10 May 2011 hand-in

Year 2 - 10 May 2011 hand-in

STUDENT PROGRESS REPORT

STUDENT NAME: Annahita Mackee       http://madsjourney.blogspot.com/

RESEARCH QUESTION: How can traditional practices and culture be maintained with the use of crafting in contemporary society? Thinking about re-wording it to be more directed at teenagers, but so far I have only given it a little thought, definitely only a draft re-write: How can teenagers be encouraged to build their awareness of and develop their own identities and their cultural identities through the use of crafting?

WHO ARE YOUR KEY FEEDBACK RESPONDANTS TO DATE? (individuals, companies, or interest groups): Same as before, plus: a few teenagers (neighbours children and children of friends)

WHO ARE YOUR KEY COLLABORATORS TO DATE? (that is, people who are assisting you with artefact creation, surveys etc) Same as before, plus: Nicola Barron – Founder Homemade London, Cecilia Chan – Round London – works with teenage fashion enthusiasts.

BRIEFLY, WHAT ARE YOUR KEY NEW FINDINGS SINCE FEBRUARY? (70 words max, please) I have been develop the idea of self awareness, identity, culture, and am using the theories to develop the Graffi-tee artefact and Kite artefact as ways to help teenagers express and understand themselves and their communities more clearly.  I am also working on a new idea that I would like to present to the headmaster of a local school that is currently refurbishing, in which I have a workshop with the teenagers about identity (key questions outlined in my blog), and then each teenager is given a piece of a puzzle on which they need to visually, and texturally represent who they are and the culture they feel they belong to.  I would like these pieces to be joined together to create a large installation for the school.

WHAT ARE YOUR NEXT KEY ACTIONS? DESCRIBE HOW YOU INTEND TO TEST YOUR CURRENT ARTEFACT DURING THE NEXT TWO MONTHS (70 words max, please) To test  artefacts on teenagers, through friends, the school opposite and Handmade London.  Iterate after feedback from these sessions.  Develop further the identity and culture workshop plan and work on my relationship with local school to try and sell the idea to them.

FOLLOWING YOUR DIARY EXHIBITION, WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT COMMUNICATIONG YOUR PROJECT AND THE KNOWLEDGE IT HAS ACHIEVED IN AN EXHIBITION FORMAT? (3 key points maximum, please) You have to communicate very clearly and precisely, be specific, e.g. I need a little message that explained mine represented key quotes from my online journal, as a number of people thought I had just stuck my journal up. The use of images and diagrams, combined with words seems to work best. Ensure your exhibit is visually interesting, this encourages interaction and engagement.

PLEASE ALSO SEND WITH THIS FORM: Evidence of the artefact which you are currently testing (photos etc, if appropriate) Available on my blog - http://madsjourney.blogspot.com/search/label/Artefact%20Iteration Your bibliography, which as well as books and journals consulted can include websites, and a list of exhibitions, conferences, music events, films, or other relevant sources. Available on my blog - http://madsjourney.blogspot.com/search/label/Bibliography

WHAT ARE THE STRENGTHS OF YOUR PROJECT? My passion and commitment to the project and ability to adapt and develop my ideas as the project takes its own form and direction. Involving teenagers is exciting and different, they are bright, lively, honest and upfront! WHERE ARE THE GAPS IN, OR THREATS TO, YOUR PROJECT? (no more than 3 of each, please) Getting access to the teenagers is very difficult, they are naturally less likely to get involved in craft activities and are not usually organised by their parents, have their own lives!  The studio I was hoping to work with are still setting up, I will still keep in touch with them, and hopefully I can set up an evening workshop with their apprentices.