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‘Making it personal’- intentions in the future
I really think it’s a shame that I haven't been able to take the personal project as far as I would have liked. As usual, it’s my own fault for taking so long to Semiotics which ran over into the time I could have been spending on the personal project. I also spent at least a week and a half, planning and executing the painting based upon Nas’s Illmatic, and I don't know whether it was worth the time, furthermore I’ve spent a lot of time reading critically around Hip-Hop in general, which perhaps could have been done more concisely. However the ways I intend to finish the project firstly includes, exploring this idea of “augmented reality” posters and ads. I think now I’ve completed one “collage” of imagery, iconography and lyrics with the Nas one, it should be easier to represent the albums and artists I choose. Furthermore, the fact that I’d been writing an article for Alice on women and hip-hop fitted well into the project. Need to consider:
- use of animation and techniques - how to use the app - how to create motifs that can be easily animated for VR
- also would quite like to create animations of certain songs, with perhaps a more abstract approach to the imagery - so it’s not just pigeonholed with fans of that particular song?
- expand the paintings, create more textured, critically skilled paintings - maybe play with scale + material? Murals? etc
- intend to keep the project going over summer and in the future, discussed the idea of branding with a friend. T-shirts, these graphic designs would translate well I think?
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vimeo
For my final Semiotics experiment, tried to go down the animation route, decided to squish the models down and see if I could try out rotoscoping / chromakeying for the first time. Such a long process and the end outcome looks really pixelated / blurred but so useful knowing the technique - thinking of the future possibilities !
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Alice’s Women In Future Exhibition
Final outcomes for the exhibition zine for Alice. As usual wasn't too sure on the colour schemes, so created a few different options. I’m thinking after this personal project to start trying to go back to hand rendered illustrations in the full, I feel like the digital work I’m creating is lacking in personality. You don't get to see the ink, the lines as well. Not sure if I like the outcomes? Just seems very similar to what I’ve been doing for the past month, need to break out of the same routine!
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Personal project: Research: Gucci Spring 2018 “Hallucinations” Augmented reality campaign
After my tutorial with Claire she told me about the idea of Augmented Reality ads and we thought this could be interesting with the compositions I have been creating.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vRSOEqRgp8
https://theimpression.com/gucci-launches-spring-2018-digital-experience-2/
They used their own app to create the VR effect, however Claire told me about Aurasma or newly known as HP Reveal - next steps: download the app and start seeing if I’d be able to create my own.
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Semiotics Evaluation / Review
I finally printed the zine on newsprint, however I’m not happy with the outcome, I think the fact I created it using a traditional A4 zine format, is simply a bit boring. Was thinking of other ways to present the spreads? When I had a tutorial with Claire, she mentioned how it doesn't necessarily have to be a zine outcome. What are the better ways to present the spreads? Perhaps it is a case of using a fold out zine / “hot dog” zine template that would more around A5 size? or a concertina? However I don't really want to spend any more money on printing, or too much time on making another zine. This leaves the question, perhaps I should create a different outcome altogether? An animation, or a large scale piece of work that would incorporate some of the imagery from the zine, almost like an “improvement” on first outcome? Although theres not much time, as I want to be starting personal project, perhaps I should reserve a few days just to see what I could create?
In terms of reviewing the imagery and project as a whole, I really benefitted from doing more in-depth research this time, in terms of actually visiting somewhere, documenting both visually and with audio - it set me up for a much deeper exploration I think. However, I still think I could have created more thoughtful imagery in response retrospectively, some of the spreads in my opinion were too simple, and I still don't think I’ve found a successful way to integrate photography into my work ? Like usual, I really enjoyed creating the models for the zine to photograph - however I still think this could be expanded? Maybe I now animate them, destroy them etc. Develop them in general?
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Personal Project development #5
still playing round with old sketchbook pages, know it’s reductive but fun to imagine base sketches / imagery to work with.
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Women in Future Exhibition
Article to go with illustration for Alice’s Zine:
Is it time for Hip-Hop to tackle its misogyny problem?
In 2018, for the first time in history, hip-hop officially became the most consumed music genre in America and the UK. Yet, as hip-hop becomes more and more, mass culture, its struggle with the depiction and treatment of women is increasingly evident. Women in the industry have long faced overt sexism regarding their creative capabilities, their ability to rhyme as “hard as the boys” and reach industry success and relevancy on the same level. Consequently, female rap aficionados are faced with a challenge: how to balance their love for the music against respect for their own gender?
The state of sexism in hip-hop in 2018 doesn’t seem to have changed massively from its invention in the 1980’s. Misogynistic lyrics still saturate most commercial rap songs with the use of terms such as “bitches” “hoes” and “sluts” being levelled constantly at black women. Post Malone’s hit “Same Bitches” reached 15 on the Billboard chart whilst including lyrics such as “But I can’t make a ho a housewife / What’s your name? Who’s your Daddy?” and Future’s “Stick Talk” comments “I don’t got no manner for no sluts, Ima put my thumb in her butt”. Furthermore, the fact that Rick Ross doesn’t sign women to his label, Maybach Music Group, because he would end up “Fucking a Female Rapper” illustrates that the industry at large remains weighted against change. Queen Latifah’s “U.N.I.T.Y” remains relevant as ever when she laments “who you callin’ a bitch?” expressing the need to act as one unified group against sexism by considering the violence against women as a factor that renders the black community less powerful. This violence can be seen in reality with rappers such as Kodak Black, indicted on charges of first degree sexual assault and XXXTentacion, charged in 2017 with aggravated battery of a pregnant woman, domestic battery by strangulation, false imprisonment and witness tampering still enjoying a cult like following.
