Creative project manager

As I have progressed with my project concepts and idea's, I feel that I have become a little more balanced as a creative project manager. Since I come from a creative background , I have always had a flare for generating an idea and progressing it further but I have never had to work with something so practical. This is where I have found it most difficult. I am more confident from a visual point of view and I have found the writing the most challenging . I was able to visualize very quickly the aesthetic attributes of the website. The way it would look , the style of the font , the overall design but I could not generate content that would create a unique slant to my project.

To my surprise I found that I really enjoyed writing the script that is part of my marketing strategy plan. The freedom to create a story and put it in to words , is not something that I would have ever tried before but I feel that it's simplistic, realistic  everyday approach will appeal to a large audience .I am pleased that it's tone is serious yet it also has an air of humor embedded within it. 

As far as following a plan of action , I'm not sure I did stick to the direction that I started on as I ended by writing a story for a film . In mentioning this though I have stuck to my initial website idea and brought it full circle . It is a very practical and viable idea that would be very useful to people and I also believe it is an effective use of digital technology.

Marketing /promotion/distribution plan

As I have already put together a Marketing Strategy for my website Free Food, I will just mention a few launch ideas that I have to create a buzz on the idea .

Because of the name ' Free Food ' I feel that it will generate curiosity amongst people as everyone likes something for nothing, especially in these recessionary times . So to avoid disappointment as an initial start up offer I feel it would be beneficial to hand out flyer's on the streets of Galway offering a voucher that entitled the customer to something absolutely free, subject to terms and conditions off course. The voucher holder would have to log on to the website and register as a member firstly. Secondly the new member would have to book a meal  in one of our featured restaurants for two or more people. On doing all this they would receive either a free starter or desert with every main meal purchased that was suitable to their dietary requirements.These voucher's could also be in local newspapers and suitable retail outlets, including health food shops. Also to reward everyone who visits the site and signs up, these vouchers could be printed off the website also.

To officially launch the website I propose to organise a huge event in a local hotel . This would be advertised on radio,newspapers and off course the Internet . All the restaurant owners plus any members interested and potential members would be invited to come along. A full buffet catering to people with special dietary requirements would be served . This could also be a chance to screen the marketing film to promote the need for the website. It could be also beneficial to have professional speakers talking about the three branches of people that are catered for in the website and also I chance to sign up new members by collecting contact details. As the website needs to generate an income this could also be a profitable opportunity to generate interest in buying advertisement space on the website.

As I have already shown a design outline of my website 'Free Food' ,the visual aspects are quite clear . I have chosen a strong design that is fresh and legible . The logo is portrayed using earthy colors and printed on hand-made paper  for an organic feel . This natural theme will run through in the background of all the pages of the website . The lettering is inspired from the block press font that has a very authentic style to it and is in keeping with the rest of the design. As there are 3 strands of people catered for in the website, they are each clearly identified by a universal symbol that is common to their attributes. In all the visual aspects of the website are supporting a healthy ,cleaner and safer approach to eating out.

The visual aspects of the marketing film are still unfolding but because of the nature of the website and the use of digital media , I feel it should be set in the present day to make it more relevant and realistic to the medium. I feel space is important conceptually and aesthetically . I am visualizing the frames having an offside composition so to open up the depth of the background. I have recently watched 'Hunger' directed by Steve Mc Queen , depicting the last 6 weeks in the life of hunger striker Bobby Sands . While I found this film harrowing and extremely difficult to take, the director, who came from a visual art background approached the film in a very artistic way . The extended lenght of the shots , the attention to detail and the richness of color all added to the visual ambiance and beauty of the film . I feel a could visualize certain aspects of my film having similar characteristics to Steve McQueen s approach .

