Study task 2

My Chosen Theme:

Gender Equality & Equal Rights

I really feel strongly about the words that Emma spoke during her speech. I'd never considered myself a feminist until now. I felt the word feminist was so powerful you had to have a certain stance in the world and it is true what she says about how it has a negative light shed on it. People few feminists as lesbians, butch women, who hate men. In actual fact all we ask is that everyone is treat the same. I have the view that we were all born into the world with the same right to live. I feel that we are all humans in the world and so should be treat equally. Some people have these rights taken away from them by others, which is wrong. No human being should have the right to have a hold over someone else's life.
I think it is important to recognise in society today how gender equality is improving; for example same sex marriages. Being attracted to the opposite sex is accepted now and people are concentrating on just being themselves and loving people not because of their gender or race or religion but because they love that person. I really feel strongly that everyone should be who they want to be in the world and not be tied down from living the life they wish to live.

I really enjoyed a lecture we had based on feminism and one thing that stood out for me was a video in the guardian.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2014/apr/04/everyday-sexism-turn-tables-women-men-video

These are average everyday women making a stance on gender equality. I think this is more powerful than reading a book by a famous feminist author because these are people you would not expect, having their say and making a difference. In this video the girl drives around in a white van hollering at men things that she has encountered herself. You can see by the shock from the men, and their laughter that they don't expect such behaviour from women, yet it is overlooked when men do the same. Why is it such a shock that women act the same as men still?

Quotes from the video from Leah Green :

• Would you like to come home with me?
• Have you guys ever made out
• Are you gay?
• Get your arse out mate
• I really like your trousers, they'd look better on my bedroom floor
• Alright sexy
• Are there any women who work here that could help me? They might know a bit more
• Can I get a glass of that and a lap dance?

Articles :

Equal Rights: Are We There Yet?

By Karen Kellaher

• PRINT
• EMAIL

When John Lewis was growing up in Alabama, he was not allowed to eat at many restaurants or drink from the same water fountain as white children. His parents were not allowed to vote. "I couldn't even go to the county public library and check a book out," Lewis said. "The library was for whites only."

That was more than 30 years ago. Today, John Lewis is a lawmaker in the U.S. Congress. "If someone had told me in 1963 that one day I would be in Congress, I would have said, 'You're crazy!'" Lewis told Scholastic News. Lewis's life shows how much things have changed for African Americans. These changes have not come easily. For years, Lewis and thousands of other blacks have worked hard for equality.

FIGHT FOR EQUAL RIGHTS

African-Americans were freed from slavery in 1865. But they were still not treated fairly in many parts of our country. Many people would not hire blacks for jobs or sell them homes. Blacks could not use many public buildings or even ride in the front of a bus in some places.

In the 1950s and 1960s, that began to change. Blacks were tired of being treated so unfairly. They wanted the same civil rights that whites enjoyed. Thousands of blacks joined together to demand these rights. Many whites joined with them. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other great leaders made speeches and led marches.

In 1963, more than 200,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C., for the most famous march of all. They asked the government to give blacks equal rights. Many important people, like John Lewis and Dr. King, made speeches that day. "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character," Dr. King said.

STILL A DREAM?

After the march, many laws were passed to give blacks equal rights. One law said that restaurants and other public places must serve people no matter what color they are. Another law made it easier for blacks to register to vote.

Today, these laws help make sure blacks and whites get treated equally. But many people say this country still has a long way to go. Many blacks are still treated unfairly because of their race. Last August, Americans held a new march in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the achievements of the civil rights movement. They also wanted to remind everyone that all people must be treated equally. "I think there is still a distance we must travel," John Lewis told Scholastic News. "I'd like to see an open society where we can forget about race and color and see people as people."

The guardian :

Recently, a young woman asked me how we can make feminism more accessible to men. I told her that I don’t care about making feminism more accessible to men. In truth, I don’t care about making feminism more accessible to anyone.

I care about making the liberties that men enjoy so freely fully accessible to women, and if men or celebrities claiming feminism for themselves has become the spoon full of sugar to make that medicine go down, so be it.

But it irks me that we more easily embrace feminism and feminist messages when delivered in the right package – one that generally includes youth, a particular kind of beauty, fame and/or self-deprecating humour. It frustrates me that the very idea of women enjoying the same inalienable rights as men is so unappealing that we require – even demand – that the person asking for these rights must embody the standards we’re supposedly trying to challenge. That we require brand ambassadors and celebrity endorsements to make the world a more equitable place is infuriating.

