This module has definitely been helpful in me finalising what skills I plan to carry with me onto the FMP.

From my research I have been able to uncover a range of new and exciting techniques styles that I will be able to included in my creative process for the final part of my time here at university.

I feel slightly that because my research investigation was based on unpacking the skills and techniques I want to build upon for the final outcome, it has been harder to create a sense of progression within myself as I haven’t started with an initial idea and its transpired into something else. I’ve known from the start I want to create some from of print publication for the FMP where content is influenced by individual songs. My approach to this research investigation and proposal was about unpicking what skills I will be using within the FMP and the creative influences around them. I have, however, been lucky in discovering two new sub themes within my main theme, gender and nostalgia. I feel that the discovery of these two themes will allow me to produce two new creative directions that I hadn’t of ever thought about before in relation to my main theme. This will hopefully allow me to create more depth within my FMP as I will be able to explore to separate themes that will result in different creative outcomes while still being umbrellaed from my main theme of music and the effects that has on us. This is something that excites me for the future.

I have worked harder on this than I ever have before spending every spare moment in the library, I feel that I have pushed myself to the limit in the best way but just worry that because I struggle with the execution of projects, my work doesn’t reflect my efforts… that’s probably the pessimist in me talking but I can’t deny its there.

I hope my efforts will be reflected in my grade and am looking forward to the next part of university

As my research has progressed throughout this module I discovered gender as a subtheme more specifically, gender fluid fashion. While this did stem from research into a favourite music artist if mine, Harry Styles, I understand that he is by no means the first music artist to do this.

Gender Fluidity Should Not Start and End with Harry Styles

I found this really interesting article and wanted to reflect on the importance of what the article is saying. Reading that Harry Styles has never expressed gender fluidity within himself yet was immediately praised by mainstream media outlets for his ‘gender fluid’ vogue front cover makes me feel a sort of anger. It does boil down to the fact he’s a white male and that doesn’t sit right with me. As the article states, Alejandra Ghersi (Arca) is a non binary producer who has worn dresses on multiple occasions yet received nothing of the sort praise from mainstream media as Harry Styles has. I think the part that irritates me most is while it is of course good an individual with mass following challenges gender norms, he certainly isn’t the first person to do it. Also because he has never expressed his gender identity as gender fluid, I feel there is an element of exploitation in regards to the subject as gender identity is something many people struggle with deeply so for him to use his platform and status as a white heterosexual male to promote gender fluidity when he has no real relation to it other than the clothes he wears sometimes, sits wrong.

This part of the article summarises the feelings towards this nicely

“Ghersi, RuPaul, Vaid-Menon, and others like them aren’t palatable enough to society due to them being people of color and not being heterosexual. By contrast, Styles, a white man who has not adopted a gender-fluid identity, is celebrated. Is that Styles’ fault? No. It’s the fault of transphobia, homophobia, and racism.”

Today I decided to conclude my experimentation by testing out shooting in an editorial style. I felt that this would be beneficial to my project as I knew I would be shooting within this manner within my FMP. This also allowed me to touch on my ability to set up studio as it had been a while since I was last in there.

As a result, I feel much more confident in my ability to set up the studio space on my own.

Today I had a tutorial with Eloise. I had told her that I had been feeling stuck on the experimentation element. I think this is mainly because I feel like I have already an idea of what I want to be creating for the FMP but its hard to experiment within the research investigation without going full swing into what I plan to do for the actual FMP.

Eloise talked through some new areas of research for me to look into and I feel better about my approach into experimentation going forward. I have plans to experiment later this week which I feel are going to create more depth within my project and will also help me to work in new way which will hopefully help me to tighten the main themes I want to progress onto the FMP with.

Today I had a tutorial with Eloise, this was meant to be a group one but I was the only person to arrive intially which allowed me to have a 121. I felt this was another really productive session, Eloise gave me some new avenues to research and I was also able to talk a bit about how I’m finding it hard to actually experiment and juggle all modules. Eloise gave me some good links for me to adapt on and include within my research.

Today, I have also started to experiment with physical collage making and feel confident in carrying on this experimentation as I like the outcome of the first one i’ve done… I’ve added an image of the aftermath of this creation which I really think is a talent in itself. As my mother would say “how can one person create such mess??”

I feel that i’m thinking too much about the experimentation and thats why i’m finding it hard to do it, i need to just get on and experiment and the rest will follow.

Today I experimented with a new theme.

This experimentation was fun and has left me feeling like I have uncovered a new solid theme that I want to explore within the FMP.

I can definitely say that third year is making me work my socks off, I feel like I’ve noticed a positive change in my attitude towards how I’m working and how i’m applying myself to final year. I can’t quite believe that I’m already in final year. I am actively not going out as much which always help the bank and also am spending any day im not at work in the library as I definitely feel like I concentrate best in the library.

In terms of progress this week for my research and investigation proposal module there hasn’t been much because, as mentioned earlier, I have been focusing on the essay and I really struggle trying to juggle all three modules. That being said, I had a really positive 121 with Rachel on Tuesday. We discussed some new avenues for me to take in regards to research and also how I can develop my experimentation from my research which I plan to get cracking with asap.

Final year is really intense but I am confident in myself that I am trying harder than I ever have done and definitely feel a positive shift within my mindset.

Today I had a 121 with Rachel. We talked through some ideas I have and ways to expand on them. I had expressed that I had been worrying about the experimentation element as I feel that I have been researching for a while now and need to progress onto the experimentation. I’ve left this tutorial feeling much better about the direction of my project and feel that Rachel has given me lots of possible directions for me to expand my project.

Using interviews as primary research I wanted to take a moment to reflect on this.

I felt this was beneficial to my investigation and has left me feeling positive about the next steps of my investigation as I’ve been able to get an idea of other peoples interpretations of my theme.

This primary research has successfully open up my mind to new ways of experimenting.

Today I wasn’t able to attend my tutorial with Eloise as I was unwell.

However, I was able to start experimentation based on some research I’ve done.

I’m really happy with the outcome of the images and feel like you can clearly see where the inspiration has come from following my initial research. The image below is my favourite one.