Idea for my work

In a previous post (Sunday 13th November) I explained that I wanted my work to focus on materialism and money. My research has led me to focus on a notion that much of society has grown tired of religion and has begun to worship money and fame. It seems that super star celebrities have become the new `gods' to be worshipped and adored by vunerable television viewers. These television `disciples' listen intently to the sermons delivered by celebrities about what we should be wearing, eating, looking like, listening to and thinking. My piece for this year is going to be a multi media installation that hopefully will link to this notion. I hope to create an installation that has a dual or hidden meaning; at first glance I want it to be seen as art that depicts a religious viewpoint using religious iconography and traditional materials and processes. I want to offer the viewers who choose to look a little closer, clues to an alternative way of viewing the piece that will give them an insight into a social viewpoint of the artist.

Whilst researching for my work I came across this article and thought that it summed up nicely what I am trying to say...

X Factor judge Simon Cowell is more famous than God or The Queen according to a survey of children under 10. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/6849184/Simon-Cowell-more-famous-than-God.html

quick quote !

I have just finished watching some videos on youtube of Jake and Dinos Chapman. Dinos gives a great viewpoint on art that sums up the previous post about art being about thinking. He states `the problem with art is that it seems to be reducible to eyes, to looking, which really it's not. It's nothing to do with looking, or it's a very small part of it that's to do with looking. It's mostly to do with thinking, I think.'

Here's the video ... 6 minutes in is the quote...

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzWqrwDYR5E&feature=related

3rd year focus

As mentioned, for year 3 I want to create something that gives the viewer an insight into who I am as a person. I have sat and thought about things in life that make me happy, sad, angry and confused and tried to think of ways of transforming those thoughts and feelings into art.
The theme that causes me the greatest stirring of emotion (after family) is money and material wealth and its importance in much of society. Money, it seems, is the only measure of success for many people; most would explain success in terms of job status, the accumulation of possesions and of monetary wealth. People are given status according to the clothes they wear, the car they drive and the post code that their houses fall under. This has been the case for a long time; reading John Berger's `Ways of Seeing' (1972) there is a chapter that talks about happiness being gained by buying products. He explains it as the happiness of being envied by others, which he labels as glamour.
I shall try to create art that highlights my views on how people's desires for money and material wealth is eroding society's moral and ethical values.

Reference:
Berger, J. (1972) Ways of Seeing. London: Penguin Books

Year 3 module content.

Having reflected on my second year art and design module outcomes, I am very happy with what I have achieved and I feel that I managed to achieve the target that I had set myself. For my third year I want to develop and create work that has meaning and emotion. My criticism of the work I produced in my second year is that it was a little superficial; the pieces had no personal or emotional attachment to me as a person. Anybody looking at my pieces would not be able to make any judgement or comment about me, my attitudes, beliefs, moral viewpoints etc. As my understanding of art thinking and understanding is developing, I am realising the importance of (for the artist, or some at least) what art means, as well as what it looks like.
During the London art gallery trip (year 2) the tutors made a point of explaining to the group the importance of using accompanying literature for each piece of art to develop a notion of the artist's intent, or explanation of how the piece came to be. I had viewed the works of Jonathan Wateridge, thinking to myself that the work was what art should be- beautiful paintings with intricate detail and superb finish. Taking the tutors' advice, I read the tour guide description for each of the pieces and discovered a whole different aspect to the work and the artsist's thinking. Freeland (2001) uses the philosophical thinking of Arthur Danto to suggest that art can only be described as such if it carries meaning. The National Curriculum makes a sweeping statement that art and design promotes critical thinking and awareness of art and artists, and of the purpose of art (Great Britain. Department for Children, Schools and Families, 1999), but I wonder how much emphasis is put on teachers teaching art theory in primary schools? Thistlewood (1989) makes an interesting point when he comments on whether children who are being educated in art and design are taught to produce art for enjoyment or consumption; the enjoyment of creating art for the experience or for the appreciation of the product ?

Refs:

Freeland, C. (2001) Art theory. A Very Short Introduction. Oxford:Oxford University Press.

Great Britain.  Department for Children, Schools and Families. (1999) The National Curriculum handbook for primary teachers in England. London: Department for Education and Employment and Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.

Thistlewood, D. (1989) Critical Studies in Art and Design Education. Essex: Longman Group UK Limited

Art and Design year 3 module

Hi .

My name is Anthony McPhillips and this is my theoretical sketchbook!

I shall be using this blog as a means of documentation of any key research undertaken during the course of my art and design module. I shall provide evidence of relevant reading; reflecting on how this reading will be of benefit in the design and execution of my own art work and also how I could link the ideas and concepts to the art and design subject curriculum within primary school.

Gallery visits will be logged on this blog, including my own personal thoughts and analysis of the work on show, and whether I can use my experiences to influence the development of my work.