Around this time last year, as part of an effort to rebrand feminism – a notion that comes up in far too many discussions, as though there might be a magical combination of words and images that will make gender equality more palatable to the masses – Elle UK invited three British ad agencies to develop campaigns to promote feminist messages. I recognized the motivation behind the campaign but I resented the idea that with a better marketing message, the world might get right with feminism. I don’t truck in magical thinking.

Celebrities, of course, are often used as part of all vague “rebranding feminist” efforts, and in the last year or so, many famous young women – Jennifer Lawrence, Lena Dunham, Miley Cyrus – have openly claimed feminism. This shouldn’t be news, but it is, because all too often famous women – Katy Perry,Shailene Woodley, Kelly Clarkson – denounce feminism because they believe in humanism or they love men or other such reasons that make little sense.

These topics seem to be arising all the time which is good and a step forward but were still not equal?

Let's look at something current in society right now. The phone hacking scandal - 98% womens photos were leaked. Why is there not such controversy over male nudes? What is the big fuss with seeing a woman naked, humiliated, branded, and labelled and made to apologise for her actions. Why not the men? Males are equally as guilty of taking naked photographs to send to their partners. I liked a statement by Jennifer Lawrence about the scandal.

Kashner had first met with Lawrence on Aug. 13, several weeks before the Aug. 31 leak. He contacted Lawrence for comment on the incident because, he said, “I could just sense after having spent a little time with her that she would come out swinging.”

In her comments to Kashner, Lawrence also targeted those who viewed her photos, saying, “Anybody who looked at those pictures, you’re perpetuating a sexual offence. You should cower with shame. Even people who I know and love say, ‘Oh, yeah, I looked at the pictures.’ I don’t want to get mad, but at the same time I’m thinking, I didn’t tell you that you could look at my naked body.”

The actress said she attempted to write a statement addressing the leak, but said “every single thing that I tried to write made me cry or get angry.”

“I started to write an apology, but I don’t have anything to say I’m sorry for,” she continued. “I was in a loving, healthy, great relationship for four years. It was long distance, and either your boyfriend is going to look at porn or he’s going to look at you.”

The actress also decried the idea that, as a person in the limelight, her privacy is inherently compromised. “Just because I’m a public figure, just because I’m an actress, does not mean that I asked for this,” she told Vanity Fair. “It does not mean that it comes with the territory. It’s my body, and it should be my choice, and the fact that it is not my choice is absolutely disgusting. I can’t believe that we even live in that kind of world. ”

I completely agree. Where has her right to privacy gone? Taken by another human being, completely exposing her just because she is a celebrity. I also saw a post about Iggy Azelea supposedly attacking paparazzi because they were following her in a private shopping area when she did not have her security to support her. The people taking photos were shouting 'But you're a celebrity, don't be a celebrity then' like the fact she was famous was an excuse for them to violate her privacy. They don't have the right to take photos of her in private against her wish and I think she was right to attack back at them. It makes me wonder if a male would be treat the same in the situation, like she was only treat this way because she didn't have her bodyguards around her; because she is a woman.

It's still happening around me today, I see it with my friends. I see the struggle of my friends who are gay in coming out, I see my friends of difference races face racism due to narrow minded people. My friend being threatened to be 'skinned like a pig' because her skin is a different colour? I see male friends be called gay when they're straight just because they act a little 'feminine' and equally female friends who are straight get called 'dykes' because they act a little 'masculine.' I wish people could live in peace being whoever they want to be without anyone questioning otherwise.

This is a Facebook post from one of my friends who faces racism still; and he got 238 likes so far and a hell of a lot of comments of positivity and support; yet its still happening? When as a society will we come to terms with being HUMAN and the fact that were all EQUAL?

I have heard a few times also from my parents and other parents how they feel frustrated that their son's as toddlers want to play with prams and irons and dolls yet this is frowned upon and there are not enough of these toys available for little boys, in boys colours - they're all feminine and pink. When these young boys go to nursery they are exploring, and in actual fact when we grow up as adults males are expected to be equal and cook, clean, iron, push around their baby in a pushchair so why shouldn't they play with these things as children?

Do men not iron?

Do men not enjoy food? Enjoy cooking? Should this not be drilled into children from a young age? This is adding to the view of roles within the household that women should cook and clean and men should be the bread makers which is complete nonsense

Study Task 2 Critical Analysis, Triangulated discussion

My chosen texts are An incomplete manifesto for growth - Bruce Mau. First things first 1964 - Ken Garland. First things first 2000 - Lasn et al. 

I have chosen to change my original illustrations because they were too literal to the quotes from the texts and don't supply a good argument for discussion. I have chosen work by Mr. Bingo because I feel this would be an interesting argument for the purpose of why he makes his work; especially hearing it from him first hand. 

