CS A1: Feedback

Normally to be written by the student, and endorsed by the tutor with additions/amendments in red.

Full report here: Field CS 1 Tutorial Report

Key points

This is a good and ambitious essay. I can see what you are trying to achieve in your writing – and practice. Tease out your idea a little more so that you give yourself space to explore structuralism/post-structuralism in relation to photography and to film – and to why both have become so central within art discourse – esp. as it make no sense to talk about the original photo or film. My suggestion would be to begin to look at montage/bricolage in relation to Modernism and structuralism/post-structuralism in relation to Postmodernism. The question of ‘the author’, sole and sovereign is also interesting in relation to your interest in collaborative work. (Theories of authorship are also put under strain by technological developments).

It was also clear in our tutorial that you want to look at anthropology and visual anthropology has in recent years contributed considerably to the understanding of both photography and film, so this may prove fruitful for further research.

Lastly, set a date for the next assignment submission as it will help keep you on track. There is nothing like a deadline…

• Look at key concepts contained within essay such structuralism and/or poststructuralism, montage, death of the author in greater depth.
• Explore why structuralism and/or poststructuralism have become so important to photography/film
• Explore montage/bricolage in relation to Modernism

Summary of tutorial discussion

This is an edited version of notes on my blog (see Tutor Feedback in menu system under relevant Assignment section for more detail.).

Written feedback

Tease out terms such as simulation and simulacra, structuralism and/or poststructuralism, Modernism/Post Modernism and keep relating to your practice. Give more space to these, aiming eventually to focus in. Having looked at early chapters of David Harvey, The Condition of Postmodernity – today the concern is with fluidity and malleability within language, underpinning reality and construction of it, compared to the Industrial resolution where, it seems, existence manifested itself in a more articulated manner.

Bring alternative thoughts into writing, i.e. “technology continues to penetrate or dissolve barriers” – or “builds walls… access to cheap technology but bombarded with advertising – penetrating the mind while depriving viewers of an education…”

Clarify use of the word ‘real’

Aim for greater depth of analysis

Make bold claims but back up with examples of work and wider context

Tutorial learning points

Investigate and try to make sense of a new type of hyperreality alongside what seems like a the loss of reality. Explore the erosion of critical thought and of education which leads to it. Look at Screen and Screen Education from 70s and 80s re linguistics and language. NB Language is arbitrary. Meaning never is (can’t see this came from.) I think this is from Chris Weedon, Feminist Practice and Poststructuralist Theory, Blackwell 1987. Look at the area of Visual Anthropology. In relation to first person in academic writing, ensure the knowledge is situated, i.e. I think this because and due to that in relation to… etc.  – not, black is red because I say so. (See A Cyborg Manifesto by Donna J. Haraway (1985) – discussed in Kathryn Hayles)

Reading suggestions

Francois Lyotard The Postmodern Condition, 1979

Terry Eagleton, Literary Theory, Blackwell, 1983

Toril Moi Sexual Textual Politics, Routledge, 1985

Amelia Jones (Ed.), The Feminism and Visual Culture Reader, Routledge, 2003

Elizabeth Wright (Ed.), Feminism and Psychoanalysis, Routledge, 1998

Summary of Research Proposal (amended in the light of the tutorial)

Research proposal still to be developed… (discuss with newly appointed tutor)

Come up with focus for second essay – currently thinking about loss of reality/hyperreality as a focus.

 

Strengths	Areas for development
Committed writing	Needs greater detailed in-depth analysis
Relevant topics Thoughtful research closely aligned to practice	Deeper research
Breadth of approach Ambitious topic	Further exploration of theories presented, particularly Modernism/Postmodernism and the importance of film and photography in these theories

 

Any other notes

 

Roberta McGrath
Next assignment due	End October