Works Cited

 Hunger. Steve, Mc Queen, Enda Walsh, IFC Films, 2008

'Free Food Free Write'

Since the beginning of this project I have found that my idea for the website is something that is very viable and is severely needed to improve the quality of dining out for people with special dietary requirements. I was able to visualize the design and layout of the website early on and very quickly decided on a name and logo , but where I have lacked on ideas and inspiration is addressing the issue of content that is required to fill it . Having a long think about my options and even contemplating changing projects, I have decided to write a script for a short film/sketch highlighting the need for a website like 'Free Food'. This 5 minute film will not mention the website directly but it will portray a  typical storyline that people who have dietary restrictions  voluntary or involuntary might endeavor . The idea of this film is essentially seen as  back-up for my marketing strategy plan.  As the website is a guide for restaurants in Galway, my plan would be to enter the film in to the Tulca festival and the Galway Arts festival to promote it's existence and function. So far the script portrays 2 main characters. It is evident that there is a strained relationship between a young women and her grandmother because of the lack of understanding on the grandmothers part . The young woman Suzy had chosen to be a vegetarian and was shown no compassion or patience . In the end a little twist flips the atmosphere and put s the story in another direction . I purposely left the ending unresolved to give the concepts of the  website space to move in and create a  resolution , if that makes sense !!!

Digital Collage

 

 No One, [Freud] announced, lives in the real world. We occupy a space of our own creation-a collage compounded of bits and pieces of actuality arranged into a design determined by our internal perceptions, our hopes, our fears, our memories, and our anticipations. (WGalin47)

 

Making collages is a process I have used over the years as a playful way of creating images and space to create ideas as support for my prints. I use a diversity of materials, including recycling old wallpapers and proof prints. I find by juxtaposing different shapes, materials and forms it increases the possibilities of interpretation.

I have been looking at the work of Richard Hamilton and Robert Rauschenberg for their interesting works made from using found objects and combining photography and printmaking.

I find also the work of Jim Stezaker fascinating for his collaborations of photomontage and his interest in the idea of the found image, also In his more recent work he was been investigating symmetry of found images and creating collages from his portraits and landscape composites (craig16)

He has said that montage is a form of collage done by rearranging sections of film. It is also similar to copy and pasting which is something that everybody does. (Stezaker)

I am interested in investigating the possibilities of collaborating collages with the moving image. As I have talked about previously in ‘Digital turbulence” It is important to be that my work sustains an integrity that keeps a grip on the traditonal and partners it with new digital technologies.

 

                                   Works cited

   Galin, W, Collage,Assembling Contemporary art

                  

                      Black dog, London, 2008,print

 

 Craig,Blanche Collage,Assembling Contemporary art

                    

                      Black dog, London, 2008,print

 

Stezaker,Jim, Collage,Assembling Contemporary art

                    

                      Black dog, London, 2008,print

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reflection on project feedback

I found the feedback very beneficial towards my project this time around . Maybe due to the fact that we had a better idea what was expected of us this time around . 

To clarify the comments I will list points made that firstly I felt were successful:

Piece 9 

Good marketing strategy for the website 

Good use of digital media

Language suitable for purpose intended

Good feedback on logo and choice of name

Piece 10

Strong design

Suitable layout for purpose intended

Good use of font 

Clear and concise

Constructive Criticism

Piece 9

Piece seems a little rushed,

I need to watch punctuation.

A more in-depth investigation into marketing this specific website.

Could think about using web 3.0 .. videos etc..

 

Piece 10

Seems a little cold in its appearance.

 Unique element is needed for this module that gives it the edge from a normal website

Since receiving the feedback I have been contemplating how to improve the project by creating a unique idea for it. I think since undertaking this project I have visualizing the design and layout not to mention the function of the website for its practicalities , but not for its creative concepts . I regret in ways not taking a more organic approach where I could have been more conceptual and abstract with my ideas, as I feel I am still thinking about the project on literal level .

So the thinking cap is on now how to pursue this module in a more creative , unique way that will enable content to be written for it .

It is very interesting to receive feedback from fellow class mates and I have evaluated all their opinions and have taken them on board . I hope some of my feedback was given the others food for thought also .

Movie Making In The New Media Age !!

While a feel this piece of writing is outdated and conceptually incorrect in places . It is very apparent that Digital technology has transformed the face of Film and its avenues of distribution.We are not witnessing the disappearance of cinema but it's transformation into multi-cinemas , through the use of the Web. 