NOTES :

Incomplete Manifesto for growth - what bits reflect Bingo's work and attitude and what contrast?

Reflects:

3. Process is more important than outcome. When the outcome drives the process we will only ever go to where we’ve already been. If process drives outcome we may not know where we’re going, but we will know we want to be there. ---- Bingo said that his process was very long. It took him a long time to gather up reference material to work from and that most of his work is based on his process; getting the posture right, making sure his work is humorous, gathering up sources. 

10. Everyone is a leader. Growth happens. Whenever it does, allow it to emerge. Learn to follow when it makes sense. Let anyone lead. --- I definitely get a sense of leadership within his work, he critiques others like no one else can. He is a business man also. 

14. Don’t be cool. Cool is conservative fear dressed in black. Free yourself from limits of this sort. --- I think Bingo definitely rebels against the norm. 

41. Laugh. People visiting the studio often comment on how much we laugh. Since I’ve become aware of this, I use it as a barometer of how comfortably we are expressing ourselves. --- This one hugely reflects Bingo. He mocks himself and others constantly whether it be through his work or in his presentation speeches, he is surrounded by laughter and that drives his work. 

Goes against:

5. Go deep. The deeper you go the more likely you will discover something of value --- I wouldn't say Bingo's work was deep and meaningful, it's very light hearted and playful. 

6. Capture accidents. The wrong answer is the right answer in search of a different question. Collect wrong answers as part of the process. Ask different questions. ---- Bingo's practise is very perfected, each line has been well executed and thought through. His drawing technique has been practiced to develop his own style. We never see any messy accidents on the page. He is improving his visual content which is what the Manifesto is all about exhausting your practise rather than the concept of the practise, individual development.

24. Avoid software. The problem with software is that everyone has it. ---- Despite being initially hand generated, Bingo uses digital techniques to edit and colour his work. He is also a huge networker on social media sites, websites etc to advertise his work. 

All of the things that go against the manifesto are what support First Things First's argument about the purpose of why we make work. It is selling out. When Bingo spoke he reiterated how he doesn't make work for free, he is constantly thinking about the money, he is careful about the kind of jobs he takes on. As much as I love his work, he is in my eyes purely making work that will sell and make money. Work that will shock you into making you want to buy it because it's different, yet stylistically and aesthetically it's quite bland and doesn't have any real depth or concept. He does however make work that is sometimes political and highlighting issues of society. I chose Bingo because I believe he is down the middle of the two, you can balance out the things that he does within his practise, laughing being humorous not being cool, being different, being a leader, thinking outside of the box. At the same time he is conforming to consumerism. Bingo makes a stance, shocks, does things outside of the norm but I feel he is not using his talent to do this in a way that has real value and can really make a change to society within his own personal work. 

Quotes from First things first 1964 

• "Applauding the work of those who have flogged their skill and imagination to sell such things as cat food, stomach powders, detergent." ---- Things that are a necessity at that time, basic things. Does he design work for necessities? Where can we see his work? Post cards, prints, cans, newspapers, magazines, books - Throwaway, disposable items.
• " We have reached a saturation point at which the high pitched scream of consumer selling is no more than sheer noise. " He is so surrounded by selling that he is able to pick and chose the jobs that he takes on. Everything he makes is to sell. 
• "We think there are other things more worth using our skill and experience on." - Is that hate mail? Is disposable hate mail mocking someone you never met a good useful way of using your skills? No, but we like it, its fun, light hearted and it sells. Do we as illustrators always have to make work that has relevance within society or sometimes can we just make work because its funny, it makes us feel something? Is that not equally as relevant? 

First things First 2000 

• " We have been raised in a world in which the techniques and apparatus of advertising have persistently been presented to us as the most lucrative, effective and desirable use of our talents." This is all we know, were brought up into a world of advertising and showcasing our talents through selling and consumerism, this is how the world is now. 
• " Designers then apply their skill and imagination to sell dog biscuits, designer coffee, diamonds, detergents.. " Things that are adding to problems created by consumerism. Bingo did a soda can. Is it ethical? Products that are 'inessential.' A throw-away culture.
• "Commercial work has always paid the bills." 'Does Mr.Bingo work for free?'
• "Harmful code of public discourse" how we get our message across how we communicate. 'Dear Kerry you fat handed cunt' 
• "There are pursuits more worthy of our problem-solving skills." Are we problem solvers though? Do we go to university and study drawing and draw daily because we want to solve a problem in the world or purely selfishly because we enjoy it and don't want a real 9-5 job?
• "Charitable causes and other information design projects urgently require our expertise and help." Okay that is fine, we know that we are visual and can make work that people want to take notice of and look at, but that's only again because it sells. If it wasn't for the consumer world we wouldn't be able to make work that can be seen just as easily on these disposable items. I think its about getting work out on any product you can in order for it to be seen. Charitable - again the thought of money, this is our living at the end of the day we need to make money just like a doctor, policeman, and politician do within society. 

