Soul of the Marionette
We all like to think we are free, that the choices we make are our own, but what if I tell you John Gray might not have the same view?
Gray constantly takes us on this journey, how each and every part of our life's could dictate our future is. But a observation Gray takes us on is our western connection to our believe of Gnosticism. Their values are God does not create evil, a lesser God does (i.e us) The material or physical world is made evil and the spirit world is made good. The material world, including one's body, mind, spirit, and soul, is under the control of evil; but humans can turn good. Salvation can be succeeded as long as they follow their density.
But why has Gray took us though this journey of Gnosticism? Well gnosis is the Greek word for knowledge and Gray said 'Throughout much of the world, and particularly in western countries, the Gnostic faith that knowledge can give humans a freedom no other creature can possess has become the predominant religion'.
Thought out this book we are also guided thought the theories of Klesit, Goethe, Schiller and more and even literary tales to really question us to see if we believe in our freedom. Freedom is having the choice to do what we want whenever we want. But if this is the case why is stigma still so poignant that we are controlled so we are not judged.
Whilst the book starts question our believe of our own inner freedom if ends question if technology will take away our mundane choices, but overall will they then take away our choices completely. Then we start to question what is it to be human if we have no choice?
Chavs
The Demonization of the working Class
Owen Wilson bring light to a discussion that has seem to be swept under the carpet. Why is the stigma to the working class? We are introduced in this book by a dinner party, with what should be a light hearted joke mentioned by one of his friends takes a turn in his mind. Why is it acceptable to joke about the ‘underclass’ but if a jest was made about a black person this would be racist or a small giggle at a gay person would be homophobic.
Owen has a vase number of examples that are based in his specialties, the media. He discusses the ever-growing gap between the rich and poor, and how the benefit system is portrayed in the media to feed the lazy rather than a help to get the working class able to live. The media has put characters like Vicky Pollard as the queen of the working class and the genral public now assume that this is how the class system act. If we stop focusing the working class to be stupid, rough invidals though tv and the media and show a side that the working class are hardworking would this change people views.
But what does fail in this book, is what people actually define themselves as. There is a string of people that are proud to be working class, no matter what people think. (Myself included) David Hockey once said his father said this to him ‘Don’t worry about the neighbours, that’s not working class that aristocratic.’ This makes me wonder if this is why the stigma hasn’t gone, because the working class just doesn’t care what you think. And the ones that do, classify themselves as aspirational middle class, making the issues at hand mundane.
Overall this book gives a timeline to the demonization of the working class and gives a wide range to how the media played to this demonization.
Is Craft a fine art?
This may be a strange question, but I’m led to wonder what is the line of craft within of fine art? When we live in a world where any material can turn into a high brow item, can the humble act of sewing have the same respect as a painting? This may be old new, by me discussing the subject yet I'm still yet to see craft have its own enthusiasm within the contemporary art world.
Of course, Grayson Perry this take this by storm by bring his pottery and tapestry into the white walled gallery and with Lucy Sparrow dominating shops and turning them into a world of felt. By what makes these works art, compared to the little old granny making bears for her local church stand? Well it’s context.
Perry works deal with what is to be human, and idolises this human nature on pots and tapestry. This is a nod to ancient vases and tapestries, bring back the past to the future is showing how much times have changed. While we have Tracy Emin who have used sewing to claim it back as an artform, then a skill a house wife would have.
Like with all art work, it isn’t art work cause you say so. It’s art because it has a narrative (but this may be debated). While the bear your nanny made you maybe sweet, unless it has a context more than us to make you happy, that isn’t fine art it’s an object that you can give sentimental value to.
Richard Billingham - Exploiting Family
Some may say that artist tend to have a traumatic or a harder life then ‘normal’ people, whilst I wouldn’t say this an overall rule, I would have to agree this circumstance. In the case of Richard Billingham showing his working-class upbringing in photography of his Violent mum and Alcoholic dad (Liz and Ray) could be seen as a poor/bad upbringing. But by showing this small part of his life could be seen as exploiting his family for his own personal gain.
Some artist show points of life that are not always seen, Billingham is also doing this but does it taint it as he is exposing his own family. We tend to stick close to family, so when we see people almost turning against them, does it leave a bitter taste in our mouths? But do we have the same issues when we watch these lives unfold on the Jeremy Kyle show?
Having Richard as a photography tutor on my BA course, I can tell he is reserved when speaking about his past and lets the work speaks for itself. He doesn’t blame he parents for his past, things could have been worst. But with this in mind why has he chose to show them in such a bad light, also now producing films about this subject as well. Is there any moral problems to creating works that could affect the people within that work? My quick judgement is no, as these matters affect other people it shows a point of life that not everyone would see. But I would like to know what his family thinks about this matter and how much of an impact it made on them.
Typography
Typeface is nothing new is today age, as we are over powered by letters reading the newspaper on the tube, being directed to the way out and reading a text on a phone, how important is the visual view of text?
Gavin Ambrose and Paul Harris take us though the visual and theory of typography in this book and its importance in advertising sense. The first paragraph of this book we see that type isn’t as simple as it may first seem ‘Within its broad parameters typography contains a wealth of specialised terminology, which designers and printers use when examining or describing typefaces and their associated characteristics. Whilst each term has a specific meaning, some of altered by common usage, and this can result in confusion. For example, many people incorrectly refer to ‘obliques’ as ‘italics’ simply because they both slant’.
Within this book you are offered handy tips that can help you decide what will be best for your project. For example, ‘Blocks of text are considered easier to read when set in Roman, Old style or Antiqua, which is to say a combination of majuscule (upper case) and minuscule (lower case) characters. This is because the human eye ‘scans’ the text using ascenders and descenders to recognise words rather than constructively reading each and every word.’ It even informs you about the best spacing and kerning for your work.
This book is also eye catching as each page is filled with bright colour and easy to read. Most pages tend to be a yellow background with black text, this is great for dyslexics and this tends to be the best way for them to read.
This book is a must have to anyone that works with text. It is a bible informing you of every detail you need to know in the type world.
Tracey Emin - A Fortnight of tears
White Cube – 6th February to 7Th April 2019
The 90’s wild child of the art world, is back in in full bloom at the white cube gallery, shining light to the female anguish. Confronted by her life we are engulfed by raw emotion; we dance around within poignant moments in her life. What really stands out that was the idea of motherhood, she talked a lot about the loss of her mother and at the end she talked about her abortion once again looking at the idea of motherhood. Unfortunately in this confessional video we were told the tragic problems she had when having this abortion. This raw truth hit me very hard and myself ended up crying. Emin has this beautiful skill of allowing us into her world and we are able to gain similar emotions to what she is feeling.
Though out the exhibit red is a very dominate colour, with rough brush strokes you do get a sense of anger what is a contrast to the bronze sculptures that show every tragic sad pose. As you move though this exhibit you’re getting mood swings, not sure how you’re going to feel as you turn the corner.
Emin has never been shy about opening up and exposing the darker side of her life. As she progresses though life, we are given the challenges that she has faced and at times we face them to.By having someone to relate we feel less lonely and feel more comfortable with opening up ourselves.