The use of the Internet seems to have unified a diversity of film making elements including the development of the script . 'The Internet has spawned discussion groups and global 'communities' that enable scriptwriters to swap ideas and make contacts'.(Roberts108) 

This along with user guides for the un-experienced  film maker is promoting the making of low budget alternatives. Established film makers such as Mike Figgis are finding spaces away from the normal procedures of 3 -act structures and soviet montage. 

More and more the web cam is seen to influence the making of ' Big Brother' style films. 

' My little eye' is a very interesting  horror film that enhances a feeling of surveillance on teenagers living in a haunted house . Nobody can leave as part of a competition and last person to leave will win 1 million dollars. I have recently been looking at this Internet streamed realistic  film  for its total breakdown and transformation of the ' Classic Hollywood structure' .

"The idea was to give the feel of a live-vision mix........ It was quite experimental , to see if we could use this language to tell the story, "(Evans 15)

We can see that although these experimental structures are a far cry from the documentary shorts of the Luimiere Brothers , the narrative is still seen as paramount. As Robert suggests in the conclusion , all the technology in the world wont replace the talent, knowledge and expertise that is needed to produce a good film.

Works Cited

Evans, Marc , The End of Celluliod, Hanson Matt,Rotovision SA Switzerland 2004 

Roberts, Graham , Movie-Making In The New Media Age , Gaunteett, David and Ross Horsley. Web Studies , 2nd edition, London,Hodder, education 2004

Copyright in cyberspace; protecting intellectual property online

  Imitation , some say is the sincerest form of flattery!!

I find this notion of copyright a confusing , difficult and very multi sided concept to fathom . From years of asking- Is it OK to take photographs in an Art gallery? Only to be told , It's fine once they are just used for 'educational purposes' only . I find it rather interesting in light of this at the recent 2009 'Frieze Fair' in London . In which up and coming artists took part in 'The art of Imitation' project. This mock up version of the real thing  saw expensive iconic artworks be imitated using scrap materials and sold at knock off prices . 

'Part of the project was really about taking ownership of the pieces, making them your own. Its adding a new layer'(Ricks, The Irish Times) 

In this difficult digital transition certain laws and regulations will cease to become in-effective and new procedures will have to be put in place to protect the copyright in Cyberspace. While the Internet solves distribution and creativity issues it also opens a huge can of worms referred to in this chapter  as the ' digital dilemma' .

This piece of writhing  highlights several disputes that have came about as a result of lack of suitable digital legislation laws . While I feel a digital lock down is needed to fight against digital piracy, I believe it should not come at the expense of combating or curbing creativity. The creator undoubtedly must be protected for his /her ' intellectual property' but to what extent is the question . I flexibility should be introduced to promote creativity and research . The legislation should function in a fair way for both parties what does not punish or hinge on the accessibility factor of the Internet.

Works Cited: 

 Ricks, Jim  'The Art of Imitation' Mahoney Donald ,The Irish Times,Oct 23rd 2009

Bibliography: 

Olson, Kathleen K , 'Copyright in Cyberspace; Protecting Intellectual Property Online',Gaunteett, David and Ross Horsley. Web Studies, 2nd edition, London; Hodder Education 2004

A companion to Digital Literary studies .

Chapter 19 

Licensed to play : Digital Games, Player Modifications, and Authorized Production

As the Digital Realm volts and multiples rapidly in to our society . We see the gaming Industry constantly  undergoing construction in its legislation and practices . This re-shaping and moulding comes into play because of the undefinable elements that exist in the world of gaming. Growing concerns to categorize gaming are provoking debates to whether digital games  need their own theoretical guidelines or whether when can be branched with other cultural disciplines.

While we can see that games hold similar properties to these disciplines such as story lines and plots , they are secondary components.

It is  the interactivity that gaming fundamentally differs , the user must participate for the game to function . It is here that I feel digital gaming may need its own theories and observations . Users can become creators therefore changing the roles of the players to co- producers . The modification that exists in the gaming  is an extremely smart market strategy adapted by the producers of games . While they acknowledged the need for these modifications to promote awareness and prolong the games shelf life . It seems that the producers were increasingly renewing the legislation to maximise the profits leading to, in my view the exploitation of the players . While it is very transparent process that the producers are puppet erring in . It is the nature of the game that permits this to happen . These 'modders' create for the symbolic recognition from their peers but also as a type of CV to showcase their talent to potential employers . 