As we see more of the commercialization of rap, the notion that rap speaks “truth to power” is becoming more like “profit to power”, often at the expense of women of colour. Why are these rappers still being celebrated? Furthermore, the lack of women to counter and vocalise these industry problems, means conversations surrounding such discourse are missing. Complex’s list “The Best Rapper Alive, Every Year Since 1979” contains only one woman, Nicki Minaj and Billboards “The Top 10 Best Rappers of All Time” only includes Lauryn Hill. Why isn’t the industry raising more women to its ranks?
Hope for the Future
The emergence of Bronx based rapper Cardi B made history when she became the first female in 19 years to reach No. 1 on the US Billboard chart since Lauryn Hill with ‘Doo Wop (That Thing)’ marking a seminal move towards more female representation at the top of the industry. However, the fact that it was the second solo number by a female rapper in Billboard’s history cements that there are still substantial advances to make. Furthermore, Cardi B is an artist who isn’t scared to vocalize her opinions on women’s rights and supporting women’s choices. Delivering empowering female messages to her millions of Instagram followers, moving behind the notion that “feminism is only saved for woman formally educated in university halls”.
This idea of “digital activism” also provides hope for the future, with less of a need for artists to actually sign with labels in order to be successful; affording MC’s the freedom and ability to build their own brand and artistic vision. Furthermore, the fact that depictions of women have only spiraled downwards in mainstream rap forces the opening of alternate spaces, to exist outside of the “gangsta-pimp-hoe trinity”. Cyclically almost culminating in the grassroots and self-sufficient way female MC’s in the 90’s operated. As Washington D.C, rapper Oddisee comments, “there’s a certain type of person who seeks music, and a certain type of person whose spoon-fed music” Is the way to reconcile loving the music and hating the culture, in supporting artists who don’t engage in these misogynistic depictions? Artists such as Princess Nokia and Noname, are born out of this “independent” generation, delivering strong messages of female positivity, freedom of sexuality, and a celebration of the female spirit.
Furthermore, it’s important that critiques of hip-hop are contextualized. Not all hip-hop perpetuates sexism. The idea that the violence and the degradation of woman comes exclusively from “black culture” needs to be discredited. Other genres face the same issues and the sexism we see music is more a reflection of the sexism that we see in society as a whole. So perhaps with a general shift towards more dialogue about sexism, through campaigns like #MeToo the future of hip-hop may adjust with the wider cultural discourse.
Perhaps the goal for the future is to be able to not bring gender into the conversation surrounding rap at all, as North London based MC Little Simz comments, “why does it always have to be about my gender?” “Why can’t I just do what I want to do freely without feeling like people are trying to put me in a box all the time? Do you know how annoying that is? When you feel like you’re doing something greater than life, but you’re always just a female rapper?” However, until women are treated fairly in hip-hop, the conversation is still essential.
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Ideas
Because the article was assessing women’s relationship with hip-hop I wanted the illustrations to echo this idea of music, female power, but also be quite fun and striking. Also considered the idea of not depicting music necessarily but images of female togetherness, seen by the sketch on the second page. Compiled the sketches in photoshop, and then figured out how to recreate the lines. I always usually have an issue with the inking and lines when it comes to colouring but discovered when I retrace the composition using pencil, and create more shading and texture I liked the outcome more! Still think the collage compositions are perhaps too much? and lack the space to breathe? think this will come apparent when it comes to colouring.
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Zine Development 8
Inspired by the idea of police sketches and reality against mugshots and photographs.
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Initial Ideas / Research: Women and Hip-Hop
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Personal Work: Zip Zine
Sam asked me if I wanted to be part of zine with him, Ben, Flo, Inez, Rosie, Jaz and Maisie, the theme was “Zip”. The only requirements were that it was a double page spread, and black and white with the aim of getting it riso printed. It was quite an organic sketch just in terms of the first page, I depicted the idea of a zip lines, and the second was the cartoon idea of running away, “zipping” away. Wanted to get across idea of movement with the hands and throwing of the balls.
Do I like the outcome? Hm not too sure, it felt quite rushed with the colouring of the spread, and I still can't get the halftones that I want. Think I need to practice this further. Really excited to see the final zine though and see how everyone else has responded.
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Zine Development 8
This spread was inspired by the Brighton corruption scandal. Excerpt from “Bent Copper” book that was present at the cells. “In 1957 the Brighton Police Force made the news for all the wrong reasons, reinforcing accusations that watch committees no longer possessed the specialist knowledge to supervise their own local police forces. As one of the most famous police corruption cases in history, it raised more questions than it answered about the nature and supervision of policing throughout the country”.
Wanted to represent this but without having to write, tell the story in text so decided upon this quite simple image of people cheering. Also wanted to echo imagery of when newspapers used to blur out faces for aninomity / to indicate they were guilty. Think the boxes need to be redone, lines aren't that well placed?
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Zine Development #7
One of the pages, after seeing Stephanie Lebonas work, I liked the idea of doing quite simple, balanced pages. Wanted to create a spread showing the idea of a policemen chasing after a criminal. Idea that hand is reaching, and feet are running. Quite like the balance of the pages but don't know if they look TOO simple? bit boring?
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Zine Development 6
Cover and back pages for Police Cells Zine. For the cover I knew I wanted to create something quite striking, yet simple that could occupy the viewers interest rarely quickly. However don't know whether it’s too simple, and whether it should be the policeman not the criminal? Also type ? Is it too distracting? Does it make sense?
Not sure on the back cover, but wanted to try and utilise the other 3-D model in the zine somewhere, tried inverting the colour and quite like the ghostly appearance ? Almost echoes the idea of the police cells being “stuck in time” Also the address should encourage others to visit ?
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