Research Development
I have chosen the "Zine" brief for the Industry and Enterprise module to create work accordingly, as it's the most relevant brief to my current practice. I will research a concept and Zines in depth to make a proposal and timeline, relating to the learning outcomes.
Zines
"Women of Punk Zine" by Rebecca Kelly
Zines are usually non-commercial and homemade magazines created to gain recognition of a relevant topic. An individual or small group makes them and photocopies them into prints to hand out or share. A zine can convey various issues, such as political issues or a specific genre, like music, and contain poetry, interviews, art and collages. Artists and publishers create them to share an interest with the public, for others' interest, or to portray serious topics, like sexism, to spread awareness. No more than 1'000 copies of zines are produced, and fewer than 100 are sometimes published. Furthermore, zines are often free or have little cost, as the goal of a zine isn't to make money, but to convey a message, idea, story or topic.
Zines go against traditional and societal norms, as their origins come from a way of thinking, rather than a purpose or way to make a profit. The "Do it yourself" or "DIY" philosophy influenced the campaign and artists to create zines. When creating zines, people stray away from advanced technology and professional ways of working, as the DIY nature is more ethical, creative, original and a cheaper technique. Every zine has its own objective, rendering each one distinct, unlike commercialised literature. Moreover, zines are a documentation of dismissed or small communities that provide a chance to voice their beliefs, opinions and struggles. The first zines date back to the 1920s and 30s, marking the beginning of Science Fiction zines and comics. An example of early published zines is the "Little Magazines" created during the Harlem Renaissance by a black group attempting to express themselves and voice issues regarding racism. The creation of "Little Magazines", which developed into the creation of "Fire!!", influenced future people to create similar zines, specifically people who struggled to voice opinions due to being overlooked.
To this day, zines are still relevant and have been impactful throughout history in conveying various topics, ideas, and opinions. For example, zines played a significant role in the Punk movement and are considered part of the subculture. Due to their DIY nature, zines fit within Punk ideals and became accessible for the working class through copy machines and home printing. There are many ways to produce zines on your own. The most common way to make a zine is by creating your design on a sheet of paper and photocopying it using a printer provided by a local library or school. People often get inspiration from zines produced by bookstores, local zine fests, online (usually Tumblr or Instagram), or zine libraries within colleges. Moreover, zines can take many forms, shapes and sizes. The easiest zines to create are booklets made from folded printer paper and mini zines, created from folded eight pages. Zines can also be made digitally and gain recognition online.
References:
Zine - Wikipedia
Do it yourself - Wikipedia
A History of Zines | Book Riot
Timeline of Zine History - Zines and Self-Published Materials - Research Guides & Indexes at The Library of Virginia
How to make a zine - Scottish Book Trust
A Beginner's Guide to Making Zines
Women of Punk Zine :: Behance
Proposal
I chose the "Zine" brief for the Industry and Enterprise module, as I'm intrigued by its potential and view it as a significant opportunity. For this module, I will research Artificial Intelligence technology and its problems. I aim to bring light to AI within my zine and showcase its dangers to society and how to overcome them, creating a politically motivated zine. Moreover, I will outline AI technology's pros and cons, but emphasise the negatives to make people aware, and how many platforms use AI. To keep the zine's contents accurate and professional, I will interview classmates, friends, and family to illustrate different opinions from various backgrounds and practices.
Furthermore, while researching, I will source from reliable websites. I will visit local bookstores and zine libraries to research other production and working methods. I will create a large poster similar to my zine designs and related to AI to share my views with more people.
My zine will share similarities with zines created within the punk movement, like ideas, aesthetics, and mindset, prioritising a DIY way of working rather than digital. I will make a zine small enough to photocopy to showcase multiple printed copies at a college open day or event. To design the zine, I will relate to political and punk zines, and experiment with different compositions, colours and depictions to create an eye-catching cover. The zine will contain collages I've made using newspapers, magazines and related prints from online. Furthermore, I may use various printmaking techniques, such as lino or screen printing, to create an abstract feel to the zine. I will use bold lettering, especially on the cover, using handmade stencils made with a scalpel.
I aim to produce a zine for an artistic, political, and creative audience. After photocopying and finishing my zine, I will hand out the printed copies during one of the college open days and distribute them around the college, i.e. leaving them on tables. Furthermore, I will share my zine online to reach a wider audience, outlining where to access a copy in real life. Many online platforms that allow you to publish a zine cost money or use AI, rendering them inaccessible or contradictory. I will hang my zine poster in public, in places like a skatepark or with graffiti, to showcase my topic to a broader audience. My zine will be impactful as the topic of Artificial Intelligence is relevant in today's society, meaning the majority of people who come across my zine will relate to or find it helpful to read. AI is hard to avoid, whether online or in real life, and I will emphasise this within my zine using various artistic techniques. Furthermore, stressing the problems surrounding AI will force people to consider the influence AI has on their mindset, everyday life and modern society.
