E-tivity 6. Performativity and daily life

I intitially found the Theory cards to be full of generalisation and too tabloid-esque for my liking. They do contain a lot of information on some very big and complex subjects, which may serve to be an useful starting point for a serious researcher. However, I fear that, much like the tabloid reader, this information can be taken as gospel and ‘fact’ much like when a student looks in an encyclopedia. There seems to be wikipedia-factor to them in this sense. Whilst they may be an easily digestible light hearted way to begin research upon key writers etc. I would have to stress the importance of seeking out further information on the subjects. You cannot contain the entire theory of say, ‘Karl Marx’ in less than 100 words. After all has his theory not been misread in the past? However, as I continued to browse through the various cards I found a sense of irony to them, particularly the ’special skills’ etc. section at the bottom. This may highlight another use for the cards; light amusement for the sake of the well read theorist who understands the irony.

As regards my own practice and the theme of performativity and the everyday- I feel this is one of a number of umbrella themes within my work which also includes an examination of time and memory, and the relationship between the mediums of drawing and video. My work is underpinned by performativity. When I film someone no matter how relaxed they may be, they are performing in some manner. When I make drawing from the video I too reflect the performance, which I have begun to examine by further recording this process. I also have another idea for creating footage to work from whereby 3 people will be filmed in an audition style talking from memory. This will involve performing in both the ‘natural’ and acting sense, but I fear dispensing any more information on the internet!

Filed under: Performatitivy and Daily Life, e-tivity06-0708, jim, tiip

Postcolonial Studies – e-tivity 05

On entering the  Emory University Postcolonial site I was immediately struck by its uncanny resemblance to the ‘Encarta encyclopedia’  software that seemed to be used by everyone prior to the internet’s arrival. No doubt it was the basis for the aesthetics and design of this site when it began in 1996.

However, I did not find the information; of which there is alot, to be as sparse as the general backdrop of the site itself. The site is very thorough in covering all the bases of the subject, including all recognised authors of the time etc. However, it feels much like the old Encarta format; an encyclopedia, full of dry and ‘factual’ information. This in turn led me to boredom and scan reading. True, the University of Chicago site still operates in a similar manner, filling the page with textual information. Yet it remains more discursive throughout, which engages the viewer when reading.

 I find that both sites reference texts etc. very throughly, but still favour the more modern University of Chicago approach; placed alongside the text, as they are instantly attainable at a glance. Thus the flow of reading is undisturbed. A strong point of both sites are the links on words of importance, or that are referenced elsewhere in on the site. This allows the reader to jump back and forth easily between links in theory and opinion. This is a tactic that I feel we could utilise on our site, and is something I wish to do with my own writing on the tiip site.

 As regards the collaborative nature of both sites I am still undecided of the implications upon the researcher. I feel this is mainly because I did not distinguish between 1 writer to the next, particularly on the Postcolonial site. They are overly formulaic in my opinion. To dry and factual, and with it authoritive. I do not feel this is how we should be working on our site: We are researchers, not encyclopedia writers. I feel we should set about pulling things apart, picking at them and then making connections and working them in as links between our pages.

Filed under: e-tivity 05, jim

e-tivity4 Simulation & simulacrum

Having read both texts I am surprised at the differences in writing style and content considering they both offer possible definitions of the same thing: Simulation and simulacrum. Whilst the second text by Joanna Topor referenced its text sources very thoroughly I found it generalised the theory it examined, Baudrillard’s in particular. This meant that it came across merely as description of other peoples theories which raised them to a state of fact. Where as, I found that the first text by Devin Sandoz offered a clear analysis of other theorists texts, which developed into an interesting argument. For instance, he begins a paragraph with “Jean Baudrillard writes in Simulations that…” which is then developed in the next paragraph starting, ”If for Baudrillard the simulation is the process through which…” in his own voice. However, the texts and sources have, disappointingly, not been referenced well, leaving me unsure as where to investigate to read more. I found that both texts only skirt around the notion of Simulation and simulacrum in relation to the media ‘artwork’. I felt the first text addressed the artwork most directly when considering Deleuze’s writing on the subject; a theorist who has also studied previous theory (Baudrillard) and developed his own voice regarding the subject. Where as the second text focused more directly upon either the various dictionary definitions of the terms, or Baudrillard’s philosophical framework for the terms. For me this, again, made the text too closed and dry. As with the first text, narrative films were used as examples that contextualised the definitions, but I was frustrated by the question/fact posed at the end of the second text: “In the end it becomes impossible to know what came first, the filmic depiction of reality or reality itself.” For, whilst the notion of narrative film as simulation of reality is an interesting one, it is easy to trace the linear progression of the filmic depiction of reality; following a brief period of experimentation of the new medium at the turn of last century, film became a means to depict reality, to tell a story, which has be established as the ‘mainstream’ of film; conceived for the cinema, ever since. This typified this text for me and highlights a need to thoroughly research theory, and consider it from more than one or two positions, particularly when attempting to define a comlex theory. Although, in criticism of the first text, which was open to a number of texts on the matter, any sources need to be referenced when presenting research online (or anywhere for that matter.)
Jim

