writer Zoë Heller, Nicola Perry, owner of Tea and Sympathy, artist Bill Jacklin, and television pundit and Barney's window dresser Simon Noonan. Jason Bell began this project following a commission on ‘Anglophilia’ for American Vogue. He has lived between New York and London since 2003." (National Portrait Gallery, 2010)

Another exhibition I went to while in London was 'Shadow Catchers: Camera-less Photography'. Although, as I am doing media business along with photography, I do not attend the photography projects module which will be teaching and experimenting with alternative processes, I was very interested in this display as I'd enjoyed experimenting with photograms in A Level photography. I hope to be able to attend some of the lectures and practicals on these processes to develop and further my skills in different ways of developing and presenting my work. A key artist who I came to know through research into photograms was Man Ray. Here is some well-known pieces of his work.



 He was in many ways a pioneer of photography, and was keen to experiment and push the boundaries of the media.

Photography and the emergence of the modern world. Some history, applications and processes on light, magic and chemicals.

So far, this lecture was probably the one that i connected with the least. When it comes to learning new processes or past processes, which were discussed in this lecture, I like a more practical approach. 

Here is what is thought to be the first ever photograph taken. It was interesting to see how much of a significant improvement there has been in photographic equipment, and processes, as this image was thought to of taken around eight hours to develop.

Apparently, local portrait painters became photographers. This kick started photography's popularity.  

One person in particular who caught my attention, was Julia Cameron. It is said that she had access to famous people, and explored different types of lighting. I am going to research her and her creations further, as I feel she was a key photographer in the development of the medium (or so I hear from the stories so far...)

Photography as a form of evidence

I looked at an aspect of photography as evidence at the Victoria and Albert exhibition 'Exposed'. The "exhibition examines photography as an invasive act that, whether by intention or effect, challenges common ideas of privacy and propriety. Most of the pictures were made without the subjects knowledge." (V&A Museum, 2010) It was intriguing to see how many different ways photography could be used as evidence. For record of death, criminal acts, intimate/private events etc. The possibilities and uses are so diverse. Surveillance is another form of evidence, which was also contained in the exhibition and in the lecture. Surveillance is seen as a form of safety. So, in many ways photography or film is connected to each and every one of us, everyday, sometimes without even knowing that we our involved.
While researching sources for the media histories and culture essay assignment to include on the iMap, i came across this book, which although wasn't related to my chosen genre of photography, gave me a good insight into this form of it. 

Secure the shadow: death and photography in America. By Jay Ruby.

"A camera is like an eye". A lot of events or interesting things we see we want to show to other people, or prove to other people that we have seen them.This is why a lot of us carry cameras around with us a majority of the time, and even have cameras installed into our mobile phones. As far as I can see, photography will always be used, especially as a form of evidence.  

Here are a few examples that I found on photography as evidence:

More codes and intertextuality

This lecture was key to  me, as my chosen essay question for assessment is 'Using the process model of communication and/or the theory of codes discuss the characteristics of a specific genre of photography'. The theories made a lot of sense to me. Intertextuality is the reference to other images. It is inevitable that intertextuality will occur. No matter how subtle, they may be a sense of the past when looking at an image. It may reflect back to what we think we've seen in the past. As a student there is almost always a feature of this in our projects, as we research other artists and use their work as inspiration.
The four photographic codes that communicate and our used in interpretation are; cultural, technical, intertextuality and aesthetic. These will be discussed in more detail in my essay assignment.

Here are a few images from advertisements from United Colors of Benetton. They are quite well known but have also been known to cause a lot of controversy and been described as "tasteless". They contain a number of various communicative codes within them.

Many of the advertisements represented religious and political conflicts.This one shows conflicts between Palestiniann and the Israeli.  

We were asked to think about why the above image was seen as controversial...the image symbolises moral conflicts. Showing good and evil stereotypes that were depicted to represent angels and devils of the world.

United Colors of Benetton have based their ads on important controversial worldly issues. This has created a different perspective on advertising. Portraying the truth rather than the common model. It has changed the way people interact towards advertising and different images and are a major part of the new advertising culture.

Assessments - The gathering of information, ideas and scattered instructions

After hours in the LRC, sieving through online documents and journals, and intense listening throughout seminars and lectures, I feel I am finally coming to terms with what is expected from the assessments.

To the right, is the beginning to a section from my iMap. Having never done an iMap before, this little book came in handy.

It almost acted as a comfort blanket, as it seemed to have the answers to nearly all the questions and anxieties I had.

Anyway, I am finally understanding and piecing together what is actually asked of me.

Photography as communication

This explains how we communicate through photography, why we want to communicate, and what we want to communicate. A photographer will take a photograph in a particular way or of a particular subject, in order to convey a certain message through organised codes or signs. The viewer will perceive and respond to these in their own individual way.

Structuralism and binary oppositions and divides show how certain characteristics can be put together in an image to form a reaction. For example, black vs. white, old vs. new, nature vs. culture.   

One of my favourite artists, and an example of this is Eikoh Hosoe.(Images below)

 

Reading the signs

The Photographers Eye and John Szarkowski

I was quite overwhelmed during this lecture, and experienced an information overload. As I am aware, John Szarkowski divided his theory into five different sections.

1) The thing itself

What is actually contained within the image. Can you touch it?

2) The detail

A subject or object within the image may tell a story or be a key turning point or influence within the image. Detail requires attention.

3) The frame

This involves what is inside and outside of the frame.

4) Time

The time that the photograph was taken is crucial towards the message conveyed to the viewer. This can include, time of the year or time of day.

5) Vantage point

However the camera is positioned, reflects on the position of the viewer.

The theory of signs and semiotics was also touched upon, but will be explained in more depth during the next lecture.

I intend to look into Szarkowski's theory in some more depth and read up on signs and semiotics before the next lecture, so hopefully I am able to understand and follow along more easily and comfortably. 

In the beginning...

The first photography project was set, around the theme of family/relationships. A clear message was put foward to "think outside the box", which obviously meant NOT to document the typical nuclear family.

Documentary photography will be the first genre focused on, using the first project as a tool into personal research, experimentation and representation of this type.