Extra time to complete module

I've had to apply for extra time to complete this module.  It's all been a strange tale and it all started when I bought my second level 2 module 'Landscape' but due to being severely ill with Shingles I was unable to get going with it. Five months later, as I'd made no progress with it by October I decided to pay £250 to change over to Gesture & Meaning which would really interest me.   Unfortunately as a side to shingles you can be inclined to depression and that's what happened to me. 

I'm much better now and want to get on with my studies but received an email from student services saying that if I hadn't finished by mid June I would have to pay again. Luckily I could supply a doctor's note confirming my illnesses and can be awarded a further 9 months to complete. Fingers crossed for a positive outcome.  

Short holiday in Sorrento

I've just got back from a week's holiday in Sorrento, Italy where we had a real mixture of weather.  Absolutely chucking it down on the first day to sunny and warm and cloudy for the remainder.
Talk about tourists, I've never seen so many Japanese/Chinese people walking along small pavements, giving way to no one.  Another noticeable thing was the driving, on the right, of course.  What with large taxis, buses, big cars and Lambrettas zipping in and out of the traffic, it's no wonder that most cars have dents in them somewhere.
The light was fantastic being strong instead of the wishy washy light we get in England on poor days.  We stayed at an hotel right by the water in Marina Grande (only problem was a steep walk up into the town) but caught all the water traffic along with marvellous cloudy skies.  On our first day there seemed to be an eruption happening over Vesuvius but on following days it was beautifully clear, not even the wisp of smoke everyone predicts.

Vesuvius 'Erupting'

 Not sure I'd go there again but it was an interesting experience whilst it lasted.  Now I'm working hard to complete my Gesture & Meaning assignment 3 which will go off to my tutor either this afternoon or tomorrow morning first thing.

Back to work

I've had the summer off (with the consent of my tutor and 'the office') due to an overwhelming personal life which dragged me down into a fit of depression.  I'm back now and keen and eager to resume this module. 

I still think it's unfair that when you decide to change to a different module you keep the original start date.  I started Level 2 Landscape in June 2015 but found it wasn't for me.  I changed to Gesture & Meaning (after paying £250 for the privilidge) in October 2015 but have to retain my original start date.  This means, due to my 6 month layoff, that I have until June 2016 to complete 5 assignments giving me approximately 2/3 months for each.  I've set aside 3 2-hour sessions per week to work through the projects and assignments.  Luckily I have taken all the images that I need for assignment 2, and even continued whilst on sabatical.  They just need organising and captioning.

What is research?

I've always like to read the We Are OCA weekend emails and often find items included that really interest me and relate to my learning struggles.  Although I'm not studying advertising I find that the items regarding the theory behind adverts is fascinating.  The latest WeAreOCA on advertising can be found HERE

Last weekend's bulletin (March 5th) included an item which highlighted a subject that I find most difficult - that of research and how to go about it.   OCA Course Leader Rebecca Fairley explains what research in the Creative Arts is all about.  You can read her article  HERE.  Her recommendation was to:

Look. Think. Write.

Look. Think. Draw.

Think about your thinking.

I think this is essential reading for me as, although working in further education and gaining a marketing and further education teaching diploma, I'm sadly lacking in researching adequately and being able to write a critical review almost kills me.  I put it off as long as possible and use every excuse under the sun to leave it until the last possible moment.  My assignment 4 critical review in Progressing with Digital Photography was not received well and I lost even more confidence.  I've read all the stuff issued by the OCA support group but it still sits uneasily with me.  So I have high hopes that I can get rid of the 'elephant in the room' by reading and inwardly digesting Rebecca's article.

Definitions for Project 2 / Assignment 2

Definitions

Metaphor - noun

The definition of a metaphor is "a figure of speech containing an implied comparison, in which a word or phrase ordinarily and primarily used of one thing is applied to another. For example, "the curtain of night" or "all the world's a stage". http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metaphor   

Allegory – An allegory is a story with two levels of meaning. First, there's the surface of the story; the characters and plot and all that obvious stuff. Then there's the symbolic level, or the deeper meaning that all the jazz on the surface represents.

The symbolic meaning of an allegory can be political or religious, historical or philosophical. Allegories are kind of like massive metaphors, but they usually come in narrative form—that is, they're told through stories. http://www.shmoop.com/literature-glossary/allegory.html

Out of action for a month

I had a hard time over the past 4 weeks due to my husband needing an op in early February and needing looking after since. He looks much better and I can now pack away my nurse's uniform and get back to my usual attire 

I've got my second assignment ready to get approval from my tutor and have already been planning what pictures and other media I can incorporate to succeed. 

Definitions of words and phrases during Project One

Definition - denotation and connotation

"Denotation is the literal meaning of the word or image, Connotation is the association (emotional or otherwise) which the word or image evokes in a particular viewer.  This will largely depend on cultural factors like race, education, political stance, etc.  An example of this is Dorothea Lange's image of a migrant mother.  This powerful image denotes despair, hopelessness and suffering; it connotes that society either doesn't care or had simply forgotten that such people existed and needed help."  Quote from the Gesture & Meaning project book, page 26.

Punctum:

Point or small area in a picture; precise location of something; a spatially limited location.

Barthes definition of Punctum:

The punctum in a photograph are those (accidental) details (often in the background) that provides no explanation but instead creates questions on the surrounding people in those photographs.

Polysemic:

having more than one meaning, multiple meanings.

Canard:

a deliberately misleading fabrication; (n) an unfounded or false deliberately misleading story; a false or baseless usually derogatory story, report or rumour.

Define eugenics

The science of improving a population by controlled breeding to increase the occurrence of desirable heritable characteristics.

Reading about Gordon Parks project on segregation in the USA and about eugenics which is based on the idea that some characteristics are ‘better’ than others and that you can improve the human gene pool by encouraging reproduction between people with desirable genetic traits and discouraging reproduction amongst those with less desirable traits. 

From Chapter 4 in course reader: 

Phrenology

The study of the conformation of the skull based on the belief that it is indicative of mental faculties and character

Physiognomy

The art of determining character or personal characteristics from the form or features of the body, especially of the face.

Objectification

In social philosophy, objectification means treating a person as a thing, without regard to their dignity.