Tuesday, 23 February 2016

Research Log



I love this image as it seems to capture the English culture in just one vibrant image, the picture is quintessential as it has the essence of many of the things that make us British. The union jack connotes pride and the United Kingdom, seagulls represent the seaside and summer holidays, fish and chips are an English dish and the blue yet cloudy sky shows typical British summer weather. Parr conveys his personal opinion on the culture  of Britain effectively through the context of the image as the scene is very a-typical and something that all Britons can relate to.


This image captures the motion of the underground and the music and essence of culture and identity that London has. Mazzer shows the importance of music in London as busking underground is an old tradition that still goes on, therefore the image connotes how vital music is to London and the cultures that have formed out of it.


The image is of a skin girl, (skinhead) this is a subculture that came about in the 70s, Ridgers took many photos of emerging subcultures because he believed in the importance of youth and this is shown beautifully through this image as, it is a very honest portrayal of a skinhead, her facial expression connotes kindness and calm which contradicts all stereotypes about there so thought of aggressive nature, Ridgers does this to go show the context of the time and the fashion and what the role of music plays on personal identity.


Watson shoots a punk/ skinhead in a rundown urban area, he is dressed in the style of his subculture and is shown in a place that he probably goes to a lot. The image connotes pride, power, style and individuality in being part of his subculture, and through this Watson shows off his own personal views on what it means to be a skinhead. The black and white image adds to the drama of the shot along with his angry facial expressions and powerful stance.


Berger shows off how music links to and creates a subculture as the woman on the left is wearing a Bauhaus t shirt; they are a post-punk band and she has her hair and is dressed in punk fashion shows off the significance that music plays o personal identity. The image connotes that has a certain view about life and the way the world is because of the music she likes and her aesthetic on general.


Bradellterman shows the significance and culture of going to view music or dramatics at a venue or theatre, this image connotes wealth and high class, despite this the image perfectly conveys the importance of art and going to view art and the live sharing of music or drama , and the subcultures, scenes and identities that it therefore helps to create. In the context of the time mostly only wealthy people could got to venues etc this is also emphasised by the fact they are all sitting showing they are of class, this therefore shows us the evolution of live performance.


Kesa shoots the punk/ industrial scene, this image connotes the art of performing and the importance of youth culture and scenes. During this time and the context of the image, the Berlin wall was still up and a punk scene kicks off in west Germany and particularly in Berlin, music shapes this scene and so does the oppression of the state of Germany's politics, Kesa shows his own opinion through the importance of cultural revolution and how it upstarts.


Dittmer captures the importance of what location plays to a sub-culture, the image connotes rebellion and anti-establishment. This was shot in west-berlin, being the centre of the punk movement, therefore this shot shows the cultural importance of the time and place of punk.


Ruppert captures a punk in west-berlin, The image captures the importance of the movement at that time in history, the image connotes thoughtfulness and the bewilderment of youth. The context of the image amounts to  the vastness of the sub-culture because  it was so huge. Ruppert shows his own view through the effort of trying to portray punk in something other than anger and rebellion as in this picture the man looks contemplative and melancholy.


 Menke captures the sub-culture of skating in this shot, the image connotes freedom and contentment. In the context  of the image, the environment is typically somewhere skaters go to skate and relax in, Menke shows them in their natural habitat to emphasize the simplicity and beauty of the sub-culture.


 This image shows of the rave/party scene, the image connotes wild, drug fueled antics. Constantine shows her personal opinion about  the significance of rave culture as it is something that has completely come out of music like nearly all youth sub-cultures. The image denotes hedonism, and the context of the image relates to where it all  started back in the 90's where rave began.


 McEnery captures a youth movement called mod, This image was taken in the 60's where the subculture all began. The image denotes style and fashion. The sub-culture began because of the influence of music as it all evolved out of soul and bands  like the who, this is shown in this picture through the clothing as, all the figures in the music that mods were listening to at the time were dressed the same.

 Friedrichs, represents the scooter as the main subject in this shot to show off the significance and cultural importance of the scooter in modism, the image connotes romanticism  and denotes style and culture and standing for something. In the context of this image in the 60's, the culture was thriving and the scooter was a vital part of it's identity.

 Photographers Knorr and Ricdon shoot the London punk scene in the 70's, the image connotes music as the back of the mans coat says the clash (being a band). The image denotes style and rebellion for the establishment, and the two photographers try to capture in this shot what it means to be a punk, the true  identity and significance of the movement.

Marsden captures this shot to show off the true essence of punk as the  main subject is Bjork, (she is an alternative singer, songwriter who started off in a punk band called the sugar cubes). Therefore this image connotes the identity of punk as she is looking through music which is  the centre of the sub-culture, this shows the evolution of music as this was taken in the 90's after punk had finished, however it shows that the culture is still  alive and important.

Tuesday, 9 February 2016

Martin Parr

 British documentary photographer, photojournalist and photobook collector. He is known for his photographic projects that take an intimate, satirical and anthropological look at aspects of modern life, in particular documenting the social classes of England, and more broadly the wealth of the Western world. He is a member of magnum photos



I love the bright realist, documentary style of the shot, the image connotes seaside summer holidays, the gap in age, youth and elderly, On one hand the image could be trying to show chaos and carelessness as there is rubbish all over the floor and the baby in it's pram is turned away from what i presume to be its grandparents, but i believe that the image is about family as the grandparents seem to be looking out for the baby as the mother on the right hand-side is sorting out a situation. Parr tries to capture the spirit of  summer, the spontaneity and enjoyment  for little things, and the essence of youth.



In this image, Parr has captured  all the bright colours of summer in one single shot, the fragility  of youth as the dad is reading  his paper something very  ordinary, grown-up and normal as his daughter's are strolling around, digging in the sand etc, whilst he sunbathes and catches up with daily affairs... Parr shows this to symbolise the change in age and adult culture vs youth. The image denotes, age, purity and good weather.

This image connotes the naivety and ignorance of youth, this is a very honest portrail of growing up and changing and figuring things out like sexuality etc. Parr captures this shot at exactly the right moment; the young boys are staring dumbfounded at the womens breasts with ice-creams in their hands, this is such a funny picture because its shows the honesty of youth. The image denotes youth, knowledge, purity, innocence, naivety and sexuality.



Exam Ideas - Personal Opinions


Exam Ideas