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Presentation

The traditional game of “pass-the-parcel” played at the event of a birthday party relies on music to ensure that the parcel stops on individuals who then open it. Therefore we have chosen two specific songs that relate to the concept of inconclusive time and grasping something out of reach: ‘Eenie Meenie’ by Justin Bieber and ‘Come and Get It’ by Selena Gomez.

Moreover, with the inclusion of two small piles of red and blue party hats, we intend to stop the music exclusively on those of whom attain a red hat. This would create a sense of desire and longing amongst those who are not chosen to open the object.  

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Desire

With our chosen object of a “pass-the-parcel”, we recognised the need to create a final exterior layer and design that would attract the audience and invite them to open the box. Accordingly, I researched colour symbolism and discovered that the colour yellow conveys an alluring and warm sensation that visually invites the audience to approach the work. Hence I painted the final layer (a cardboard box) yellow. I also found that the colours gold and red communicate a strong sense of desire and temptation that further ensures the interest and fascination of the viewer. The following images show the rapid process of creating the box.

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Making the parcel

Containing different items eg, chocolate, cards, watch

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Invites made for in class, using illustrator 

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New concept

Event: birthday party

- pass the parcel

- each layer will contain a mixture or desired prizes and cards with questions on them about what you desire

- the parcel will be passed around in a select group while others watch and feel the desire to participate

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Auction idea 

- freezing items so they have to chip it out and work to get what they desire 

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Experiments

Resin

Plastic sleeves

Glue and double sided tape

Paperclips as test objects

Cube net

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Desire

Desire and auction, clear “display boxes” holding items people desire. We auction them off still in the boxes. Desire is about wanting something and Continuing to want something that’s why the boxes are sealed. They can have it but they never really get it

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Desire

# happiness - doing something you enjoy 

#money - cash 

#freedom - a holiday 

#peace - therapy 

#confidence - make over 

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathy-caprino/the-top-10-things-people-_2_b_9564982.html

Desire research, What do people desire the most - although they aren’t physical they can easily translate into physical items… and be put up for auction… 

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Desire

definition - a strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen.

Events that celebrate desire or evoke desire 

- valentines day 

- weddings 

- christmas 

Desire makes me think of love, lust and longing. 

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Assignment 3 research

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Weekend research…

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Final Image of Work

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Concept Statement

Can creative acts be rebellious when rebellion has become canonised in art, design and media histories? What would a contemporary creative rebellion look like?

Throughout this assessment task, I have been discussing the notion that creative acts can still be rebellious in the contemporary world, despite the act being somewhat glorified within art and design. The inclination to produce a ‘rebellious’ work is typically inspired by an issue concerning the greater public within our society, and thus the need to challenge such problems in order to make a statement. This is an ongoing occurrence because there will always be people who perceive the world from a much broader, rational and sustainable view, rather than the greater mass of society of whom are satisfied with their routine of compliance.

Despite having explored the topic of abortion in the last assessment, I was somewhat determined to look in to a far more extensive concept that influenced or affected a more pronounced portion of society. Hence, I chose the act of conformity. In order to produce a rebellious creative work, I needed to challenge customary procedures and ways of thinking through humour and mockery to ultimately break down the existing barriers of individual entrapment. Thus, I was inspired to create an abstract expression of conformity through collage.

Initially, I was quite astray in terms of where to start with my composition. So I researched ‘rebellious artworks’ via the internet, and found one image in particular that stood out. It consisted of the word ‘authority’ in bold capital letters, and then revealed a small group of four people below attempting to cut the rope connected between them and the word. I found this to be extremely powerful and defiant, and further being a great example of a successful contemporary rebellious artwork. Accordingly I worked to re-design this example in response to the concept of conformity. However, I didn’t get too far after coming to the conclusion that my design was simply going to be too comparable to the original design.

Consequently, I needed to undertake further research to come up with a fresh and imaginative idea of my own. Whilst thinking and researching different representations of conformity, I came up with the idea of portraying sheep. The reason for this is that sheep are a familiar and conventional analogy of humans - they repeatedly copy and follow one another, consistently avoiding the operation of conjuring unique ideas and inevitably lacking individuality and independency. Therefore, I thought that the presentation of sheep could be a metaphor for the vast majority of people in our society. Moreover, I found various images of sheep, differing between body size, position and distance from the camera, however all the animals are conveyed to look almost directly into the viewers eyes. This is a deliberate strategy to personally engage an onlooker, causing them to feel discomfort, unease and possible confusion as to their place amongst the issue. On top of that, this direct eye contact between the sheep and the viewer, suggests that the artwork’s concept of conformity is primarily based off those of whom are already viewing it; approaching and therefore defying the subject face-on.

Although appreciating the effects of the abstract sheep collage, I wanted to take the work one or two steps further. The idea of producing a small series of works to add to the collage was an option to begin with, however I quickly realised it was going to be fairly excessive and unnecessary. So I decided to continue adding to the original collage to further promote the concept. The first existing representation that came to mind was the cast of the Mean Girls film (2004). These four main characters are iconic for their fake and conforming attitude and behaviour. Consequently, they face an ultimate destruction when they eventually become far too entranced with the need to comply to each other’s expectations. Accordingly, by cutting out and gluing amongst the collage the faces of these four figures, known as “the plastics” - Regina, Gretchen, Karen and Cady - I intended to confront the viewer by personally comparing them to such figures of amusement.

