Pastiche

Fredric Jameson is an American Literary critic and Marxist political theorist,




"In this situation parody finds itself without vocation; it has lived and that strange new thing pastiche slowly comes to take its place. Pastiche is, like parody, the imitation of a peculiar or unique, idiosyncratic style, the wearing of a linguistic mask, speech in a dead language. But it is a neutral practice of such mimicry, without any of the parodies ulterior motives, amputated of satiric motives, devoid of laughter and any conviction that alongside the normal tongue you have momentarily borrowed, some healthy linguistic normality that still exists. Pastiche is thus blank parody a statue with blind eyeballs: it is to parody what other interesting and historically original modern thing, the practice of a kind of blank irony." - Frederic Jameson Parody and Pastiche
Jameson feels that post modernist architecture is out of context and pointless.
Nostalgia films - extends parts of periods of times, blows up something to make a point within a film, over exaggerating things to bloat the facts for information, jameson has an issue with this as the false ideologies become integrated into peoples minds making them believe that this over exaggerated thing is the truth.

Linda Hutcheon is a Canadian academic who works in literary theory and criticism, opera, and Canadian studies. Her paper, The Politics of Postmodernism: Parody and History, looks at distinguishing the difference between modernism and post modernism. Hutcheon believes post modernism has basis as it is a parody of modernism. It is a defensive piece against people who slam Post modernism in essays.

"On the surface, postmodernism's main interest might seem to be in the processes of its own production and reception, as well as in its own parodic relation to the art of the past. But I want to argue that it is precisely parody -that seemingly introverted formalism -that paradoxically brings about a direct confrontation with the problem of the relation of the aesthetic to a world of significance external to itself, to a discursive in other words, to ideology and history."

Jameson thinks that parody before has become pastiche, while Hutcheon it is all parody as it has an effect on things.

Jameson says

- Pastiche
- Parody becomes pastiche
- Non political 
-De-historicising 
-The Past as code
- Modernism is most important
-Post modernism is capitalist


Hutcheon 

-Parody
-Parody is pastiche
-Politically charged / critical
-re-reading of the past
- Incorporated
-post modernism is most important
-Modernism is capitalist 

Weaknesses in my practice

The weaknesses I found I had in my practice during first year hindered my progress in some ways, through identifying them I can approach and find simple solutions to them. In the first year of PPP I was looking for the type of practice I enjoy and most relate to and was building on that as well as engaging in different aspects of the creative world such as magazine launches, exhibition and gallery visits, attending lectures and reading up on my subject as well as other aspects of the creative world.

I found that in the first year of doing this I struggled most with being able to find different creative events which I would have enjoyed going to, I feel I didn't attend enough live events or lectures as I was unaware of them until after they had happened, I need to do better to keep up to date with websites such as Creative Review, Its Nice That and other such design based websites which advertise events and creative experiences, by doing this I will broaden my view and open myself up to different positive opportunities.
Within PPP it is expected that everyone presents a 10 minute long power point speaking about there practice, interests and experiences within there subject, though I have no issue presenting and speaking to a large group of people, I find it extremely daunting to speak about myself and the style of practice and as well telling people my interests and also future aspects, I need to work on this so that I can present a more free flowing presentation which is engaging and interesting, in the first year I felt that I was held back through embarrassment of having to just talk about me, I need to open up more and be able to articulate my interests, aims and goals.
Personal branding was something I struggled on also, having to create something which is meant to represent you is a tricky complex, I struggled to identify with any form of branding, especially early on in my studies, I intend to try and understand my practice better and be able to brand my self with something I relate to and which relates to my practice and personal interests and styles.

Looking at design studios

Buttercrumble - 

Abigail and Chloe, design duo known as Buttercrumble, they believe in the power of good design which will inspire and change something. They're inspired by mid-century design, folk illustrations, Scandinavian design, stories and life, themselves saying 'Sweetness is out weakness'.

Buttercrumbles core values

• Smile - Illustration and design makes us smile and we aim to produce work which develops your  brand and makes your audience smile
• Collaborate - Our culture is all about collaboration. Our business was formed on collaborating and we are always looking to collaborate with other creatives.
• Foundations - We believe you can not create great designs from weak foundations which is why we work hard on every stage of the project including research.

Work -

Giclee and Risograph prints- exhibit at The Gallery in Munro House (Leeds) in May 2016. The exhibition was a celebration of women, art and food as part of the Leeds Indie Food Festival.

Small interesting prints showing the different cafes which Buttercrumble frequent, the prints a detailed and colourful, while the 'Banana Yoga' prints are simplistic, yet still remain interesting and vibrant to view.

So Young Magazine

 So Young is a gift to you under the assumption that you keep going to gigs, buying records and looking at the sleeve artwork as you listen. With a community spirit, So Young aim to bridge the gap between some of the newest talents within illustration and the thriving underground guitar music scene. They are inspired by fanzines from the punk era but with a much more positive outlook. It’s about documenting what is going on right now up and down the country and overseas in pubs, clubs, squats and living rooms. In a time of disposable music and art, So Young is a printed publication, fully illustrated by emerging and contemporary illustrators, our limited print runs make So Young an item to be collected and treasured.

Contributing Artists -

@Chatshowcharlie - Charlotte Weston
Sculptor artist, Photographer and designer.

@pseudobruitismus_africamus

Collage artist

@tarabooth

Illustrator, collage artist. Worked on The Wytches second album.

