How do we think about Subjectivity?

In this Lecture we learnt about what we thought about Subjectivity? What is Subjectivity? and why is it so influential to us as designers? We did this because it would link well with how we will design our design work in the future. I felt that this Lecture went well because I learnt a lot that will help me to look at past designs that I could consider taking inspiration from for my own design work in the future, this will also allow my knowledge to widen, as this will allow me to create professional and understanding design work that will be very influential. The first part of this Lecture that we looked at what Subjectivity was.

What is Subjectivity?

it is the question about who we are. Who we think we are makers and receivers of art. There are 2 key-thinkers of art, which are Sigmund Freud who is based around a psycho analysis, there is also Michel Foucault who is based around Social Power these both play into the power of art.

We next talked about Kaja Silverman, who is the subject of semiotics in 1984. The Subject of Semiotics plays on the word 'Semiotics, as you are doing the talking. Semiotics involves the study of signification.

After we had done this we then talked about Sigmund Freud in more detail, who is mainly based around psycho analysis. I found that this one a good part of the Lecture because I was able to understand in more depth about who Sigmund Freud was and why he is so important to Subjectivity.

Sigmund Freud

Reference-

http://www.google.co.uk/imgresimgurl=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/Sigmund_Freud_LIFE.jpg&imgrefurl=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmund_Freud&h=1500&w=1066&tbnid=7rj5yras0W9xsM:&tbnh=186&tbnw=132&usg=___lzXLSxQOW92heOVCVzlgwEAgks=&docid=wWFv9-C8HLZTnM&itg=1

Sigmund Freud was in 1856, Czech Republic and died in 1939 in Hampstead. Sigmund Freud wrote the book known as The Interpretation of Dreams in 1900, it was known to describe his psycho analysis on the subject of Subjectivity. He also created Unconscious forces like dreams and popular culture. Sigmund Freud considered the dreams to be a royal road. The Unconscious meant an act of dreaming, which was a great discovering of Sigmund Freud. This meant that it marks looking at the capital, so Freud was looking at psychoanalysis. The main discovery that Sigmund Freud  made was a main discovery around women, which meant that unconscious produces narrative, this then produces language and a system of signification. An art form is another way of relieving unconscious. Also he said that want and need is the only motivating thing, it is a sign of subjectivity through signs and language. 

Subjectivity discourse power.

After this we then looked at the other key thinker of art, which was Michel Foucault, we looked at this in more depth. I found that going to more detail based around Foucault helped me to understand how he is an important part to the topic Subjectivity.  

Michel Foucault

Reference-

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/52/Foucault5.jpg

Michel Foucault says that it is the way in which we use, so we become subject that mean subjectification, this is also called into this identity by subjectivity. Discourse isn't just languages it is a set of practices. The whole set of languages and practices have a historical origin. Michel Foucault was born in 1926, France and died in 1984, France. Michel Foucault wrote many books in his time, the most famous one that he is known for is called The history of Sexuality Vol.1, which was released in 1976. Michel Foucault is a psychoanalysis that says these are illnesses, which is a novelty of Foucault's study of Sexuality.

We then looked into Sigmund Freud house, which has just recently become a museum based in his house. Sigmund Freud's couch is a symbol of subjectivity that patients would sit and talk whilst Freud listen, within that hour the psychoanalyst wouldn't say anything.

Reference- 

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/5/5/1367764431016/Sigmund-Freuds-couch-at-t-011.jpg

Furthermore in this Lecture we then looked at different designers that was related to Sigmund Freud's house, as we looked at the picture that hangs over the couch in the house by André Brouillet. The picture is of a historical women called Une leçon clinique à la salpêtrière, Paris. In this part of 19th century, women weren't allowed to study medicine. The woman in the picture is known a s Blance Whipman, who is an actress and performed fake hysterical attacks.

Reference-

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Une_le%C3%A7on_clinique_%C3%A0_la_Salp%C3%AAtri%C3%A8re.jpg

We then looked at the artist known as Sarah Lucas, who created an exhibition in known as Beyond the Pleasure Principle. Sarah Lucas knows her history of art and has created pictures called Prière de Toucher, which means please touch. Another piece of her work is called the Pleasure Principle, Sarah Lucas is an artist that has full knowledge of a psychoanalyst why it effects art.

I think that overall this Lecture was good because it helped to understand how we think about subjectivity and why it effects us as graphic designer. I think that I am going to take this on board in the future, as I will be able to think about how subjectivity will help me when I design my work in the future.

Fantastic Media- Guest Lecture

Fantastic Media.

The full service marketing agency

A fantastic journey.

Reference- 

http://blog.unifolio.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/fantastic-media.png

In this lecture he firstly started off by introducing himself and how he came about working for the company called Fantastic Media. Firstly, he gave us tips on what you should do when you are applying for a placement in your placement year. The Tips that he gave us were:

• Starting looking for a placement early.

• Research potential companies and interact with them before applying

• Create an online portfolio

• Don’t limit yourself to one company and go on as many interviews as possible

After he had told us about what his placement was like when he worked at Fantastic Media in his placement year. He told us that he became the yes person because he said yes to every task that he was given in order to widen his knowledge within the company and learn new skills that he could use in the future. If he didn’t understand something or he wanted to know something, he just asked someone and they would be able to help. He also told us that the company was very understanding that the first priority was university, as he decided to stay at the company whilst he was in his final year at university. He also got lots of advice from people that worked at Fantastic Media, this allowed him to improve his skills. This helped him to produce high quality graphic design work. 

He then told us that he returned to University to study his final year, he then told us that he had to make decision on what he wanted to do after university. He said that he wanted to straight into work, however he had to decide which company he wanted to work with after university. He made the decision of working for the company Fantastic Media because he had already got experience at this company so everything was very familiar. Although whilst he was at Fantastic Media he didn’t want to just use the skills that he already had, he wanted to learn new skills. He told us that the job title doesn’t restrict what you do or learn in your job, you have to branch out to learn new skills, or to learn something new you need to go outside of your comfort zone. 

He then talked about the roles that he has been whilst at the company Fantastic Media and what risks and jumps he has taken, also the opportunities that he has been given. He says you should always take whatever opportunity is given to you. He said the most difficult part he has had to overcome is the clients because it is hard to get the work for the clients, so this makes it very time consuming. 

I thought the Guest lecture was very good, as I learnt a lot about what I need to do when I am going to apply for a placement between years two and three. My favourite part about this lecture was the part where he told us about the experience of his placement year and the problems that he had to overcome whilst working at Fantastic Media.