Filed under: e-tivity04-0708, jim

Site specific and the nomadic site, Glenda and Jim

Hi,

Just to say that Jim and I have updated our site specific topic site with a resume of our presentation. If we find any other references of interest we will continue to edit the site.

Filed under: glenda, jim , topic 2

Biddulph &Biddulph Exhibition

Hi everyone, Just thought I’d add a link to the site where my brother Mark and I are currently exhibiting; The Castle, Wellingborough, Northants.

http://www.thecastle.org.uk/whatson/exhibitions/

The site is a little limited (and they put one of Mark’s images on!) so heres a few images of how I have installed my work.

Filed under: exhibition, jim

E-tivity 2. A brief critique of other artist’s blogs.

I have found a number of artist blogs online, and can’t say I’ve been too impressed with many of them. I began searching on google with the term ‘artist blogs,’ and found there seemed to be a number of mediocre blogs that lacked real interest and professionalism and instead seemed like an extention of someone’s myspace social page.

For instance webring http://http://r.webring.com/hub?ring=artistsblogswebr was one site, that had some potentially interesting blogs but also some awful ones too such as:

 ”Dark blog that displays the HypnoGoddess as a Controlling and sometimes vampiric hypnomistress”

Can’t say it was much to do with the fine art world and discussion!

 However, I then began searching with the term ‘fine art blogs’ which seemed to act as a bit of a filter. Through this I found this site: http://findingblog.com/browse-fine_art-109-1.html which had a range of interesting blogs to look at.

My particular favourite was http://www.oilyfilms.com/blog/ which the site advertised with a 5 star rating. The blog itself contains alot of information and is very well presented. It is put together by an experimental film and video group called ‘Oilyfilm.’ From the blog there are numerous links including one to their website  http://www.oilyfilms.com/ which explains that:

“Oilyfilm is a film and video production company based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Led by producer/director Scott Amos, oilyfilms has created many short films and video pieces, which have screened at dozens of events in North & South America, Europe and Australia.

Oilyfilms was founded in 2003 by Scott Amos, Vincent Lombardi, Colin Hender, Michael Lee Macdonald and Mike Wolske. Since then, countless contributors, both creative and technical, have helped to create each and every piece in the growing oilyfilms library.”

The actual blog works as a working diary concerning the groups experiments with various forms of film and video. Each blog contains a crisp image and usually an link to a relevant site with similar information involved. What is more, there are also links in a side bar that take you to more specific examples of the groups work with the various technologies i.e. 16mm, 35mm, digital video….

There are also blogs and links to film and video festivals, which seem to be updated regularly and which also allow you to find out about other people’s work. They have also of course allowed any viewer of the site to leave comments on their blog for critical debate.

I feel this is more how I would want my own to blog to work. To be discursive, yet slightly academic and technically inclined. I get the feeling that this is an extention of their practice, rather than an excuse to put pictures of themselves and their work on line for people to look at and comment upon and to talk about unimportant nonsense about vampires! 

Filed under: blogging, e-tivity02-0708, jim

Jim-open spaces open places

Here is the url for Open Spaces Open Places in Northampton.

And here is the full website for osop.

Filed under: e-tivity 01-07/08, jim

jim

o.s.o.p.
http://www.osop.org/osop06/index.html

I forgot before!

Filed under: e-tivity 01-07/08, jim

jim biddulph

I’m Jim Biddulph.
My Practice is involved in researching and questioning the relationship between time, space and memory through the lens and time based media of video, film and photography. I am interested in the reationship between concept and medium and the notion of editing and selecting sections of time which mirrors the act of sculpting. Most recently I have been looking at communication and conversation and I am concerned with the space between us as humans. My work usually involves installation, multi screens and sometimes site-specifity. During project 1 I hope to experiment further with these mediums and explore sound further in the next few weeks.

Filed under: e-tivity 01-07/08, jim