@joshwhettingsteel

Editor of So Young Magazine/ Illustrator/ Collage artist

Build Studio -

Utilising Graphic design alongside art direction, image-making, moving image and typography they specialise in creating visual communications for forward-thinking clients in the design led sector.

Builds' many different international clients include Virgin America, Made.com, Getty Images and Nike, as well as a number of independent businesses and designer-makers, and events both in the UK and abroad.

Work - 

Sex, Drugs & Helvetica - Conference Branding

Branding for the Australian design conference, Sex Drugs & Helvetica. Referencing the irreverent title of the conference they built the identity around a system of illustrations and pictograms. Each one referencing a part of the title of the conference. Alongside posters, t-shirts, tote bags, programmes, banners, lanyards and wristbands, build also designed a website and an accompanying social media campaign.

Levi's -

A collaboration with Bob Sheard/Fresh Britain for Levi's. With a Brand vision of 'Authentic Expression' developed by Fresh Britain. A new typographic visual language by Build. Working with the team at Fresh Britain to align, and reinforce the brand vision for 'Authenticity', build developed a typeface informed and constructed using Levi's arcuate.

PPP - Paris - Takashi Murakami

TAKASHI MURAKAMI - GALERIE PERROTIN 

Visiting a number of galleries over the course of my time in Paris, one which had left the most lasting impression was the Takashi Murakami exhibition at the Galerie Perrotin, Murakami is a contemporary Japanese artist whose work is easily recognisable through his own style which has become renowned. Murakami uses a number of different media, from sculpture to print and each with its own distinctive look, he also works with commercial media such as animation, fashion and merchandise. Murakami founded the art movement 'Superflat', which takes influence from anime and manga and other consumer forms of art in Japan. Murakami is highly praised for his work, which is said to blur the line between high and low art.

Many of the pieces in the exhibition were unique and individual pieces, though many pieces had a similar style, the exhibition was a good mixture of all of Murakami's work, it showcased his different styles and medias used. Murakami worked a lot with plastics and thick acrylic, this gave the work a shine and the light hits off of them and really shows the colours and angles off. It is easily seen that he combines commercial art with fine art creating work which content can be seen as 'weak' and be showcasing it as art with bold colours and a strong form, this sculpture above, for example, uses anime/manga style skulls as a gold wall piece, this combination makes for a unique and interesting piece.

Again a reoccurring symbol within Murakami's exhibition was the skull, though these compositions took a completely different form and style in comparison to the gold sculpture. These pieces were acrylic plastic circles with painted image inside, these pieces took up the entire wall, measuring at about 200cmX200cm. The colours are all built up well which gives these pieces a lot of depth and a hierarchy which can be clearly seen.

Murakami's painted pieces are all to a very large scale and as seen in this piece it can be seen that he uses a number of painting techniques, one being spray painting, using this a means to write type or as a background layer to bring out his foreground content. Again using the anime/manga style of characters and colour choices, in this piece, he also combines it with old Japanese styles and symbols such as can be seen in this piece a dragon, this combination of styles makes the piece more visually powerful, because of its contrasts in styles and content.

Another example of Murakami's style change, this self-portrait style sculpture stood out within the exhibition as something completely different from all his work. Though it has the face of Murakami the rest of the sculpture is fantasised to resemble a god. Murakami has a vast and diverse portfolio which inspires me to be diverse and changeable within my own work.

PPP Paris - Erasmus Failure

During studies in first year an opportunity arose to study abroad for the first semester of second year, through a programme called ERASMUS which the university and many other universities around the world run which offers students the chance to study for a short period of time in a foreign country, I chose to apply to Paris, France to study at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des arts decoratifs, choosing this university for their excellent methods of teaching and facilities.

This university is taught solely in French which meant I had to learn and continue to learn whilst I was there, unfortunately this is something I struggled with more than I expected, especially when it came to attending the university for the first times, much of the staff could not speak English and my french was still weak, only managing some sentences and this communication barrier meant I struggled to navigate around the university and not engage with the tutors and other students I met. As well this language barrier meant that looking for further accommodation whilst I was there was immensely difficult, many of the letting agents did not rent out to non-french speaking tenants, this hindered me finding places to live which were within my budget. These complications meant that I had to return home after just 1 month of being there, despite best efforts to find accommodation and make it work, it just did not happen, though my time over there was not wasted as I was able to visit many inspirational places and see many great things whilst I was there. Now returning to studies I can use what I have taken from my short time there and put it to use in my work.

I was able to walk around the city and enjoy the sights of new surroundings, Paris is known for its art and culture and this can be seen through every neighbourhood through shops, street art and the people, it is a busy city, especially in comparison to Leeds, the people take pride in the diversity and culture more so than in England. The street art, for example, there is a pride and effort gone into it, this is just one of a lot of street graffiti I saw and all of it felt considered, it was not mindless spraying but really interesting pieces, usually with a message or purpose.

I was able to see all the main tourist sites whilst in Paris though these were the most crowded places, and which meant I could not go in or get up to close to them. Though visiting the Notre Dame was very influential I was able to walk around its outside and take in the architecture and sounds from around the cathedral, it is a stunning building with so much detail and artistic value, it is clear to see why it is an iconic building.

Throughout the city, there are many churches, exhibitions and places of art and creativity, one of the best places which I visited was the Stravinsky Fountain, near the centre Pompidou, it is a beautiful fountain square with one or two cafes on and the church of Saint-Merri, the fountain is full of sculptures, 16 all brightly coloured and different shapes and sizes, each represent the work of composer Igor Stravinksy. The surrounding areas are full of street art and also performers, it is a brilliant place where people sit and take in the art.