As the distribution networks expand it seems to me that it will become increasingly difficult for the gaming publishers to restrict proliferation of  the modding community. New strategies must now be realized to ensure the protection of their intellectual property .

Digital Turbulence

Since the beginning of the course it has become increasingly apparent that we are in the middle of a rocky transition into a digital age . Technology is constantly evolving at a rapid rate keeping us user's shakily on ours toes. While this age is welcomed whole heartily in most circumstances , a certain nostalgic air floats around what is being left behind especially seeing the use of celluloid in film making fading into the past .

As we are thinking about final projects , I am now looking upon the medium of Printmaking. This is also very much about the process involved in creating a piece of Art. It is an extremely technical process and like the use of film the medium makes you work for a positive result . Even the most experienced artist can not guarantee that it will work every time . This is because of the tenuous materials that are been used , they require sequential elements to reinforce and react together. In some circumstances light and heat have important roles to play in a particular process, so Mother nature even has to be behaving  herself on the day. These are all properties of the medium that make it so fragile and unpredictable . This uncertainty creates an element of surprise that makes Printmaking so endearing.

These traditional methods are too been abandoned to make way for this digital transition . Like never before a control now exists in printmaking that opens up new worlds that are non-linear and extensible. I feel this transition presents a chance to collaborate or amalgamate the digital with the traditional in some way, to create new forms of printmaking that are both experimental and current to the technology that now exists.

Ramble.........blah blah ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

After a day in a room with 125 ACCS students , who only study one day a week , for six years, my head is sore . I have decided to sit in the complete silence on the top floor of this empty Library . This is the best spot in the house , centered to get a view of the drop down to the ground floor but just hidden enough to be isolated from any stragglers, what may still want to rattle what's left of my tried brain. Don't get me wrong I love my job but ..... aahhhh the silence is glorious , I could sit here for ever.

I got to thinking..........

After finishing this weeks assignment for E-learning on 'How to ......' How to do absolutely anything , in which I picked ' How to print an etching plate' . Making this video really opened my eyes to the possibilities of Digital Media for Education. A series of these technical video's could be created to tutor the class , or they could be made readily available from the Library . I don't know but after a long , hectic , crazy day ..... The vision of me in my slippers working from the comfort of my own home..... sheer magic !!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbIw7cBcJEs

Two adaptions

I have choose to look at two adaption s that i enjoyed and that I felt the transition from one medium to another was very succesful.

The first is a novel by Patrick McCabe ' The butcher boy' that was translated into a feature film in 1997 directed by Neil Jordon. In my opinion the director captured the tone and atmospher

e masterly and with perfect accuracy to my visualization of it. Referencing back to the article by Dudley Andrew the adaption was very loyal to the original text and could be seen to have been very concerned in preserving the fidelity of the intersection.

'Francie Brady' the main character was a young school boy with a very rocky upbringing. Who sets out on a tale of self destruction and hysteria leading to very violent and severe conflicts both mentally and physically . In this chain of events humor eased the situation so we felt a great compassion for this young boy that had re-treated into a strange fantasy world. The director matched any pre-conceptions

from the original text beautifully and surpassed my visual expectations to it. One change must be highlighted and it could be seen as an attribute of film is the resolution in the ending . In the film we see a much older 'Francie' picking a snowdrop as if to put the viewer at ease as the book finishes with him locked up in a prison cell.

Another Adaption that I feel matched up to the original text is ' The boy in the stripped Pajamas 'by another Irish novelist John Boyne . This novel depicts an ironic story of a young boy ' bruno' growing up in Germany during

world war ll. This book was shown through the eyes of a very naive nine year old who's father is promoted to a new commandant of a Nazi concentration camp . Here ' bruno' secretly be-friends a Jewish boy in a stripped uniform from the fence that barriers the camp from his home.

