Among the Inept, Researchers Discover, Ignorance is Bliss, Erica Goode 1/18/2000

Can anyone really be sure of their skill set? This article challenges how we perceive ourselves. Studies have shown that those more inept at completing tasks tended to overestimate their abilities. While others who were talented at their given tasks tended to underestimated themselves (the false consensus effect). Even when shown they were not performing as well as others the inept did not loose confidence in their abilities. As the researcher David Dunning also fears; are we all inept because we believe we are above average in certain tasks?

1. Can we really know if we are any good at anything?
2. Because of social etiquette will anyone let us know we are not funny/good at what we believe were good at?
3. Did anyone else get a good chuckle out of this article?

How Marina Abromovic's Red-Velvet rope at MoMa works 5/24/2010

This article discusses a performance piece shown at the MoMa by artist Marina Abromovic and the problems its creating. The Piece is in high demand and drawing a large crowd, but because she only allows one visitor at a time and some folks stay upwards to an hour; The line nearly never moves. There are special Vip's that have gotten in early but because of complaints from museum guests the museum director has put this to a stop. It is a balancing act between the artist, the crowd, and the museum to create a fair viewing environment.

1. Should the artist control who views their art?
2. Should the artist ever change a piece to appease the general public
3. Is a piece like Abromovic's turning art into a mockery or just a spurt of fame?

process picture from first sculpture

The beginning of the base for a sculpture

Why I do what I do

I have loved making art for most of my life, but the decision to make it my focus came in 11th grade when I switched high schools so I could have access to a dark room. That was the same year I decided to make Ringling my goal. I joined the fine art department because I wanted to be a painter, but in realizing I enjoyed building my canvases more than painting on them I decided to try sculpture. I love sculpture, the technical processes, and measurements, and the problem solving. My real passion however is printmaking, and after sophomore year I was hooked. I am an artist because I lose myself in my work. I believe that if you do a job you love you will never work a day in your life, and I don’t plan on working now.
I have had a hint of my thesis plan in my head since freshman year. It has changed and molded, but I keep coming back to water. It was an unexplained love so I started to research my obsession with this element. As most people know I am a kayaker, and I like kayaking almost as much as making art. Why I had not combined them sooner I have no idea. I realized over the years my favorite places to kayak were disappearing, and this lit my fire. My thesis is about protecting the environments I hold dear to me. I am focusing specifically on Florida wetlands because this is my home, and these wetlands have played a special role in my upbringing. I have never lived anywhere else and have a sense of pride and urgency to protect my state.

First edition of the semester

here is the first print pulled this semester. It is a combination of lithography and screen-printing.

Semester Plan

This semester I will be focusing on images of the wetlands. Specifically working with bald cypress swamps, because of the cypress knees they grow along side themselves. They are beautiful twisting structures that are often over looked. The images will be represented in a loose high contrast style of drawing, but in a realistic manner. They may seem abstract because of the nature of cypress knees but I will be working directly from photographs. I want these images to be striking, and attractive. I have a firm belief that people generally do not preserve things they see to be ugly, and most swamps are seen to be rather ugly. I want to show them through my eyes; bringing out the details many over look, hopefully to spark interest in the destruction of one of Florida’s most precious resources.

For research I plan on continuing with scientific research on the swamps themselves, as well as immersing myself in them for inspiration. What elements truly stick out to me when I visit these places? How much damage are we causing with their destruction? Much of my research will also be on the Internet. I plan on taking most of my own pictures but will also turn to other resources from time to time if I cannot visit the actual sites.

I will be working in both print and sculpture. Most of my works will be in printmaking using the techniques of screen-printing over lithography. I hope to achieve seven editions of 10 for the semester. For the sculptures I will be working with wood, foam, water, environmental elements and possibly resin and cement. The size of the prints will be around 10x30” on tan paper. The sculptures will range from 1’x3’x3’ to 2’x4’x5’ and any version of those measurements in between. Because printmaking is my main focus I will be working more on those and the number of sculptures I hope to achieve is still undecided. One for sure, 2 if I can achieve my desired outcomes.

I plan on having a print done at least every two weeks, and hope to have critiques when I have two completely finished. I do not have set dates for my critiques but I do plan on having one every month, or sooner depending on how quickly the project progress.

The Death of the Author, Roland Barthes 1977

This paragraph may be a bit short, as was the essay. It was an interesting essay, but not one that kept you on the edge of your seat. I will also admit I am writing this review about a month after I read it. Within his essay the author speaks about the weight the authors voice carries within his own work, and quote: "Writing cannot begin until his voice loses its origin." I enjoy this idea, and the realization that when I am reading an article I always try and take into consideration who the person is. In a few of these essays I have read I have also gone back and done research into the author and it immediately curves my opinion, but back to the essay. The author is a rather modern figure showing up in the middles ages, before that many of the authors were anonymous. It is now a challenge to allow the work to speak for itself. This idea is mirrored in the surrealist idea of automatic writing. You have no real control of where your mind is going your just writing. My apologies for skipping around on ideas, but Barthes also mentioned that critics love a solid author. If you know someone and what they believe you can pin them down, the writing has a solid end point. If on the other hand there is no author you have the ability to interpret the piece any way you want depending on the reader because there is no solid truth. I love this idea, that a piece of literature will never lose meaning because for its life it will be continually reinterpreted. Fabulous period. This is an idea that more authors should strive for in their work, the inability to be pinned down. Pick a really ambiguous pen name.

Questions:
1. Does a work of literature lose its meaning if the author is removed?

2. Are our minds challenged enough without an author because it is open to our own interpretation?

3. Should all authors be required to use a pen name in the observation of equality?