I'm Stuck...Again!

Here I am again shedding tears over my exhausted/confused mess of a research project that I am struggling to even write 1000 words about (updated word count: 433). I've been sat in one of the cosy study rooms in the library for 4 hours now just contemplating the whole reasoning behind my research over and over again until I have reached a point where I'm thinking that I'm not actually that interested in what I am doing... which is not good news.

I've done a lot of thinking over the last week about why I actually want to be an illustrator and what I want to say, which has been somewhat unclear within the last few months. I've realised that I have been going along with many ideas and prospects of briefs and projects that I think I should be doing instead of trusting my gut, and worryingly I believe that COP3 is now becoming that. I can't explain how frustrating this is and how much it is knocking my confidence even further, but I am so so determined to keep going with this! Yet I am aware that time is ticking by. ARGH!!!! 

One of the reasons why I am feeling pretty anxious and kind of upset about COP is that I don't really feel that it is very 'me', which is ironic because I've spent the last two weeks fretting over not knowing what I am good at or clearly interested in within my creative practice.
But relatively speaking, I feel like I am taking on more of a creative advertising project, which is fine because it is something that interests me, but the output is looking more of a graphic design solution(which isn't me at all!).

There is only two weeks left until the next peer review, which means only two weeks left of research, and two weeks left to figure out what on Earth I am actually doing! (Wish me Luck)

Tutorial Three

In today's tutorial Pete and I went over the structure of my essay plan, to refine the strength and purpose of what I intend to write.

Chapter One

• Theories of self-actualisation
• Theories of communication
• Look at the way that health care is consumed; e.g. vitabiotics, yakult etc
• Communication design of ads and packaging
• How these ads influence self-actualisation and the perception of self, and wanting to be your best self

Chapter Two

• Packaging communicating actualised self
• Smoking,(counter argument) 
• Painkillers, self medication, amphetamines
• Choose three images to talk about
• Relate these images to theories in first chapter. Also relate to theories against so that it creates a counter argument/critique

Chapter Three

• SEMIOTICS; discuss the weird and the wonderful
• Use of certain symbols, e.g. glasses and a white coat=clever
• Start with questionnaire
• Start with self-actualisation
• What motivates people?

Practical

• Re-brand some products
• Say what they do
• Use the message to present method and products honestly
• What is actually in some things?

RELATE ALL OF THIS TO HEALTH CARE!

Conclusion/Plan of Action

I'm feeling more confident with the content of my essay, and more reassured that it actually makes some sort of sense and links together. As with the practical, I am still a little unsure of where I am going with it, but the best solution is to continue experimenting with child-like making processes and language to come to an informed conclusion on the connection between imagery and perception of self. 

Research: Children in Advertising Campaigns

I've been asking myself a few questions in terms of using the child as a motif to create empathy.

Would people have different opinions to controversial ads if they were created from a child's perspective/used children within them? (images on the right were recreated by me)

Does the use of children in Government campaigns create an increased  sense of guilt? Do they actually get people to change their behaviour e.g. driving safely?

In the last few weeks of my research I have been looking into whether the use of children within advertising creates a more empathetic impact on audience viewers. But I am finding it hard to connect the dots with this and self actualisation, I just see them as two totally separate topics, and it doesn't really make sense to try and write about, and continue investigating both of them.

I'm currently trying to write out the main bulk of my essay before it is due to be submitted as a draft in three weeks time. Perhaps I'll figure things out along the way through practical research, but I think this is one of those points in the development of my research that I have to choose a more narrow path to focus on in order to come to a more realised and appropriate conclusion.

Eureka Moment!

I typed up my evaluation of yesterdays peer review before I went to bed, so naturally I couldn't sleep for ages because I was contemplating what I could do to resolve the problems I was having in terms of where my research was going. Focusing on the most fundamental questions, 'what do I care about?', 'what am I interested in?' and 'what do I want to find out', I was able to clear the fog a little and have a solid reflection on everything that I have been doing so far.

I got my notebook out and literally just jotted down everything that came into head and tried to piece things together, and I think that I have finally made sense of things!

Refined Essay Structure

Title: (rough) Investigating into how the interpretation of imagery can create a subconscious shift in the perception of the self.

