Digital Collage
Title: Disturb the Comfortable
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Artistic Inspiration:
For my digital collage, I was inspired by Barbara Kruger. Kruger is best known for her silkscreen prints. These works exist mostly in the post modern feminist art as well as conceptual art. What inspired me most about her artwork was her ability to make a statement. I wanted to do the same with my piece, which is why I chose to use her bold phrasing. I mimicked the overlay of the declarative caption onto my photo, in red and white, much like Kruger's work. This technique was influenced by her earlier work as a graphic designer, which have led her to develop one of the strongest visual languages. Much of Kruger's work also consists of black and white, however I did not choose to incorporate this.
Experimentation:
After having done much research, I began my experimentation by sketching out three different ideas.
My original idea for my digital collage was to create an image that looked like I was stepping out of a television, in order to show my belief of stepping out of a world with censorship. However, this idea was harder to create than I had anticipated. I believe it was my lack of photo shop experience that kept me from achieving my original idea.
Process:
1. Taking pictures: to start my process, I began by taking a picture of myself the way I wanted to be portrayed in my digital collage. I was able to accomplished this with the help of a friend. I chose to do this on my bed because it was easier to look like ii was naturally resting my hands above and aside my head. The dark grey color of the sheets also came in handy as a solid background.
2. Photoshop: to begin creating my digital collage, I first had to make a plain white 24 x 36 inch layout. From here I was able to open up the photo I chose to use and begin editing it. I selected several portions from my original photo by cutting it out into rectangles. I then placed them on the white layout where I was able to move them around in order to slant them. I finished off the piece by adding in the words of my chosen phrase. I was able to take apart the picture well and evenly, which made aligning them better. Due to the fact that I was new to photo shop, I wasn't able to make as many edits as I would have liked to.
Reflection:
After completing this collage, I noticed that it came out better than I had thought. I had a lot of trouble with my original idea, but once I came up with a new idea I was able to complete it much easily. If given the chance to do it again, I would have experimented more with photo shop. This could have led to more edits on my piece.
Meaning of the Piece:
My first encounter with censorship of sexuality began with my parents, I had been watching a film and at the exact moment a naked body had appeared, I had been forced to look away. I had asked my parents why I wasn't able to watch what had appeared and they responded, "it's inappropriate." I never really understood what was so inappropriate about nakedness. I always thought to myself, I have a body just like everyone else, so why are people so obsessed with hiding them? To me, there was never anything unacceptable about our natural forms, so why did people demand this need of censorship? This idea of censoring our bodies has always seemed unnecessary. It is my belief that censoring the human body is hindering me, and everyone else from open-mindedness, values, and acceptance of humanity's natural form. It's not vulgar, but simply a part of our natural being. I shouldn't be made to feel compressed or embarrassed for the way nature intended me to be. I shouldn't have to feel like I'm being silenced or covered up when expressing my ideas with my body. Supporting censorship in general, has kept me from expressing my creativity and freedom. There is nothing I would like more than for people to see the true beauty behind their bodies, and to step out of this mentality that nakedness is inappropriate. Stop hiding, and start accepting that there is no shame in being seen.
ACT Questions
1. Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork.
Disturb the Comfortable was inspired by silkscreen prints, which were created by Barbara Kruger. This collage is portraying my belief of how we don't need censorship. I wanted to use bold phrasing, which is why I was inspired by Kruger.
2. What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author of my research does good on making a statement, by incorporating a bold white and red phrase, in a way that makes them stand out even more. The author describes every aspect of the painting a horror of sadness.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Throughout my research I found that there are a lot of people who are against this idea of not having censorship, They still find it necessary to hide the human body. This was upsetting to discover because we were all born this way and there should be no shame.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The theme that I focused on was identity. I researched mostly in identity because I wanted to show that this is part of who I am and my beliefs.
5) What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
The inferences that I made while doing my research were that there are many artist, aside from Kruger, that are trying to spread bold message.
1. Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork.
Disturb the Comfortable was inspired by silkscreen prints, which were created by Barbara Kruger. This collage is portraying my belief of how we don't need censorship. I wanted to use bold phrasing, which is why I was inspired by Kruger.
2. What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author of my research does good on making a statement, by incorporating a bold white and red phrase, in a way that makes them stand out even more. The author describes every aspect of the painting a horror of sadness.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Throughout my research I found that there are a lot of people who are against this idea of not having censorship, They still find it necessary to hide the human body. This was upsetting to discover because we were all born this way and there should be no shame.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The theme that I focused on was identity. I researched mostly in identity because I wanted to show that this is part of who I am and my beliefs.
5) What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
The inferences that I made while doing my research were that there are many artist, aside from Kruger, that are trying to spread bold message.