More notes to consider:

• Mr Bingo talks about his creative process - youtube. Initially what he does when he gets a brief is thinking, brainstorming, work out how to make the work, draw from reference, search the internet for pictures that might be good to draw from. - This goes against what an illustrators purpose is, he is relying on 'software' which Bruce Mau claims is wrong. Then drawing, scanning in and editing on Photoshop. "I make artwork that I like making and people pay me to do it." "For the past 11 years I've been working 95% as a commercial illustrator." Commerical. He said the outcome of his work was "to sell a product or support a magazine article or something." Doesn't seem work that has real value and making a change?
• Source Interview Mr Bingo Illustrator - Youtube. "What would the title of your autobiography be?" "Fucking about for a living." "Turning silly ideas into things that make money. Making jobs out of nothing." Ethics? When asked if he could have his work displayed in any gallery or museum which would it be he could not answer the question because he said "I don't know any galleries really." Sounds like someone who is not in tune with society at all, not cultured, yet making a tidy living.  Sort of contrasts the idea that as illustrators we have a responsibility. 
• Seventy-nine short essays on design - Michael Bierut. 'Designer puppet masters' 'skilled manipulators.' Bingo said in his interview he manipulates the client once given the brief into thinking they need work that he wants to draw himself in order to make work that stands alone on it's own as an illustration he can be proud of, so that he is never making work that he does not want to do. He is not using these manipulation skills to persuade people to give money to charity or stop bullying etc but using them to make money. He is actually adding to these problems by displaying his work on disposable products and sending out 'hate mail' to insult strangers that people have paid for. 

This morning I was walking into university when a group of men were walking towards me staring directly at me wanting eye contact and I put my head down, they then whistled at me. Situations like this make me feel really uncomfortable, not being able to make direct eye contact with someone and having to put my head down. I get it at work quite a lot with young men making comments about my appearance, when I am trying to get on with my job.

Carole Rosetti
I love these illustrations because they are encouraging for women to be themselves. I especially like the one about the loose clothing because I was told I 'always wear baggy clothes' 'I should wear more fitted stuff' 'I dress like a hippy' 'I would suit something that bar girl is wearing instead of trousers all the time.' I like to dress smart, I like to look classy, in the day I might want to wear baggy pants, on an evening I might want to chill in a hoody - does this make me less of a woman because I'm not 'showing off' my figure?

I always find it interesting when people say that bisexuals and lesbians are just going through a phase, are just experimenting; like the inevitable will be that they change their mind back to men, have children and live happily ever after. Some people have such narrow views that the only way your life is complete is to marry a man and have children. Some people find happiness elsewhere, and that is their own individual happiness being on their own, with a woman, or a man.

Men being feminine

'REAL MEN' --- I hate these posts I see about 'real men' do this, what defines being a 'man' and the lad culture. I think the beard culture is huge at the minute too 'real men have beards.' I see a lot of comments about how men who struggle to grow a beard aren't real men or are 'gay.'

Real men

Beard culture

Lad culture

Men wearing make up, feminine clothes..

I feel it is becoming more sociably acceptable for men to dress how they wish and wear make up now. I am really pleased about this because they are able to be expressive. I had a friend who once wanted some concealer for his face as he claimed to have really dark circles under his eyes and was going out that night. He asked me if I would go and buy some for him so that the lady on the make up counter didn't think it was for him. I think this is a real shame. 

Cop Lectures that have influenced my thinking 

I didn't want to just upload my notes from the lectures I am purely posting the lectures that have really got me thinking about gender equality, human rights, and being human. 
These are some of my notes about identity, gender and sexuality and subcultures :

Sketches in visual journal

Lad in the news : Dapper Laughs
Dapper laughs originally known for his social media video uploads via Instagram, Facebook and twitter videoed himself speaking to strangers making them feel rather uncomfortable by chatting them up or saying inappropriate things. He is now making a living out of being a 'lad.' I've known my friends attend nightclub events he's put on, and going to his stand ups and I can't help but think why are we encouraging this? Why are we allowing him to take our money, while in return accepting the disgusting sexism he is encouraging towards women. 
Dapper laughs then had his own itv2 show 'On the pull' which should never have been allowed. It has now been axed after he sparked outrage by joking about rape. 'She's gagging for a rape' were the words he used towards a female in the show. I am glad that the UK has put a stop to this excuse of a man being allowed to air his ways for others to follow in his footsteps.