References:
Guide to Zine Publishing
Timeline
I will dedicate a minimum of 5 hours per week to practical work within the Industry and Enterprise module, meaning I should have completed the zine by week 8.
I will conduct research outside the 40-hour time frame, including professional research, prioritising at least 3 hours per week for this (not including travel time), relating to my topic, ensuring the contents within the zine are reliable and factual. Professional research refers to interviews and location visits (i.e., zine libraries). Furthermore, I will dedicate Fridays for this.
I will keep a log on this Tumblr, updating weekly, to record the hours I do.
Week 1 (20th Oct):
I should've already researched the basics of AI, to help me get started on my topic.
** Visit local bookstore in Larkhall (Friday the 24th), conduct research using books and photocopy (borrow books, use photocopier at home) **
Create a log to record hours completed per week, begin updating
Expand on researching AI basics (like the history, programming & purpose), and begin researching the pros, cons and dangers of AI outline phrases and facts you want in the zine
Find resources related to the topic to collage with, magazines, websites & books
research different types of zines, start experimenting with different scales and basis for a zine, best quality paper
Ensure you have completed a minimum of 5 hours for this week overall
Week 2 (27th Oct):
** Interview peers, friends and mum on opinions of AI, use post-it notes for everyone to make note of their opinions **
Using research, imagery and materials collected from the library, begin making collages relating to the topic
Decide on the type of zine you want to create (scale, number of pages, etc), and sketch out design ideas, create practice zines, photocopy
Begin creating lino prints relating to the research of pros, cons and dangers of AI, use collages to print on top
Research punk zines and the DIY mindset, reflect on research and why DIY is important
Week 3 (3rd Nov):
** Visit the Zine library in Glasgow on Friday the 7th of November, ask about zine publishing (take the train to Crosshill and walk, postcode: G42 8DN, hours: 12-6pm every Friday and Saturday)
take notes of related zines and books found in the zine library, using photos and reflections
begin making draft zines using the best sketch designs from last week, incorporating collages, lino prints and post-it notes from peers
reflect on best zine designs, and post-it notes from last week
continue researching punk zines and DIY mindset, expand by researching the punk movement, and DIY fashion
make a series of questions for interviews with classmates, friends and peers, using research of AI
Research problems with AI and how it effects daily life and society
Week 4 (10th Nov):
** Interview classmates, peers and friends more professionally by choosing the most opinionated/passionate and taking a note of what they say in a notepad, over a cup of coffee **
Reflect and post on Tumblr about the Zine library visit
Begin upscalling lino work to create a large poster, similar to zine designs,
Reflect on the most efficient materials, scales and designs from draft zines, and begin making more finished looking zines, focusing on attention to detail and perfectionism
outline the most eye-catching opinions from interviews and use quotes within zine
Reflect on how AI effects society and people's day to day lives emotionally, begin writing a brief regarding this (at least 500 words), referring to reliable sources (websites, books, etc)
Week 5 (17th Nov):
** Interview college lecturers and professional artists (specifically my aunt), and ask how AI affects them and relates to their creative practice, also ask lecturers about my zine work and how to improve **
Begin sketching and creating draft poster designs
continue creating zines, experimenting with colour and composition relating to a target audience (specifically a creative, left-leaning political people and artistic audience), and reflect on the best and most eye-catching designs
choose a final poster design, and go on local walks near the house and college, and take note of places where I can hang the poster, considering weather and environmental factors
Finish brief from last week, shorten it to the most hard-hitting and eye-catching sentences/phrases to fit within zine
Week 6 (24th Nov):
** ask peers, friends and mum how AI affects their day-to-day lives via post-it notes **
photocopy final zine designs in colour and black and white, use different types of paper to get high-quality prints, consider and take note of where to distribute them
create a post online via Instagram informing people when to collect the zines and create a digital design of zine (possibly another Tumblr, as it doesn't use AI)
create small posters, photocopy and experiment (i.e. collaging), consider distributing them or hanging them places, make stickers
Decide on a place to hang the large poster, and if outside, research ways to create a durable poster, like laminating
research different ways to create eye-catching art for political reasons, similar to advertisements and considering psychological factors, change final designs for zine if needed
Week 7 (1st Dec):
** Visit zine library on Friday the 5th, show professionals the zine and take note of feedback **
decide on a final front cover for zine, relating to last week's research
hand out draft zines to peers and take note of their opinions and feedback
reflect on best work and designs, decide on final poster and zine designs
Week 8 (8th Dec):
start a draft evaluation, relating to reflections, regarding process, i.e. what to work on in the future, challenges, etc
post a reminder via Instagram regarding where to access zines digitally, in the college, for the open day, etc, get friends to repost to gain a wider audience
make final touches to zine/poster/s and photocopy to hand out
Week 9 (15th Dec):
start distributing zines within college campus and other designated places, and hang poster/s up, referring to research
finish evaluation
make sure to upload all work onto Tumblr and hour log per week is accurate and updated
Week 10 (22nd Dec):
** Deadline 23rd of Dec **
Hand in all work, double check that everything on I&E Tumblr has been updated
Concept Research
AI basics: What is Artificial Intelligence?
