I always enjoy the context of practice module, it allows me to go about
a project in a mostly research lead based way. Since realizing in my practice
last year that I tend to work well with research led based work I knew that
this module would be very beneficial to me in developing my practice further. I
found myself forced to deal with some of my practice flaws, such as me
inability to hone in on one singular thing so tat most of my research tends to
be too broad which is then reflected in my essay and makes it so that I’m never
really able to evaluate and craft arguments out of the information given. I
tend to churn out information without reflecting and evaluating on it. Because
of this I wanted to tackle a question that was focused more on the Question side
of cops essay so that I would have to look deeper in depth and be more critical
about information collected in research and become pickier with the research
questions I chose.
I struggled for quite a while with the essay question, I feel back into
trying to fit too complex a topic into 3000 words, which tended to leave me
more confused and frustrated than anything else. However through one on one and group
tutorials I was able to hone my question into something that had a clearer
focal point than before. I found that the Context of Practice Lectures,
specifically of identity and the classroom theory really helped me to get to
the root of what I wanted to look at and what methods and theories I needed to
further my knowledge of to implement alongside my initial research. Theory is
something I really enjoy which is surprising because I’ve always dismissed
theory for some reason. Social theory has become particularly interesting to me
especially when coupled with Identity and racial theory.
Because I ended up doing such as narrow question (in comparison to
pervious questions) for my final essay I was able to pick up on points that if
a broader essay question was done instead I wouldn’t of been able to touch on.
As a result of this I felt like I understood and implemented this idea of
synthesis between the practical work and the essay. The more I understood and
involved myself with my essay the clearer the concept for the book became.
The practical side easily reflected the written side in that I was really
all over the place at first. Wanting to do paintings for cop meant that I
tended to become narrower minded about the work I was making and became more
focused on media than context. However after re-doing the essay my priorities
instantly changed, the context and concept I wanted to look at was suddenly far
more important than the media. However I found that when I started
reestablishing the meanings behind paintings I felt the need to do more than
just use Velcro or magnets to remove the black people out as showing there
interchangeability to western nobility in 17th & 18th
century, the work I was making felt too literal and it’s bluntness left me
unenthused.
After a Brief tutorial with Richard, I was reminded of both the
importance of tutorials and critiques; the fact that I can’t just sought
everything out in my own head, although I like to think I can, outside
perspectives allow me to look at my work from a less intimate point of view,
making me more aware of flaws I was too close to see at the time. Secondly
while my whole essay solely focused on a historical era of time, by
contextualizing my practical work within a contemporary context I was able to
create work that was subtler in it’s concept and in the end something I was
much more proud of.
Creating the book wasn’t difficult once I had my sound Idea of concept
and context in mind. I’d just say that if I had reached these conclusions
sooner it would have allowed me more time to experiment with media and the tone
of the book. As it stands though I can’t really complain. Maybe if I’d have
developed it more I would of started to loose the concept in the mass of
refinement. Though initially the choice of creating a colouring book came from
the need of convenience if I were to have more time to do it again I wouldn’t
colour it in. I felt that both adults and 16+ children as both a way of
relaxing and a way of teaching could use the final product.
Overall this Module has been a success in helping me develop and refine
both my essay skills and my ability to synthesize the practical and written
together. The building and developing of these skills has become almost central
to my practice.
