COP: end of module evaluation

What skills have you developed through this module and how effectively do you think you have applied them?

• Research methods. I think I have developed this skill, but not effectively enough, particularly in regards to book and internet research. What I got was often not very relevant to what I was trying to say. It probably would have helped if I had picked a less confusing essay title, but that is no excuse.
• Image making as a response to research. I came across problems with this, struggling with inspiration and how to interpret it but really shouldn't have worried about this too much, as this itself hindered me making work.
• Presentation skills, particularly in regards to explaining ideas and research. The pecha kucha wasn't fantastic, but at the same time it was a huge improvement on past presentations I have done, so, personally, I feel it was quite effective. I developed confidence, but also skills in planning and preparation and rehearsal- which I think was the key to it being successful.
• I'm not sure it's a skill, but doing this project has made me more politically aware! And it hasn't been the most successful project all in all, but it makes me want to continue to make more work with a 'purpose' or 'voice'. 

What approaches to/methods of research have you developed and how have they informed your practical outcomes?

• My essay mainly dealt with research from books and the internet. It is hard to say that a lot of this influenced my practical outcomes at all, as for the practical side of the project I dealt with a subject almost entirely different to the illustrative outcome.
• For the second part of the project I listened to a few podcasts, and whilst this media wasn't so much the catalyst the opinions on them were so. Finding research which wasn't just fact based but also based on opinion, and quite touching personal ones at that, was very helpful, and the emotive response to this really informed my final work and opened my mind as to what to say. Of course, you must be tentative with opinions and not blindly agree to things, but listening to different views has helped me to inform my own opinion, and so my work.
• Image making as a response to research and in turn as a research method in itself. Through making images as a response I have been able to develop my own opinions and use it as a thought process. And as it is practical myself the ideas I got from this stemmed into my final piece, thematically and visually.

What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these?

• I took a long route but eventually I created a visual diagram that I am somewhat happy with. I think the strength in the diagram is in its way of portraying the idea- in a more abstract and metaphorical way. I think it is more attention grabbing, and may draw more interest from the viewer as they work out what is happening - and so it is a way of working I'd like to do more of.

What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these in the future?

• It's fair enough to say I did not prepare myself with enough research for this project, or the first half at least. Now I have done this once, and understand the purpose of COP, I will be able to select research that is more relevant and helpful to what I want to achieve. I will look beyond facts and books (though must include them, as they are very helpful!)
• My essay writing skills were very poor and lead to a confusing essay with no clear argument. Next time I will remember that the key is to structure and plan!

Identify five things that you feel will benefit you during next years Context of Practice module?

• An understanding of the COP module! Which I have now- but from the essay even to the beginning of the illustrative side of the module I was very confused about what kind of thing was supposed to be made / researched, which of course hindered the project.
• More preparation for the essay question- and a narrower one at that! I was confused, so thought a broad question would be better, but confused me even more! And I think this was apparent in my essay.
• Choosing an essay/ project theme that I feel more personally, or more interest towards, not so much for easiness but that I think as a result the project will be better and more passionate.
• Structuring a better essay and argument, and working on my writing skills.
• More research from opinion and not just fact, for a more personal and emotive outcome.

COP part two: final visual diagram

strengths:

• my favourite part of the image is actually the viewers. I think they communicate a lot, maybe more so than the mov itself and I am glad I included them. Visually, they're also my favourite, possibly for their muted colour palette, which is just a personal preference.
• I think it suggests something emotive, regardless of how the viewer picks it up. 
• I'm happy to have tackled this project in an abstract way. I think it would have been easy to just draw some emotional masses of people. But I hope that this more 'complex' idea didn't sacrifice emotional response and understanding from the viewer.

weaknesses:

• I can't look at this image without thinking it is a giant angry pile of sentient mustard and it is hard to take it seriously because of that.
• Partly because of said reason, but otherwise I'm not sure I chose the best colour scheme. Is yellow really best to represent an angry mob? And I think the dark blue of the stairs might be too distracting, visually. 
• The scaffolding doesn't work! There should be more legs and they should reach down more. It's fantasy, but there needs to be believability otherwise they will distract the viewer.
• And I think the image is boring. I'm not sure how I would have changed it, but the white background looks empty and like the image is 'floating'. Just a simple shadow or ground line could have changed this.
• Most importantly though, I'm not sure I got my point across- and I suppose I will find out from tomorrow's crit. It's hard to tell when you have all the research and backup knowledge to justify the image, when the viewer will not.

COP part two: diagram production

I started off with a red base. I thought red would be most appropriate as it is associated with passion and rage- but found it a problem in that the lines didn't show up very well. I added some highlights to try and add some depth, but it didn't make the lines any better and now it looked like a big pile of jam.

I switched to yellow. I'm not sure if it's most appropriate- I suppose it could indicate alarm- but as a colour scheme it looked nice and bright and eye catching and now the lines were clear to see, and it's not quite as cutesy as say, pink.

I overlayed some cloud and smoke shapes, I think these could work well but in a more balanced way. It suggests some depth, and perhaps some movement too (smoke is never still!)

I went back to the highlights/ shadows and used pink, and struggled with at once disliking this colour combination (for looking too cute and battenburg like) and struggling to find a better one.

I didn't like it much, but liked making the shadow lines thicker as they provided some more form.

I tried without the pink, and at once liked the simplicity but thought it looked too simple for such a large diagram that's meant to have big impact.

I learned how to bitmap textures. I'm always a bit wary of using 'screen tone' because I've found it can look really good or really fake comic book-esque, which is not what I'm after!

But I did it anyway

COP part two: thoughts

Looking back on this project I think I should have given some thought to the riots and protests of the past- particularly as we dismiss those of today so easily and yet ignore that protest in the past is what made actual changes.

Topically, this illustration by Jamie Coe came up. I think it's good- it seems to favour the protesters and maybe open up the viewers mind to their side- which is particularly important regarding the public attitudes to Baltimore at this current moment. But I don't think it seems to suggest anything particularly radically view changing- which I know is hard as someone making images for a similar project and is on the fence (maybe too).  The contrast of the clenched fists and open hands is a nice touch, and the reflection suggesting two sides- but I mostly think it misses out on anything too emotive and that's what gets me most.