This I felt was another successful adaption in my eyes . The time period in which it was set was matched very accurately with the directors use of sombre light and color. The narrative did not differ greatly from the original but I felt that the visual s in the film were more harrowing than the text had made me visualize, especially in the end scene where the boys and all the other prisoners face there death . I felt the director handled this scene with great compassion. He portrays a very poignant shot of the empty clothing just to remind us that it was not just the boys that lost their lives and it was not just part of a fictitious story that had been translated from a novel . It was real history .

Film Theory and criticism review

What Novels can do that Film's can't.

By Seymour Chatman pp.445-460

 

In our everyday lives stories are all around us. We could be reading them on a newspaper, going to see a play in the theatre or studying a painting in a gallery to try and solve the story. It is one fundamental way we communicate to each other. 

So a narrative can be termed usually to mean a story or a chain of events that are delivered to us through various mediums. These mediums have properties common to them, for instance their narrative combines the time patterns of plot events. These two structures are the actual 'story time ' with the 'discourse time’, which can be completely different to temporal reality. As we know these structures are universal to all mediums so this enables a narrative to be adapted easily from one medium to another.

In this piece of Literature the author chooses to focus on the differences in the same narrative through the study of film and novel.

Firstly we look at the way description is used to set the scene of a novel. Novels rely on text to communicate the story. The viewer needs to encapsulate the images in their imagination for the story to unfold; therefore the description is paramount for successful visualization of the text.

In film we see a different approach. It relies on movement and lens events i.e. close-ups to communicate a visual language. The point of view is another feature. It may portray events through the eyes of the actor giving us an insight to what they are thinking. 

Whatever medium it is, each finds its own individual way through its properties to tickle on the senses of the viewer as to what the narrative is trying to achieve.

 

From concepts in Film Theory, Dudley Andrew

Adaptation pp 461-469

 

As the first piece just touched on it, we see here a deeper look at the concept or process of translating a text from one medium to another. To what style and extent is the question as potentially the adaptation could be as abstract as the creator wishes. The Author looks at three modes of adaptation, borrowing, intersection and fidelity of Transformation.

While borrowing been the most popular, I find the fidelity and Transformation the most challenging. Here the mood, tone or overall feeling of the text needs to be re-created successfully in another language.

Theorists believe this is possible because of the narrative. As previously mentioned the narrative is the link between medias such as the novel and cinema.

We see here how these adaptations are paramount to the history of film. They adapted and evolved to take on the style in fashion of that particular cinematic era.

 

 

Anne Friedberg

The End of Cinema; Multimedia and technological change.

 

It seems this topic is most under scrutiny by commentators and theorists alike. We have read a lot of different articles including this one in our Film in a digital age module.

It is apparent that film is been or has been superseded by this digital age. Cinema s time is on a bumpy ride of transition. We see from this article how VCR, cable television and the remote control marked the change in the cinematic experience. It allowed the viewer to view what they want when they want.

Computer screens and the Internet have now taking hold on those technologies with its interactivity.  It is coming more increasingly obvious that these changes are happening at a rapid rate and not only does the concept of ‘Film history’ need to be re-invented, this also marks a chance to collaborate these new technologies with a 100 years of moving image to bring it through to the current ways of seeing.

Design Idea Hand printed for website

‘’REFLECTION’

 

I read recently that ‘reflection is one antidote to the numbness caused by this cultural over-load; patient, ongoing consideration of the significance of the world to oneself’1

I belief that there is a great truth in this statement. It is all too easy to exist in a world full of deadlines and timetables that our society leaves practically no time to reflect on what it is all about or what is most important to us. While a lot of us do plan for the future we must evaluate the past to progress in our lives.

As an artist I have always kept a journal, but more of a visual journal to record something of interest that I would have fallen upon. It is always a good idea to keep a journal with you at all times especially while traveling as the environment

Is constantly changing and the un-known is very exciting and unfamiliar.

These diaries would usually consist of images and doodles and very few words. This is one of the reasons why a feel more relaxed with the visual than the text . I can express myself freely and clearly with a series of marks and if we think about it, children learn to draw before they can write so it is a very natural form of expression. From drawing on sand with a stick to scribbling with our fingers on a window filled with condensation.

