Progress Crit - Peer Feedback

Feedback

Overall the feedback from the mega crit was positive, however I felt it wasn't really beneficial in progressing my work further. A lot of the comments were regarding practical aspects of the project and where theory was concerned, vague comments were made such as 'narrow it down'; which is what I was struggling with!

Problems

I'm still unhappy with what the content of my publication will be. It feels undeveloped and I'm unsure of how to push it into a new direction. Things feel a little stale at this point; I think I need a more in-depth peer crit to help push my project on so I can explain the difficulties I'm having and in turn get more relevant and direct feedback.

Moving On

I definitely need to push on with more research!! I think a lot of the issues I'm having at the minute are because I'm looking over the same source material, looking at new source material and drawing a lot more, I'm hoping, will free this up. Right now I think I need to get back to drawing while researching and see what comes out of it, rather than trying to stick with an idea I'm not 100% confident in.

Practical; Deconstructing Essay & Proposal

Further Investigation

In an attempt to draw more from my essay I printed it out and highlighted parts that really appealed to me. I find that while drawing with my subject matter in mind, I enjoy it and get most from it when I'm researching but drawing through personal experience // interpretation. I'm unsure how this would fit into a publication format or what content I would focus on however.

Practical

When writing my proposal I kept in mind what my peers had said about making a concertina from then until now. I thought about having a hardback embossed cover for each end in a bright yellow, with bold colours throughout to reflect the raver aesthetic. I could potentially use neon coloured duck tapes for any details. The safe option at this point is printing it digitally, however I could use screen print if time allowed for it? Something to consider. 

Moving On

Though I like the aesthetic elements I have in mind for my publication, the content still bothers me a little. It feels like a lazy solution and as if I haven't conducted // developed further research to make this piece something of contextual worth. Before committing fully to this idea I feel I definitely need to conduct some further research, both theoretically and practically. 

Practical; Peer Crit & Hotdog Books

Going into this crit I felt my knowledge on my chosen essay topic had improved and grown greatly, but felt as though my current practical work did not reflect this. I was a little lost in how to tackle the brief without just illustrating my essay.

During the crit it was suggested I maybe take on the idea of how rave has developed // stayed alive through time from the late 1980s to modern day. It could work in a concertina format moving from warehouses to fields to clubs, with a change in fashion // settings to show the progression of time. While I like this idea, I'm still a little unsure as to whether it is developed enough from my essay. At the moment the concept behind the imagery seems a little stagnant and just a regurgitation of what I've explained in my essay, with slightly more information and depth.

24 Hour Party People

24 Hour Party People Trailer

Film Synopsis

Manchester, 1976. Tony Wilson (Steve Coogan) is an ambitious but frustrated local TV news reporter looking for a way to make his mark. After witnessing a life-changing concert by a band known as the Sex Pistols, he persuades his station to televise one of their performances, and soon Manchester's punk groups are clamoring for him to manage them. Riding the wave of a musical revolution, Wilson and his friends create the legendary Factory Records label and The Hacienda club.

Research

It was suggested during my Essay Map peer group session that I watched the film 24 Hour Party People, to help introduce me to the time period I would be studying, and some of the main players involved in the development of the scene from Factory Records to the Hacienda.

The film was entertaining and definitely helped in giving a rough idea of how things moved from a humble record label, to becoming part of a much bigger movement. The hedonistic lifestyle approach to business, while being integral to the downfall of the venture, was also something that really stood out to me. There was a kind of reckless abandonment in the air at the time, which actually subsequently lead to the start of something huge. Did any of these people aim to make a huge mark in British culture? Probably not, but it's an interesting concept to consider.

Factory Records

24 Hour Party People Interviews

[Timings of People Being Interviewed]

00:00 Peter Hook & Stephen Morris (New Order) 01:42 Bernard Summer (New Order) 03:22 Arthur Baker 05:33 Tony Wilson 09:43 Peter Saville 15:59 Shaun Ryder (Happy Mondays) 21:03 Mark Berry (Happy Mondays) 24:18 Jon Ronson 28:11 Mark Radcliffe 32:50 Tim Booth (James) 34:26 Jim Glennie & Larry Gott (James) 42:13 Peter Hook 46:19 Dave Haslam

Essay Plan

As my research has continued I've decided to focus in on the British raver movement from the late 1980s to the early 1990s, the duality between theorists thinking this movement was either a fleeting moment of hedonism, or whether this was one of value and change is something that interests me and I feel I could make into a substantial body of research.

Proposed Essay Question

Did the ‘raver’ subculture in Britain, from the late 1980s to early 1990s, lead to social change in British culture and politics or was it merely a community of ecstasy infused ‘party people’?

Rough Structure

Introduction 

What is subculture? What is rave culture? When? Subculture or mainstream?

(500 words)

Main Body

Authenticity of Raver Culture (340 words) VS Recreational Drug Culture (340 words)

Inclusivity- race gender sexuality fashion ect (340 words) VS Apathy//Moral-less (340 words)

Political Impact- Anti-Tory (340 words) VS 24 Hour Party People -Unconcerned with Political Agenda (340 words)

Remember to include figures (images) to illustrate points

Conclusion 

Have they contributed or not? Media and Tory VS impact on British society; they did make an impact
Did they mean to or not; argued either way
Made change by doing what they wanted to do without a care for politic around them, ended up being key in political debates ect
 (500 words)

Extras

Have a few hundred words left to talk about pictures ect // add take anything away.
Include photos // pictures to illustrate essay rather than analyse using theory

Essay Crit & Feedback

FEEDBACK

Moving on from this point my main aim is really to research. I've began taking out books//looking up quotes ect to form a base for my essay but more in-depth research needs to take place. There are a few things I feel I should look into in more depth to get a better understanding of this era // the subculture as a whole.

FOCUSED THINGS TO LOOK INTO

24 Hour Party People

The Hacienda 

Madchester

Facts & Figures from the ate 80s//early 90s

Factory Records

London based Warehouse Raves VS Northern Raves

Raves then and now

Is the subculture still alive? Is it diluted?

Rave//Happy Hardcore//Jungle//House - differences? Similarities? 

Raver ethos - did they have one? An agenda? Certain aspects that 'make a raver a raver' - are there any? Could anyone be a raver? What united them?

WHO were the ravers? Class, race, sexuality ect - were there specifics?

Fashion? Bucket hats ect - what were they trying to say with their fashion? If anything?

Essay Map; Study Task 3

Building on from my chosen theme of culture, I decided to narrow down my essay to focus on subcultures. The notion of a group of people banding together to fight the mainstream has always interested me, and the opportunity to finally look more depth into this is one I wanted to investigate.

After a bit of further reading I focused in on the 'raver' culture from the late 1980s to early 1990s; while it's debatable whether this group was indeed a subculture, counterculture or a part of the mainstream is something that could be debated, however it's the people within the movement itself that interest me most.

Under the Tory reign, the ravers were painted as self absorbed delinquents, having massive messy parties with little regard for those around them, but how true is this notion? Did the ravers actually have anything to contribute to society or were they indeed just a group of 'party people'. This is what I want my essay to focus on.