ESSAY WRITING

Week 17 – 18 & 19: 15th Jan – 2 Feb

WE ONLY HAVE 3 WEEKS LEFT TO COMPLETE  YOUR PERSONAL STUDY ESSAY

Have a look a the Personal Study Planner 2018 for an overview of what you need to complete this term.

DEADLINEHand in draft version of your essay Wed 31 Jan!

You must have your essay completed and proof-read for your MOCK EXAM to include in your photo-book design.

Mon 5 Feb Class 13A
Tue 6 Feb Class 13E
Wed 7 Feb Class 13D 

Objective: Criteria from the Syllabus

  • Be aware of some of the methods employed by critics and historians within the history of art and photography.
  • Demonstrate a sound understanding of your chosen area of study with appropriate use of critical vocabulary. – use for image analysis
  • Investigate a wide range of work and sources
  • Develop a personal and critical inquiry.

Quotation  and Harvard System of Referencing

  • Use quotes to support or disprove your argument
  • Use quotes to show evidence of reading
  • Take notes when you’re reading…key words, concepts, sentences that can be used as quotes etc.
  • Write down page number, author, year, title, publisher, place of publication so you can list source in a bibliography
  • Use Harvard System of Referencing…see Powerpoint: harvard system of referencing for further details on how to use it.

ESSAY STRUCTURE

See below for a possible essay structure. Further help can be found here essay structure or see link here The Royal Literay Fund

Essay titleHypothesis

Opening quote: Choose a quote from either one of your photographers or critics. It has to be something that relates to your investigation

Introduction (250-500 words).
Think about an opening that will draw your reader in e.g. you can use an opening quote that sets the scene. You should include in your introduction an outline of your intention of your study e.g. what and who are you going to investigate. How does this area/ work interest you? What are you trying to prove/challenge, argument/ counter-argument? What historical or theoretical context is the work situated within. Include 1 or 2 quotes for or against. What links are there with your previous studies? What have you explored so far in your Coursework or what are you going to photograph? How did or will your work develop. What camera skills, techniques or digital processes in Photoshop have or are you going to experiment with?

Paragraph 1 Structure (500 words) Use subheadingThis paragraph covers the first thing you said in your introduction that you would address. The first sentence introduces the main idea of the paragraphOther sentences develop the subject of the paragraph.

Content: you could look at the followingexemplify your hypothesis within a historical and theoretical context.  Write about how your area of study and own work is linked to a specific art movement/ ism. Research and read key text and articles from critics, historians and artists associated with the movement/ism. Use quotes from sources to make a point, back it up with evidence or an example (a photograph), explain how the image supports the point made or how your interpretation of the work may disapprove. How does the photograph compare or contrast with others made by the same photographer, or to other images made in the same period or of the same genre by other artists. How does the photograph relate to visual representation in general, and in particularly to the history and theory of photography, arts and culture.

Include relevant examples, illustrations, details, quotations, and references showing evidence of reading, knowledge and understanding of history, theory and context!

See link to powerpoints Pictorialism vs Realism and Modernism vs Postmodernismhere M:\Departments\Photography\Students\Resources\Personal Study

Paragraph 2 Structure (500 words) Use subheading. In the first sentence or opening sentences, link the paragraph to the previous paragraph, then introduce the main idea of the new paragraph. Other sentences develop the paragraphs subject (use relevant examples, quotations, visuals to illustrate your analysis, thoughts etc)

Content: you could look at the following...Introduce your first photographer. Select key images, ideas or concepts and analyse in-depth using specific model of analysis (describe, interpret and evaluate) – refer to your hypothesis. Contextualise…what was going on in the world at the time; artistically, politically, socially, culturally. Other influences…artists, teachers, mentors etc. Personal situations or circumstances…describe key events in the artist’s life that may have influenced the work. Include examples of your own photographs, experiments or early responses and analyse, relate and link to the above. Set the scene for next paragraph.

Include relevant examples, illustrations, details, quotations, and references showing evidence of reading, knowledge and understanding of history, theory and context!

Paragraph 3 Structure (500 words) Use subheading. In the first sentence or opening sentences, link the paragraph to the previous paragraph, then introduce the main idea of the new paragraph. Other sentences develop the paragraphs subject (use relevant examples, quotations, visuals to illustrate your analysis, thoughts etc)

Content: you could look at the following…Introduce key works, ideas or concepts from your second photographer and analyse in-depth – refer to your hypothesis…Use questions in Pg 2 or add…What information has been selected by the photographer and what do you find interesting in the photograph? What do we know about the photograph’s subject? Does the photograph have an emotional or physical impact? What did the photographer intend? How has the image been used? What are the links or connections to the other photographer in Pg 2? Include examples of your own photographs and experiments as your work develop in response to the above and analyse, compare, contrast etc. Set the scene for next paragraph.