Gen-AI: The Next Generation of Artificial Intelligence » SmartX Technologies
Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is a technology and science regarding computers that can learn and reason, similar to human intelligence. AI technology retains data that goes beyond how humans analyse. AI learns and retains information of various categories, like philosophy, science, statistics, psychology, etc. AI is for individual use, businesses and science, to improve the standard of living. Most AI technology is based on data and uses data to learn and improve by studying common tendencies, patterns and links that the average person would overlook. Creators of AI technology use algorithms and train AI to follow these algorithms, which include regulations to guide the decisions AI make and copy the way humans learn. Furthermore, algorithms are trained on labelled and unlabeled data. Unlabeled data consists of raw data, like pictures and audio, whereas labelled data is a log of data with information alongside it, i.e, a photo with a person's name and date of birth on it. The more data and information artificial intelligence has access to, the more it can learn and perform tasks more accurately.
There are various types of AI that use different algorithms and data and perform activities in varying ways. The four main types of AI are limited memory, reactive machines, theory of mind and self-aware technology. Reactive machines are the most basic types of AI, using preprogrammed regulations to react to various stimuli. Moreover, reactive machines don't use memory; therefore, they can't use new data to improve. This type of AI is used within everyday technology and is regarded as highly important in setting fundamentals within technology. For example, AI systems have been programmed into popular apps like Netflix to recommend movies and series based on an account's recent searches.
Limited memory AI is more advanced than reactive machine AI, using previous data and information to process and improve its capabilities over time. Furthermore, limited memory AI observes functionality, such as how a car can move, to find adaptable solutions to different categories. Limited AI is considered more refined as it's not essential for everyday technology, but it helps humans greatly. This technology is used to create virtual assistants and chat boxes to aid humans when encountering problems or to translate language.
Theory of mind and self-aware AI don't exist, but research and development are ongoing. Theory of mind AI is a step above limited memory AI, using artificial intelligence technologies to observe and understand the human mind and behaviours. Furthermore, this technology concentrates on a human's emotions, beliefs, and intentions. The intended function of theory of mind AI is for the technology to understand humans on a broader and higher level, improving human interaction with AI technology. An example of this type of technology being used effectively is in self-driving cars, picking up on audio, movement, etc, to calculate a car's speed, i.e. the technology may hear a group crossing the road ahead and will stop in time to avoid a collision. However, there are several risk factors surrounding the theory of mind AI, as considering humans on an emotional level will take time to perfect, due to its complexity. Moreover, errors during the learning stage of this technology would be more impactful and dangerous to humans, i.e. if a self-driving car doesn't correctly pick up on cues and causes a collision. Theory of mind AI has the potential to replace various jobs; women, young people, and part-time workers are at the highest risk.
Self-aware AI is more advanced than theory of mind AI, as the goal of self-aware AI is machine consciousness, making a form of technology aware of its existence. If achieved, self-aware AI could think like the average human and have similar emotional capabilities. This type of AI is considered to be the most intelligent AI, as it could be capable of performing and thinking better than humans. However, this technology, similar to the theory of mind AI, raises various concerns. Many types of AI go beyond the main four I mentioned, which use data and complete tasks in multiple ways. Other examples are deep learning, Computer Vision and Natural Language Processing.
Does the danger outweigh the benefits?
References:
Artificial Intelligence 101: The basics of AI everyone should know - Work Life by Atlassian
What Is Artificial Intelligence (AI)? | Google Cloud
The difference between labelled and unlabeled data
Understanding the different types of AI
Which occupations are at the highest risk of being automated? - Office for National Statistics
Artificial consciousness - Wikipedia
What is the Purpose of Artificial Intelligence?
** considering everyday use, companies, etc
How does Artificial Intelligence affect us emotionally?
** considering how its used within everyday life
