Evaluative Report
With a background in Graphic Design, I felt that I approached Image and Text with a good foundation in some of the basic critical and theoretical approaches in considering how the relationship between Images and Text can operate.
I therefore approached the subject with the hope to gain a wider and deeper understanding of how Image and Text is applied across the fields of Art and Design as a whole, and how practitioners from these different areas approach the same questions and issues surrounding the subject.
On this topic, I felt that cross-disciplinary exchange was at its most effective during analytical group discussions and presentations. For example, when the group had to prepare group presentations on a variety of examples of Image and Text applications, it was particularly interesting to hear, for instance, how a Ceramics Student and a Drawing Student approached John Baldessari’s series of work based on Goya’s ‘The Destruction of War’. Being able to see my peers apply analysis to work outside of their background knowledge and practice highlighted aspects of the work previously unconsidered.
In this context, it was inspiring and intriguing to see such widely differing approaches to Image and Text analysis applied in front of the group. For example, when considering the format of a Graphic Novel, a group of painting students were able to focus very closely on the technical construction of images as well as use of colour, whereas I think that I would have focussed much more closely on the composition of Image and Text elements: the positioning of Image and Text in relation to each other on the page.
This exchange of ideas and critical approaches was further explored during Gallery visits, both at ‘Loud Flash: British Punk on Paper’, as well as ‘The Back Story’. The transference of discussion from the Lecture Theatre into a Gallery context helped, I thought, in imbuing the group with more confidence and openness in public speaking. It was particularly interesting to see how some of the members of the group with fine art backgrounds approached the task of analysing the Mott collection of British Punk posters at Haunch Of Venison. This produced engaging discussion about the effect of images and propaganda on the viewer, and certainly encouraged me to approach the pictoral elements of Punk imagery in much more detail. The opposite conclusion was drawn whilst visiting ‘The Back Story’ at the Royal Academy, where Students from Painting and Drawing where able to highlight the technical intricacy of Stephen Farthing’s paintings, and provide more of an insight into Farthing’s possible motives in creating some of the pieces on show, in particular ‘Mapping Artists’.
However, that said, on the whole, there seemed to be a lack of practical engagement with Image and Text throughout the elective, or particular enthusiasm for any form of collaborative educational exercises. I found this quite disappointing as initially one of the most exciting aspects of the course for me was being able to see how members of the group from different backgrounds applied Image and Text to their own practice, or how they formed opinions about it’s use. For example, I have always been fascinated by the work of Ed Ruscha and would have been interested in gaining a Painter’s perspective on his use of Image and Text.
Unfortunately, in a Lecture Theatre context there appeared to be a general reluctance to contribute during group discussions that often led to a paralysis of momentum, as well as a general lack of motivation during practical tasks that resulted in fairly inapplicable criticism or conclusions. This however, was not due to our Tutor, who proved inspiring, engaging and enthusiastic throughout.
This said, Image and Text has strengthened my practice enormously, both lending my work strong critical and theoretical points of reference, as well as providing me with the tools to question my own approach to Image and Text with perceptiveness and insight. Much of my practice is concerned with the necessity of information and subtlety of meaning, and so in this instance, the deeper understanding of the function of Image and Text that this elective has provided is encouraging me to explore these themes with more confidence and thought.