Include relevant examples, illustrations, details, quotations, and references showing evidence of reading, knowledge and understanding of history, theory and context!

If needed…Paragraph 4  Structure (500 words)Use subheading. In the first sentence or opening sentences, link the paragraph to the previous paragraph, then introduce the main idea of the new paragraph. Other sentences develop the paragraphs subject (use relevant examples, quotations, visuals to illustrate your analysis, thoughts etc)

Content: you could look at the following…Introduce key works, ideas or concepts from your third photographer and analyse in-depth – refer to your hypothesis…Use questions in pg 2 and pg 3 or add…How does the photograph compare or contrast with others made by the same photographer, or to other images made in the same period or of the same genre by other artists. How does the photograph relate to visual representation in general, and in particularly to the history and theory of photography, arts and culture. What are the links or connections to the photographers in pg 2 and 3? What are the similarities, differences or links and connections? How does this work compare to yours? Include examples of your own photographs and experiments as your work develop in response to the above and analyse, compare, contrast etc. If more paragraphs are required, set the scene for the next paragraph.

Include relevant examples, illustrations, details, quotations, and references showing evidence of reading, knowledge and understanding of history, theory and context!

Conclusion (500 words) : Write a conclusion of your essay that also includes an evaluation of your final photographic responses and experiments.

List the key points from your investigation and analysis of the photographer(s) work – refer to your hypothesis. Can you prove or Disprove your theory – include final quote(s). Has anything been left unanswered?  Do not make it a tribute! Do not introduce new material! Summarise what you have learned. How have you been influenced? Show how you have selected your final outcomes including an evaluation and how your work changed and developed alongside your investigation.

Bibliography: List all the sources that you used and only those that you have cited in your text. Where there are two or more works by one author in the same year distinguish them as 1988a, 1988b etc. Arrange literature in alphabetical order by author, or where no author is named, by the name of the museum or other organisation which produced the text. Apart from listing literature you must also list all other sources in alphabetical order e.g. websites, exhibitions, TV/ Videos / DVD/ Music etc.

DON’T FORGET TO MAKE PHOTOGRAPHS & EXPLORE YOUR IDEAS!!

  1. Produce a photographic response to your investigation in Personal Study. You must plan and produce at least another 2-3 photo-shoots in the next 2 weeks to make sure you have enough images to edit from. For example, responding to photographers subject-matter, style, form, aesthetics, specific skills, techniques, methods.
  2. Continue to review your responses and shoots and experiment with your pictures appropriate to your intentions Lightroom/Photoshop e.g. cropping, change colour balance/ b/w, brightness/ contrast, blurring/ movement, blending/ montage techniques.
  3. Select your best experiments and pictures and include in your Personal Study for analysis and comparisons.

We will begin work on editing and designing a photobook last week of January (week 19). If you don’t have any content i.e. text and images you can’t make a photo book!

UNDERSTANDING PHOTO BOOK DESIGN

UNDERSTANDING PHOTO BOOK DESIGN:
FORM, FUNCTION, SEQUENCING,  NARRATIVE, CONCEPT

Here is a link to the Personal Study Planner 2018 for the remaining 5 weeks of this module.

READ these texts to better understand how to identify a narrative and understand the design process of photobook making.

Colin Pantall: Identifying the Story: Sequencing isn’t narrative

For the die-hards here are a serious blog post by Photobook critic, Joerg Colberg which consider the many aspects of photobook making:  Understanding Photobooks: The Forms an Functions of Photobooks

This article is the first in a series of five. You can find the other parts here: part 1part 2part 3part 4part 5

Blog: Produce a number of posts that show evidence of the following:

1. Research a photo-book and describe what story/ narrative the book is telling – its subject-matter, genre, style, approach etc.

2. Who is the photographer? Why did he/she make it? (intentions/ reasons) Who is it for? (audience) How was it received? (any press, awards, legacy etc.)

E.g Robert Frank’s “The Americans” was conceived with the help of a scholarship that allowed Frank to go on road trips across America during a two year period. He wanted to portray American society in the post-war period and his book has influenced (and still influence) many photographers since and also contributed to a new poetic style and subjective approach to documentary photography. Why?