I hold a fear of the literal that I have realized through my reflection from Tuesday s session. While reflection is a self-observation of our inner thoughts and actions, it can be a tough task to do but also tougher to evaluate the work of your fellow colleagues. You feel a little overwhelmed and embarrassed especially if your views are not that informed on a particular subject.

While I found the exercise a challenge, I feel it is an important learning curve to ensure that your maximum potential is achieved.

Reflection need’ s to become a conscious habit or part of a ritual like the visual diary or as I come to think about it this on-line journal what we have started.

‘ Rituals use repetition to create the experience of walking the same path again and again with the possibility of discovering new meaning that would otherwise be invisible’2

                                                          MC .Bateson

 

 References 

 1.Drawing from life, The journal as art. MC. Bateson. New York press 2005

2.Drawing from life, The journal as art. MC. Bateson ,New York press 2005

Writing Machines Review of chapter 3/4

 

Seems in these two chapters Hayles is back to her old tricks again. Using her imaginary persona ‘kaye’ as a way of putting forward her ideas and using the strongly coded language that I still find is a hard pill to swallow, even after deciphering through the previous chapters.

Along with her old habits the layout design of the text seems to be becoming even more intrusive as the chapters unfold, even to a point that in places the sentences seems to branch out into the opposite page. She seems to be testing the boundaries through the book design by highlighting the changes that printed text has endeavored since the intervention of Electronic Literature.

‘Hayles’ begins by explaining that she two is a ‘digital immigrant’. Born in a generation that was not accustomed to living their lives with technology, but she does not fear this new concept and actually embraced it, even if it was tedious to program in the early stages. She saw the similarities from her writhing classes and made connections with the modular computer. She was processing and coming to grips with the fundamental changes the occurred when printed text turned into Electronic literature and that now it seems imperative that her theories on MSA are critically evaluated.

As computer hardware and software were developing at a rapid rate so too was E literature. Even though it had made the transition, its principles were still relatively similar. It was still in as she calls it ‘the first generation’ The text followed a pathway that moved from Lexia to Lexia just like moving from page to page of a book. It was not until ‘Shelly Jackson’s Patchwork girl’ that something very distinct arose. Text and machine began to merge. Boundaries between the organic and the mechanical began to be broken down. Now the computer became more than just a carrier but it became part of the work.

 

This idea elevated higher after ‘ Hayles’ encountered ‘ Califia’ an electronic hypertext novel by a close friend  ‘M.D Coverley. Upon her first read she misunderstood its importance and function because of her preconceptions that existed from literature, as she knew it. She concentrated on the words without using the medium to access a whole new world where word exists.

I feel that the significance of these changes was brought home when writers such as ‘Michael Joyce’ left E literature to resume back to print. It becomes apparent that it is not the process from print to the computer, but all the ambiguities in between that are the main concerns. The words and meanings uncontrollably change through the medium with or without the consent of the Author.

 

 In chapter four we learn of the work by Talan Memmott’s Lexia to Perplexia which suggests that subjects become part of the medium and that they become structured by his or her interventions with it. To portray his concepts the viewer must believe that a Digital age already existed and goes on to devise a new language from a collaboration of English, as we know it and computer code. This is called ‘Creole’ and insists on merging machine instructions with the English language. Here we see the changes that the human body endeavors through information technology as it is re-invented by these new writhing machines. This is referred to as ‘ Communification’ where human beings and the computer become encoded in a network together.

  While a still feel a little confused about this book and maybe even more after looking up ‘ lexia to Perplexia’ on the Internet .It has opened a thought process that a never would have embarked on. Print will never be the same again but for a lot more complex reasons that I could have ever imagined.

 

Free post !!

FREE ENTRY FOR BLOG

 

 

 

I hope by hearing the term ‘portfolio’ I am visualizing the right thing. I am planning at the moment to do some market research for my website on –line and off-line.

I plan on gathering as much information on people s dietary needs and what they would find useful on this website. I have already been talking to people who have dietary requirements and they feel something is definitely needed. Also something I found very interesting is a few people have told me that even though they are not celiac they like to eat the food for health reasons. So maybe my audience might grow and expand to people who are just health conscious and particular about the food they eat.

