Contemporary ritual.
First year students, a rite of passage.
Education is not explicitly a ritual although there is clearly physical evidence of this such as the formal gowns and gold embossed certificates. It is still hard to define which parts of university are “ritual” though as much of the institution is assumed to be of a functional nature. One could argue that it is all a ritual, for example many of the skills are more accessible via self directed study or short focused courses. The "critical thinking" and deeper understanding is inevitable trough experience in the field. This is often valued over the academic "proof of worth" one attains with study. So what is left after this is taken away? Well I personally am studying for two reasons, firstly so that I can learn about various fabrication practices used in design. But mainly because that is what my peers did! I want prove to my family and friends that I am intelligent and hardworking. I want the "piece of paper" to show other educated people that I am “one of them”
Concerns : Photograph-ability?
Is this going to be able to produce intriguing evocative and memorable photographs?
My first thought is the lighting which will largely be the florescent striplings within the university. These are painful to say the least but perhaps that can be used to express the reality of the work. I am reminded of a painting of a computer lab, it was for me at least a very powerful image and conveyed a complex range of feelings, relating to the challenges of study and further more to life in the gray world of IT work. The highly flat and expressionless textual qualities combined with the cold lighting talked to me about the institutional homogenizing or even sanitizing of the individual.
(This reads as an attack on the system and I want to clarify this is not my intention. This is just one aspect of education and ultimately it is only up to us how we work within this system.)
Another concern is whether or not people will be willing to be photographed, because it is not a environment that is “on display”people may be reserved on even completely unwilling to be photographed. This would not be such an issue if it was using a ritual that is intended to be observed. The fact that it is so topical may work in my favour or against me. Part of me feels it is to obvious a subject and part of me feels it is appropriate as its something I am actually interested in. I would assume it had come up many times already and I really want to go somewhere new with my assignment. I should definitely discus this with my tutors though before I start.
Possible areas to start :
- peoples study space, using the cold light of the computer screen to illuminate the subjects. I see the images as not contrived or "hyper real" in nature but documentary with a gritty and low-fi aesthetic to them. One possibility would be to run a script on their computer that fires the web cam every 10 minutes or so over several days or even weeks. this would give me a stock of footage that i could flick through for images or aspects therein that "work"
The next idea is more significant personally but much less on topic.
Although I can't see exactly how it could be worked into the project perhaps by writing this something will come forward. In short my partner is finding the move to wellington hard. To be honest It has come close to ending our relationship for both of us as it is very hard to love someone who is depressed particularly as we are both far too proud to ask for help.
Yes, off topic I know but if it could be woven into the assignments some how it would benefit us in two ways. Firstly it would act as a way to express her sadness, she normally does this trough music but is not finding that as helpful as she has no regular gigs here and is not confidant enough to find them right now.
Secondly it would give me real emotion to record, there is nothing worse than an image with a limp "puntium".
Perhaps the ritual could be one of her daily activities such as running or singing, another one that would probably be far to personal would be her dieting. This jumps out at me as an option full of the grit of reality but will be probably to challenging for her. Heck It would be for me too. Music could be a strong option too as there is plenty of emotion in her words and the setting of hiding in her bedroom with a guitar also is very powerful in its intimacy.
Possible areas to start :
- scales, photographic record of weight, flat image of scales and feet on tiled floor. This would have the aesthetic appeal of her beautiful feet which is something she is very proud of. It would also show her tattoo which is both interesting for the viewer and also a representation of her guardian spirit which is something that gives her a great deal of confidence in herself.
- a Nan Goldin inspired series of Rohana playing guitar, out of kilter framing and natural light. I would simulate the over saturated qualities of cheap fast color film. this series would be set in the cramp confines of our small bedroom.
Third option which is the lest serious of all but still not without merit.
The Institution and Ritual of the Urinal.
Incidentally this idea came to me at the urinal while I was busy not looking outside the 15 degree field allowed to men here. I was hit by the absurdity of being unable to talk or look around even change my posture from the convention of hunched shoulders and slightly down turned head but up turned gaze.
Why do we have such a strong set of rules for this place?
How long have these codes been in place?
Are these contemporary and ever more liberalized structures or are they becoming ever more firmly entrenched?
Most importantly how could I photograph this?
even if it was an interesting idea I am forced to except that it is not exactly an "easy" option.
I guess I will need to shoot before I can really tell the respective merits and potential of these options.
