Peer Review on Practical Work

My description of my COP Practical work

Overarching Theme: The Evolutionary Perspective

Specific Subject: Human Dominance over Animals

Research Question: How have humans dominated over animals throughout history, evidenced through art. 

Products/Proposed Outcomes: A collection of fake historical evidence of the human relationship to a fake animal- wall paintings, stories, clothing made from the animal skin/fur/feathers, museum case/exhibit of the 'extinct animal' - artifacts such as teeth, bones, feathers, and how humans have manipulated these objects in art e.g. jewelry etc. Also maybe an 'humans exposed' part; so exposing the atrocities of the humans over this fake animal; underground documentary, campaigns, photographs, raw meat sculptures, battery farms etc. - however I do really want to show humans as dominant so best not to show them battling for the animals rights- more so threatened and angry. 

Media Processes: Mixed media all the way through each different aspect requires different media. Proposed ideas will be carefully and accurately sketched out in pencil like architectural plans - e.g. giant animal sculpture- proposed. Like the giant fauna that mysteriously vanished when Homo sapiens turned up in some continents such as America and Australia! 

I asked 3 questions to the two peer reviewers: 

Question 1: How would you like to see a fake animal presented? E.g. photographs, sculpture, wall paintings, myth legend book etc 

a) I like the idea of having the pieces presented in photo form i.e. photos of sculptures etc. Others may prefer to see the actual pieces though. 

b) Really interesting project so far. As you're thinking about making all these artifacts think about how you can bring them all together- e.g. create a museum pamphlet/poster promoting the documentary/ artifacts/ exhibition? 

Question 2: What would be most shocking to show an extinct animal - from human intervention?

a) Think those pictures of trophy hunters are pretty grim... maybe you could create something like that. (my note: shrunken head/head hunters)

b) Photos might be a good way of presenting a fake animal -you could make it look like photos of evidence recently excavated pieces (my note: foot prints etc like Indian deity one). 

Question 3: What are the most shocking/disturbing pieces in my sketchbook?

a) I didn't find any of the pieces shocking and disturbing, but that's just me. 

b) Most disturbing/interesting pieces in sketchbook are the pages where you've scratched parts away. Red paint/ink has quite an impact too. (my note: this really made me think about the impact of being caught red handed and perhaps an interactive exhibition where the audience touches things and walks away with red on their hands to insinuate that all humans have a direct part to play in the domination over animals and the audience holds some responsibility)

The rest of the feedback from my peers: 

Comment on the initial relationship between the Theme and the proposed Subject?

a) Large amount of work that fits well together. What makes humans more dominant? Could there be more investigation into this visually?

b) Really clear link evidenced by lots of research. Define your specific purpose?

Comment on the appropriateness, scope and ambition of the proposed outcomes in relation to the subject?

a) Very ambitious! Although perhaps a bit too ambitious! I'd say trim a few of the proposed ideas so you don't try to stretch yourself too far. 

b) Lots of ideas stemming from visual investigation. Seems like it's quite hard to make sense of - narrow it down so you can complete at least one idea? 

Comment on the visual investigation and development of ideas in response to theme and subject? 

a) Great visual investigation this far! Is it time to move away from drawing and create some physical pieces?

b) Loads of visual investigation and playing with media. How will you start to come away from this visual investigation and create some more refined images? Choose the pages you think are the best?

Comment on the choice of media/format/series etc. In relation to the outcomes.

a) Excellent array of media etc. You need to start playing with clay etc if you want to bring sculpting into this. (my notes: raw meat - paper mache) 

b) Really interesting choice of applications - I think it would work great as a fake exhibit in a museum. As you are being quite ambitious with your ideas, start making asap! What will you actually make and what will you propose. 

Notes

Selfies with the animal. Mask the audience can wear to put themselves in the hunted animals position. Maybe one big wall painting on the history - make it look like a piece of wall - wood plank and paper mache. 

Also was told to look into Colombian Museum of Gold by another peer in regards to human/animal gods etc. 

Scale: Large scale in this case would definitely be more effective and more along the lines of the postmodern animal view - the animal as an obstacle! Impact on audience engagement stronger if bigger?

Unclassified animal is a threat to humans.

Perhaps these animals are close to humans... can also believe in group myths? like sapiens. 

Animal strangled by a tesco bag imagery etc. 

Delivery and Presentation: Boards and final thing e.g. exhibition - Janin idea of group exhibition. 2/3 presentation boards explaining the concept behind the piece?

With my PPP rationale in mind, I am leaning more towards my physical product being a wall painting depicting the rise and fall of this made up animal. With a few artifacts perhaps presented in a book alongside it, which will then contain some narrative about the human dominance over this animal. Just like the giant fauna of the continents and dodo and other animals humans have driven to extinction. I will need to start making a story line / life line throughout history of the natural life of the animal and the ways humans have dominated them and driven them to extinction. 

The reason I have learnt towards this idea because of my rationale is because my work revolves around colour, pattern, detail, people and emotion... and I think wall paintings give you the freedom to explore colour, pattern and detail as well as obviously focusing on people and emotion.