3. Deconstruct the narrative, concept and design of the book such as:

  • Book in hand: how does it feel? Smell, sniff the paper.
  • Paper and ink: use of different paper/ textures/ colour or B&W or both.
  • Format, size and orientation: portraiture/ landscape/ square/ A5, A4, A3 / number of pages.
  • Design and layout: image size on pages/ single page, double-spread/ images/ grid, fold- outs/ inserts.
  • Rhythm and sequencing: flow of images/ juxtaposition of photographs/ editing process.
  • Structure and architecture: how design/ repeating motifs/ or specific features develops a concept or construct a narrative.
  • Narrative: what is the story/ subject-matter
  • Title: literal or poetic / relevant or intriguing.
  • Images and text: are they linked/ introduction/ essay/ statement by artists/ use of captions (if any.)

Here a few examples from previous students

Photobook Investigation – Lobismuller

Photobook Investigation – Sugar Paper Theories

Final Result – Photo Book Research

4. Decide if you want to make a hand-made photo book or use BLURB.

Hand-made books: You need to attend workshop on InDesign and book binding techniques after school every Tuesday in January between 3:30-5:00:

Tue 9 and Tue 16 Jan: InDesign
Tue  22 and Tue 30 Jan: Book binding techniques 

BLURB: Look at BLURB online book making website, photo books from photographers or see previous books produced by Hautlieu students on the table in class.

5. Write a book specification and describe in detail what your book will be about in terms of narrative, concept and design.  Produce a mood-board of design ideas and consider the following:

  • How you want your book to look and feel
  • Format, size and orientation
  • Design and layout
  • Rhythm and sequencing
  • Structure and architecture
  • Narrative
  • Title 
  • Images and text
  • Colour and B&W (or a mix)
  • Paper and ink

Create a BLURB account using your school email address. With Blurb you have different options on how you design your book:

a) Using Lightroom to design your book which is integrated with BLURB. Only for use on school computers, unless you have LR at home on your own laptop.

b) Download Bookwright via Blurb onto your own laptop and work offline at home and you can work indecently of school. Here you have full control of layout/ design features. Once completed, you upload photo book design to Blurb

c) Choose online option if you want to work directly online. Very limited layout/design options (not recommended!)

Essay Plan

  • Essay questionHow chronic illness has inspired people to document their story through photography as a way of healing?
  • Thesis: The thesis will introduce the subject I am writing about as well as incorporating why I am basing my work on this topic. I will mention what artists I am studying or referring to in order to compare their work with my own and the touch upon  the most relevant art movement in relation to my work.
  • Opening quote: “Relieve (a person or animal) of the symptoms of a disease or condition.”
  • Introduction (250-500 words): What is your area study? Which artists will you be analysing and why? How will you be responding to their work and essay question?
  • Pg 1 (500 words): Historical/ theoretical context within art, photography and visual culture relevant to your area of study. Make links to art movements/ isms and some of the methods employed by critics and historian. Link to powerpoints about isms and movements M:\Departments\Photography\Students\Resources\Personal Study
  • Pg 2 (500 words): Analyse first artist/photographer in relation to your essay question. Present and evaluate your own images and responses.
  • Pg 3 (500 words): Analyse second artist/photographer in relation to your essay question. Present and evaluate your own images and responses.
  • Conclusion (250-500 words): Draw parallels, explore differences/ similarities between artists/photographers and that of your own work that you have produced
  • Bibliography: List all relevant sources used

Personal Study (Essay) Plan

Title: How have the photographers Matt Eich and LaToya Ruby Frazier explored themes of attachment and detachment in their own family through the medium of photobooks?
Opening quote: “As photographs give people an imaginary possession of a past that is unreal, they also help people to take possession of a space in which they are insecure.” (Susan Sontag)

Introduction (250-500 words)
What, How, Why, Where, When, With

In this essay I will be investigating how photographers Matt Eich and LaToya Ruby Frazier have explored themes of attachment and detachment in their own family through the medium of photobooks.

What are you planning on doing and why, what is the story you want to tell / explore

Paragraph 1 / Context (500 words)
Psychological / scientific research and understanding of attachment and detachment theory…
Poetic visual language; describe that you are developing a new language with influence from Anders Peters / Engstrom

Paragraph 2 (500 words)
Matt Eich – analyse his work. book in relation to essay question
his voice through interview / statement of his work
outside voice: someone else’s comment about this work
Select a key image as an example to further analyse in more detail

Paragraph 3 (500 words)
LaToya Ruby Fraizer – analyse her work / book in relation to essay question
Her voice through interview / statement of her work
Outside voice: someone else’s comment about this work
Select a key image as an example to further analyse in more detail

Paragraph 4 (500 words)
Analyse your own work, how it developed what you did and why
How do your set of images interpret attachment/ detachment
Select a key image as an example to further analyse in more detail

Conclusion (250-500 words) 
Compare / contrast – differences / similarities

Bibliography
List all relevant sources used