Art & Science
Constellation this year was no less confusing than the previous, but during our crazy long lectures on our chosen subject – Art and Science for me – we were able to explore some cool concepts and challenge ideas that we rooted in our minds.
Within Art & Science I learned how they were previously one subject, where during the time of Immanuel Kant he defied the norm that most societies had used for centuries and brought the idea of separating Art, Science and Religion into 3 separate areas which would allow for greater growth in the specific field, however it still holds true that all 3 subjects work together to create better and stronger concepts. This was the founding idea behind Art & Science, and allowed us to explore multiple areas and determine how each had helped the other.
Over the course of 5 weeks we developed an understanding of how Art and Science worked together, looking at key figures in history such as Leonardo Di Vinci from the renaissance, and more recent figures such as Max Matthews; I learnt that I could strengthen the concepts of my work by involving more than just my graphic research and prowess, and instead spread not just into other subjects within art, but also into those of science which could create ideas similar to the work of M.C. Escher who created the endless staircase visually with guidance from Roger Penrose, a mathematician.
We were encouraged to explore texts within our free time, to analyse and depict what is trying to be conveyed so that we could create a concrete opinion on the subject at hand, and this was easily one of the most useful parts of constellation. The analysis of anything, whether writing, research, art, or even politics, is an incredibly important skill that allows oneself to gain more knowledge and understanding on the subject as they try to look at the subject matter at multiple angles to complete an assertive opinion.
The idea of challenging ideas such as the golden ratio really intrigued me, as coupling up this with opinions that you create by looking at rules such as these allow you to create a much finer opinion on whether the idea is worth using within your own work or not. The golden ratio is a rule that can be used in any visual based work, and while it is incredibly famous, we learnt how it doesn’t have as much mathematical theory behind it than some others, which coincidentally are also better rules that create more aesthetically pleasing work.
Throughout Art & Science I have learnt to constantly question thoughts that have been thrown my way, and has created an impression on how to critique work that I found, or my own, so that I can improve on what has been made to create something even better. I have also begun to look at work across a larger range of subjects, including those within the science community.
Dissertation Proposal
My dissertation proposal has probably taught me not just about my subject of choosing, but also about myself and the beliefs that I hold; my subject of choosing was sexualisation within advertising, looking at how women, men, and even children, are subject to being sexualised and objectified to sell products, how it effects their mental and physical state.
As it is already, sexualisation is an incredibly large topic and not something you can go into depth without reading up on it, and believe me is there a lot to read; probably one of the greatest epiphanies you will have in your lifetime is the idea of preparing before you get into your work or you’re going to get left behind in the dirt, and let me explain to you that there is no greater pleasure than knowing that you just saved yourself from a month of sleepless nights wondering how you’re going to get the information you need into time.
Over the previous term, I was able to fully explore different aspects of sexualisation from the effects on women, psychologically and well as physically, how men were brought into the industry and how this became a turning point for equality, and how children are become influenced by the objectification they see every day through advertising. I have been shown how I, myself, have been affected by this global brainwashing into thinking that you must achieve this idea of perfection, that you must buy these products to be happy, and how this has formed a new instinct within my mind to buy what I believe will make me a better person.
The research proposal itself has been another learning experience as I have progressed through its construction, and I think it is worth noting that I should come up with a template for future proposals because it wasn’t the best experience trying to work out what was and wasn’t needed in my proposal.
Wincing The Days Away 