 

It this point I am still at the mind mapping stage or brainstorming stage .I need to condense by ideas and just focus on certain people like vegans, vegetarians and celiacs. They seem to be the majority so far, although I plan to talk to some chefs that are more aware of this for a more informed view.

 One has recently told me a customer came in that was Sucrose intolerant and in the end all the chef could offer was cheese for starters, a steak and natural yogurt for desert. Maybe if the site had been there they might have been able to pin point restaurants that are sensitive to special dietary requirements and something could have been pre-arranged with the chosen restaurant.

For my portfolio I plan to show profiles of people with dietary requirements, highlighting their hopes and needs and general bad experiences to show how useful a site like this could be.

I feel the homepage will be most important in delivering the websites purpose so I plan on doing a few drafts to see which one is most successful. Color and design is extremely important to me too so I think ill have to look at colors that are suitable. Green is a good one where food is concerned, especially healthy, safe options.

 I would also like to include a nutritionist section in the website but I’m not sure than if medical issues may arise so it could cause problems and there are already sites available dedicated to this.

 I feel so far I need to establish a strong Ethos and work from there. I need restaurants to be interested in joining the site in Galway and also ensure continuity of the product and consistency of menus that suit users to build on client trust and loyalty.

 

Creator and Consumer

 

 

What an interesting position to find ourselves, at the bud of creating something from an idea or thought .As creators we have the power to construct plans and concepts and bring them through a process to achieve a final creation. It should be authentic, useful and of high quality in its design. While this itself is a great achievement, how well the product works is the key to success. It needs to fit the purpose it was intended for.

I feel for a product to succeed it is vital for it to have an identity and to be sure of its role. There must be a strong mission statement of its purpose so a clear message is delivered of what it s function is. For instance if it is an art centre, then it should not be holding kick boxing lessons!

Being at the two sides of the spectrum, the creator and the consumer. This puts a different angle or vision on the outcome. The consumer is the end user and in my work the person who s life should be made a little easier. My product comes about because I was first the consumer before the creator and this enabled me to see the gap for something that was lacking .I feel this stance works in the favor of the work. The consumer knows what they want or what is needed and creator knows how to create, it seems to me to be a partnership of great prospects!   

review on' Blakes' poetry

Review of the William Blake

‘Songs Of Innocence and of Experience”

This delightful book of poetry holds no resemblance on the previous book by N.K Hayles called ‘writing Machines’.

Unlike ‘writing machines’ this work of art has authenticity, integrity and backbone.

It is a compilation of words twined with the visual. Two languages are been spoken here, a literal and a visual language. This use of words and design are used together to strengthen the impact of communication and Interputation.  Symbolism is also embedded within the designs of Blake, allowing for a deeper understanding into the meaning of the poetry. This poet had a very vivid imagination, one that was maybe more real to him than reality itself. He communicated his ideas and concepts through his collaboration of words, symbols and images resulting in a maximum impact conceptually and aesthetically.

 

I myself am also a printmaker so I can relate and understand the time and skill that is needed to create a copperplate etching. What I commend Blake on is his technique of hand painting the prints after the plate has been etched with the words and designs. So in fact every single print would be original as no two would be exactly identical. This truly reflects the honest artist he was. They were not intended to be editioned in large quantities. It was solely for the love of his work.

 

Two sets of poetry are included in this book, Firstly ‘songs of Innocence’ and secondly a series of poems named ‘Songs of Experience’. It is suggested in the book that there s no reason to suggest that when he composed the first he had already envisaged the second. It could be seen as a natural progression of ideas and beliefs in his work. The songs of Innocence may seem to reflect a younger poet who enjoyed nature. He created poetry from a world that he was inquisitive and curious about. While the songs of Experience might suggest a more matured poet on a plight to highlight the injustices and suffering in the world.

I think these works of art are both beautiful and masterfully executed. While at first glance the words and concepts seem simplistic they are intended for a deeper understanding, I felt the short definitions supplied in the back of the book did not do justice for a lot of the poems.

I became a little deflated and disappointed on reading them, not to mention the restriction they put upon my own thoughts on opinions.