Subquestion: How illustration and methods of visual communication used in the mainstream can inform and shape personal behaviour, attitudes and goals. (This will need tweaking though)

First chapter: Existence and behaviour 

• Maslow, motivation, self actualisation
• Herzberg
• Skinner (pain avoidance)
• Freud- ego, id, superego
• HOW DO THESE SIT IN MODERN DAY?! : Consumerism, elitism, reason for being

Second chapter: Analysis of images from the early 20th century to today. Looking at the differences and highlighting key themes

• Beecham, Holloway (all images from Thackray)
• Smoking adverts vs stop smoking adverts
• Images used today in advertising campaigns and product sales in relation to maintaining good health
• Identify how children are the common theme

Third chapter: The child as a motif

• Human centred design; use of children inform learning, understanding, development and reflection
• How a child perceives topics of difficult/misunderstood nature. Raw and honest, highlight how powerful this is
• Sensitivity, nostalgia and empathetic connection with audience

Practical investigation: designing from a child's perspective Concepts for packaging and advertisements for products which supposedly boost our perception of self (and often exploit adults)

For example:

• Medical packaging 
• Beauty products?
• Cigarette packaging
• Alcohol

So my idea will need refining between now and my tutorial on Tuesday, but I'm SO relieved that I am starting to make sense of things and feel motivated to drive this project forward.

Practical Response: Peer Review One

This has been the week that I have hit a hard brick wall and literally burst into tears whenever I think about COP. In hindsight this has probably been due to the pressure of being asked to submit 3,000 words today (which I didn't manage) when I was still so unclear of what I was actually aiming for within my research, and reflecting on my practice as a whole after my tutorial with Matt yesterday, (see Studio Practice page).

Having this dip in mood and productivity has increased the awareness of my flaws so far and how I need to address them. It's frustrating, but feeling as if 'I haven't done enough', or 'I'm going in the wrong direction', and just generally having doubts about the work I am doing is just in my nature, as well as an impending fear of the unknown. Although strangely, in the periods(the almighty two hours) where I have focused on practical work I have 'let go' a little more for once and just been more expressive and confident on my visual thinking and recording process. Perhaps the drawing and visual exploration is the side of my research that is flashing red and telling me to pay more attention to? (Going with my gut feeling is something that I am working on!) 

Today's peer review was difficult as I was feeling so deflated and grumpy, to the point where I just wanted to pack my bags and go home and sulk. But I stuck it out and found it really helpful, thankfully! Yay for small victories! 

Amber and Naomi gave me some really positive constructive feedback which put things into perspective and pushed me in the right direction.

 

Tomorrow I will try and discuss with Pete about what I have been thinking about this week, although I'm not sure this will be possible as I have bombarded him with emails entitled 'HELP', 'COP STRESS' etc...sorry Pete! 

It's important too that I take breaks from thinking about COP, because I know that I will end up running myself into the ground again if I sit at my desk and try to make magic happen with it. Here goes!

HELP!

So I'm meant to have 3000 words of my essay done for tomorrow. Out of the 738 I have attempted to squeeze out, none of them are remotely good/make any sense, and I only have about 3 practical drawings. Also it might be a good time to mention that I don't really know what I'm actually writing about and whether I actually care about it. In other words I have hit a huge brick wall and have no clue how I'm going to resolve it and just feel like I'm not getting anywhere with COP in general.

I've just ran myself into the ground trying to think of areas that would make a good essay and my brain has turned to mash potato, and I can't even think of what else to write!

Introduction (so far)

Clearly outline the topic you are investigating and explain to the reader why this is an important area to study

Within this dissertation the researcher will discuss the implications of using children as a powerful tool within advertising campaigns to achieve a more hard-hitting impact on a mass-scale audience.It will also consider the level of effectiveness in advertisements designed to create a sense of empathy with the aim of changing consumer behaviour. The overarching theme of this study is to explore the extent to which social responsibility impacts on the role and function of illustration, which has lead to a development of interest in how the use and structure of imagery can be used to serve a persuasive purpose. 

Clearly state the overarching research question of the project

The relevance of identifying the level of audience response is important in recognising effective methods that could be applied to future campaigns aimed at tackling a variety of social issues. It also highlights the effectiveness of past campaigns that have implemented behaviour which shows within comparative statistics, often showing a substantial level of improvement.

Outline how you are going to investigate this project (your methodology). This might include highlighting key primary and secondary research methods, including visual, practical, and textual research methods

Reference will be made to texts relating to consumer behaviour, empathy, powerful imagery as well as above-the-line advertising campaigns, often in the form of television commercials, that use children to manipulate and guilt-trip the audience into taking a specific course of action. 

Identifying key persuasive methods used in visual advertisements through the early 20th Century in relation to promoting health care products has stemmed the investigation into the history of social and self-perception, and more specifically looking at drive and motivational factors that individuals aim to achieve a level of self-actualisation. 

The research methodology is centred around the relationship between illustration, advertising and achieving self-actualisation, and how the role of children can act as a vehicle to shift audience perceptions in response to a social issue.