Semester two has started and we’ve hit the ground running.
I’d heard a lot about the Integrative Practice paper from a lot of my friends on other years of Colab and I’ll admit, I was skeptical. My understanding prior to beginning the paper myself was that I could expect a lot of confusion and many weird layers happening within the paper.
Well, one lesson has passed and I’m definitely able to say that it’s always better to experience things for yourself rather than making judgements on what others say. I’m fascinated by the methodologies we’ll be approaching through this course - I feel that I’ll learn vital skills that will be transferable in any situation throughout my life, not only as a creative practitioner but also as a human being.
There are two primary sections to the paper so far;
Firstly, we’re focussing largely on the concept of experimentation, particular in terms of discovering new methods of recording information and thoughts. Throughout this paper, we are encouraged to branch out to various platforms, such as Instagram, Twitter, Vimeo, Youtube, etc. and experiment with the capabilities within these platforms. We need to test out platforms of various focusses (text, photography, videos, and sound) for at least two weeks each, at two platforms per focus. This allows us to experience everything that each platform has to offer, and uses this experience to provide ourselves with an opportunity to form our own thoughts in regards to what works best for our different work methods.
I feel it’s appropriate for me to say that I have an active online presence already, so I’ve decided that I will be testing out platforms that I do not currently participate in (meaning that the eight platforms I test will be in addition to anything I’ve already used). This means that I’ve giving myself the advantage of giving myself an even larger range of experience than I would if I only did eight platforms in total; a pool of information that I will be able to use to my advantage. Furthermore, I believe that if I include platforms that I currently use and know that I enjoy, I will be hindering myself. I feel that I’d be biased toward what I already use and that will make the test process unfair.
From here, I need to look into what other platforms are out there, and set myself up with some new accounts!
The following platforms are ones I already use and thus, by the rules I’ve set myself, are not allowed to be involved in the testing stages;
Secondly, we’re beginning a unique creative project titled, “The Interrogation”. This project involves selecting an inanimate object that holds significant meaning to ourselves as either an individual or creative practitioner, and subjecting it to creative interrogation processes.
Before I can begin the process of interrogating, I need to not only pick an object but I also need to determine exactly what the concept of interrogation means. I personally feel that to interrogate is to manipulate; if one interrogates an individual, they are to manipulate the environment, conversation, or other factors in order to encourage the individual to share various pieces of information. This is the definition I want to use as it resonates well with me, and I feel that this project is very subjective to the creative individual involved.
I have decided to use the mirror I first used when I began as a makeup artist as it bears history of who I am as a practitioner.
From here, I need to determine my manipulative/interrogative methods.
