Recently I wrote about what I am looking for when I go to the movies – the suspension of disbelief being paramount. However, there are times when one needs to see a film, a difficult, challenging film from which you know you will emerge shattered, angry, sad.
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For decades I was terrified of poetry. It all seemed so incredibly technical and difficult. I didn’t see the point; I wanted to tell a story. So when I did my MA I made myself face up to this and do the poetry module, even though the scriptwriting one beckoned as I’d already had five radio plays broadcast. What’s the point of doing a course if you don’t learn something new? I struggled. It hurt. I came to realise that this was something I had to actively learn.
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In this blog post I will be discussing what to look for when examining textile works, these may be art works, pieces of design or engineering. The way you look at textiles is extremely important for a number of reasons. The purposeful examination of your textile research enables you to gain a depth of understanding of individual textile pieces. This analysis is evidence of your academic thinking and a vital component to studying at degree level. Added to this the considered study of individual works assists you in developing an eye for looking at a broad range of work.
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Whatever our specialisms, as writers, visual artists and musicians, we should all be indebted to John Berger for his strong and thought-provoking ideas. I particularly like the way he called himself a listener and a storyteller.
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I accidentally got involved. Saw an advert for new Illustration course and signed up. It was some time before I realised I was on a degree course, and by then was hooked.
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Back in 2001, comedy writer Armando Iannucci wrote a short series of sketches for Channel 4 on life and modern culture. In one sketch, a 42-year-old gent was sent to a Home for Middle Aged Men, in which he was settled quietly into a chair in the corner with newspapers and a small beer. At […]
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Writing practise is the only way to become assured about your voice, I think. The more you write – and, as important – the more you think about writing – the clearer your voice will shine through, from your thoughts, from your heart, from your soul.
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It’s there, in the back of your mind. Whether you’re feeling the buzz of learning a new skill, or taking a long-standing hobby to a new level, there are times when you start to daydream about how great it would be to turn it into a job. It’s not a fantastical idea. In 2015, […]
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Busy, stressed, exhausted. Welcome to the life of a parent. So how do you throw in a new creative hobby, when you can barely get a load of washing done?
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My work is about how meaning gets made. I’m interested in how narratives become dominant, how power structures evolve, and what roles pop culture, literature, and art history play into this. From early on I’ve collapsed what I see out there with what I’ve created internally — an overlapping of cultural and personal narratives. I try to question how those cultural narratives are structured and unfolded, and how they shape our experiences.
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