Jennifer Angus Reflection

I was really amazed by Jennifer Angus and her idea of insects and pattern as a medium. Her work, again, brought be back to the idea of the ethnographer that has been so central to most of my work this term. I couldn’t help but relate it to my research project that compared ethnography as sin vs. opportunity/pleasure. Angus spoke of the ‘specimen manufacturers' that make all the 'real' insects in her works. These manufactured bugs are a true simulation and I’m sure Baudrillard would denounce the replications as something else that couldn’t be considered an real insect. Angus and Bloom would say otherwise saying these manufacturers are a necessary platform for creating her project. She couldn’t produce the work that so many seem to be attracted to without this necessary simulation. As I started the term I agreed with Baudrillard and his message, and while its not less true (that ethnography destroys the real), I am less bothered by it by the continued circumstances of seeing it as a necessary evil. 

This is what I thought about most with Angus’ lecture however there was another idea that I found fascinating but couldn’t connect it to much. Ill still share. I found it brilliant how she pointed out that people typically hate/are disgusted by insects but when they are patterned they are controlled in a way that is calming. 

She's not wrong

Patrick

Final Project Proposal

With my final project this term I plan to extend my experience with the mediums photography and album making. Photography has been the medium of choice for me throughout the term and I had an enjoyable experience with Blurb in the creation of my Lawrence Football Viking magazine last term. This time, rather than a magazine, I'll create a photo album that touches on the different aspects of simulation Baudrillard goes through. I'm still ironing out the details in my mind of what direction I want the project to take. Its either going to be separated by chapters that will show the different themes in my first second and final photo collection or be an extension of the first collection which tried to capture simulation broadly without any continuum or central theme. No matter the decision I make I am convinced that I want to have a significant amount of text to make the product more universal than to just those who know how to spot simulation. With a mixture of quotes from Baudrillard along with my own descriptions I hope to create a project that expresses my intentions to the consumer. That said, I will be sure to keep from saying too much to allow the viewer to have their own view.

Timeline

Week 7: Photo shooting / complete vision of project / Research Baudrillard + Bloom for inspiration

Week 8: Complete photo shooting / Complete quote collection / Begin editing / Begin Album Format / Hopefully Complete order

Week 9: Complete order for books / Brainstorm for presentation of product

Week 10: Presentation Preparation

View my previous projects on Flickr

Presentation - Barbara Bloom

For my presentation I had the pleasure of learning about conceptual artist Barbara Bloom. Bloom is a free-lancing artist who likes chasing different opportunities and creating work that is multidimensional. Reading about her creative process led me to some differences she has with Simulations' author Baudrillard. My thesis is as follows:

Barbara Bloom certainly understands Baudrillard’s theory on the effect of ethnology and the loss of pure value in an object when it is simulated. However, Bloom’s rhetoric suggests simulation is a process that brings her pleasure while Baudrillard’s prose suggests it is a sinful task.

Ranging from the recreation of Japanese culture, to celebrating history, to partaking in the creation of a Braille copy of Playboy, whatever medium and topic Bloom sets her sights on she attacks it in a way Baudrillard would say is damaging. However Bloom's innocence is in her awareness. She acknowledges the wholesale changes she is making to these items and accepts them as her own work. 

She would have to be considered the ravaging ethnographer in the eyes of Baudrillard. However, that doesn't mean that she is wrong to do so, in fact her widespread use of many different topics has served as inspiration to me to return to simulation as a broad theme for my final project, with each varying image having very little to do with the preceding one.

Find Barbara Bloom's available works on ArtStor: Here