In conclusion, the image is an example of what a rebellious creative work could look like. Due to its determination and strong will-power to oppose against a customarily modern social matter, it fabricates a mockery of such a wide group of people and forces them to question and doubt their ultimate existence.

Bibliography:

Johnny-Doomsday, Rebellion Vector, updated 2018, accessed 8th of September, https://www.freevector.com/rebellion-vector

Rob Homer, Farm Online National, updated 5th of July 2917, accessed 10th of September 2018,

https://www.farmonline.com.au/story/4771787/chlamydia-in-sheep-highly-prevalent-and-not-transmitted-how-you-might-think/

Sam Rosewarne, Mercury, updated 28th of November 2017, accessed 10th of September 2018, https://www.themercury.com.au/news/scales-of-justice/sheep-rustlers-strike-tasmanian-farms-making-off-with-more-than-100000-worth-of-stock/news-story/0377342075f0d7bb0f26171ced73ebb4

Daniel Paden, BeliefNet, accessed 20th of September 2018, http://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/christianity/articles/the-lamb-of-god-died-for-our-sins.aspx

N-Sky/Getty Images, DepositPhotos, updated 3rd of March 2018, accessed 11th of September 2018, https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/scientists-created-human-sheep-chimera-embryos/

Ridley, updated 2017, accessed 11th of September 2018,

https://www.themercury.com.au/news/scales-of-justice/sheep-rustlers-strike-tasmanian-farms-making-off-with-more-than-100000-worth-of-stock/news-story/0377342075f0d7bb0f26171ced73ebb4

Jeffrey Masson, Animals Australia, accessed 11th of September 2018, https://www.animalsaustralia.org/issues/secret-lives-of-sheep.php

The following images were taken as part of the ‘Mean Girls’ set:

> Cady Heron, updated 3rd of April 2009, accessed 15th of September 2018,

http://www.famousfix.com/post/mean-girls-2004-12013132/p52367987

> Karen Smith, updated 2018, accessed 15th of September 2018, https://www.charactour.com/hub/characters/view/Karen.Smith-Mean.Girls

> Gretchen Wieners, accessed 15th of September 2018, http://meangirls.wikia.com/wiki/Gretchen_Wieners

> Regina George, accessed 15th of September 2018, https://www.google.com.au/search?rlz=1C5CHFA_enAU522AU522&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=J4KfW_bDOoyE8wXto57QBQ&q=mean+girls+regina+george&oq=mean+girls+regina+george&gs_l=img.3..0l10.162574.165846.0.165989.17.12.2.3.4.0.556.2344.0j1j1j4j0j1.7.0….0…1c.1.64.img..6.9.1617….0.KP2NfpXyUCg#imgrc=-b1f00RQOYjatM:

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Images Used

Mean Girls characters used:

https://www.google.com.au/search?rlz=1C5CHFA_enAU522AU522&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=J4KfW_bDOoyE8wXto57QBQ&q=mean+girls+regina+george&oq=mean+girls+regina+george&gs_l=img.3..0l10.162574.165846.0.165989.17.12.2.3.4.0.556.2344.0j1j1j4j0j1.7.0....0...1c.1.64.img..6.9.1617....0.KP2NfpXyUCg#imgrc=-b1f00RQOYjatM:

http://meangirls.wikia.com/wiki/Gretchen_Wieners 

https://www.charactour.com/hub/characters/view/Karen.Smith-Mean.Girls

http://www.famousfix.com/post/mean-girls-2004-12013132/p52367987

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Experiment Five

After having finally finished editing the sheep collage, I was trying to come up with a way to further promote this idea of challenging conformity. I thought about creating another two forms of images to go with the initial collage to generate a ‘series’, but realised this would be too time consuming and quite excessive. So I decided that I wanted to add something more to the collage that further implies the concept.

I brainstormed what comes to mind when I think of conformity, and came up with the idea of incorporating the Mean Girls characters. In our contemporary world, these four main characters are iconic for their fake and conforming attitude and behaviour. Consequently, they face an ultimate destruction when they eventually become far too entranced with the need to comply to each other’s expectations. Accordingly, by cutting out and gluing amongst the collage the faces of these four figures, known as “the plastics” - Regina, Gretchen, Karen and Cady - I aim to confront the viewer both personally and as a collective, so they can relate to the issue of conformity and therefore begin to question it. As a result, this would ensure the works position as a rebellious artwork, as it confronts a social issue, challenges the customs and expectations of society and breaks down the barrier resisting individuality.

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Experiment Four

I started making the collage by erasing the background image surrounding the sheep’s head and/or body. After doing this to each image, I began to place them strategically all across an A4 page on adobe illustrator. The larger images were at the very bottom of the page, and gradually they get smaller, directing the viewer’s eye up the page. This generates the sensation of a three-dimensional atmosphere within the page, despite it being a collage and further initiates a feeling of confrontation, imitation and hostility. I also decided to place an immature and amusing image of one sheep in particular sticking its tongue out - this is the main image noticed amongst the work as it is positioned in the middle at the very bottom. It has been intentionally positioned as the dominant face because it seemingly mocks the audience and suggests they are a source of amusement, not to be taken seriously due to their reliance of conformity. Accordingly, I perceive this as a rebellious act because it playfully ridicules our society and every “individual” within it, in a way that persuades the viewer to doubt and defy not only themselves, but others around them.

Below are two images to reveal the gradual progression of the collage.