 

Instead of deconstructing the poetry I tried to write a few lines of a poem …

 

 

 

 

A man of words, a love of life,

Reflected upon his etching knife,

An honesty that lives through a stretch of time,

An Integrity that shines through his bright design,

That holds the thoughts and seem,

To ignite a light, a spark, a dream.

 

 

 

 

 

Idea Pitch for website

Right lots of ideas in my head so ill start getting them down on Screen........... QUICK SYNOPSIS OF IDEA Its for an on-line  guide to eating out in Galway  for people with special dietary requirements !!!!! Am I mad ... Where did this come from...... Well it comes from years of frustration being a Vegetarian and enjoying eating out . It was inevitable that I come home disappointed , hungry or even both from the restaurant . Every time I scoured through a menu for the V symbol the embarrassment would begin . I never wanted to cause a fuss or a debate amongst company about vegetarianism but it usually ended up in me feeling like a was being quizzed, fussy or awkward . I would have to ask for the vegetarian option because there was nothing on the menu to suit . Only always to be told "Ill have to ask  the kitchen staff". The funny thing was i knew before the waiting staff what the answer was,it was without a doubt a vegetable stir fry . If I ever see one of those again it will be too soon . It was come to my attention also that I am definitely not alone. A few of my colleagues  at work are ceoliac  and they also share in my frustration. I remember trying to organize the food for our Christmas party which ended up being a disaster. I ate before leaving the house to ensure I wasn't famished with the hunger . My idea s are so far are to list the restaurants that have menus suitable for the specific dietary requirements . These would have to be either sole vegetarian/vegan restaurants or establishments with a permanent section of their menu deemed suitable . I also would like to update and change these menus on a monthly basis . Once a month a restaurant would be featured to do a" recipe of the month" from the head chef. Detailed lists of ingredients would be supplied to ensure it was very clear and transparent and also include some images of chef and the  dish  in question. Directions and maps of places would be clearly shown along with a price guidelines  . I would also like a section for reviews of food  and establishments from customers that would have used the site for guidance .

draft

Writing Machines

WRITING MACHINES REVIEW

 

While beginning to deconstruct and comprehend what this complex piece of writing is all about I felt myself experience a rollercoaster of different emotions, Not only in relation to the content of these chapters but also towards the Author ‘Katherine Hayles’ . From the first few pages I began to dislike ‘Hayes’ and her reasons to put forward her ideas through an imaginary persona named ‘Kaye’ and then to proceed to indulge us into her background. I was puzzled why she felt we needed to be aware that she had exhausted all the reading material in her tiny boring town. Books were her only way of experiencing intellectual stimulation due to the fact that in her eyes no one around her reached her level of intellect.

I feel now after deciphering the complicated language of the first two chapters I feel I may have misjudged the writing and its concerns. While becoming increasingly frustrated at times over the use of technical terms and language that are part and parcel of the new phenomena of this digital age, I can appreciate how it highlights the authors concerns or main objectives. To focus our attention on how this digital age is transforming the face of literature, as we know it. Hayes presents a detailed account on her theory of ‘Media-Specific Analysis’, which she feels is essential to the importance of a text’s materiality and the changes it is experiencing. No longer is a physical artifact as a book the main means of accessing literature, it has taking a leap into the infinite world of electronic media. A world where we need to learn to read and write all over again.

It was suggested later into the chapter , whether the book will survive in existence because of all these new electronic elements. It is a lot more complicated than just pen and ink. There are now elements such as polymers, screens and power cord prongs in the equation. This reminds me of a recent article on ‘The emergence of filmic Artifacts’ I had to read. Here it is concerned about the changes in Cinema in a Digital era and whether or not film will vanish, taking with it the meaning and experience of cinema. I can see similarities in both these writings in their concerns and fears for a lost medium. Both of these authors come to the conclusion that all mediums are relevant to its history and any new changes in the characteristics should be embraced. 

Hayles concludes her chapter in urging the reader to be attentive to materiality now that paths have changed. The simplicity of turning a numbered page of a book has evolved into a new world of 'Binary code' ‘Hypertexts’ and ‘Technotexts’ .