Tuesday, 16 August 2016

COP3 - Unpicking my Research Question

After receiving the general advice from Fred regarding this module and the common hurdles we are likely to encounter, I thought now would be as good a time as any to begin to really look at my chosen research question, establish exactly what it is asking and investigate how to relate this to my chosen topic/theme.

A reminder of my COP3 project proposal:


A reminder of my chosen COP3 research question:



"To what extent has illustration constructed 
our understanding or view of historical events
and perceptions of truth?"

Thoughts
Initially, as you will see from my original COP3 proposal above, I found it hard to pin down one of the questions given to us as I felt my chosen topic could be appropriate for many.
In reflection, I feel my choice in question is a strong one and as advised in my proposal feedback - other factors and elements from alternative questions can always feed into my theoretical research. They can all link in someway. 

In previous COP projects, I have found it hard to keep illustration linked and connected to my chosen topic or question and I believe my choice in research question for COP3 is key for me as it will really help me to keep my topic focused, on point and in relation to creativity, remaining at the forefront of my findings and responses. I also found it incredibly easy to focus entirely on the written side of this module last year sometimes becoming confused of how to incorporate artwork and make this relevant to my research. Being aware of how important the synergy is between written and physical artwork for this project, this question involving illustration and its direct impact should also help me to engage visually with my subject and gain new ideas.

Un-picking my question and relating it to my topic
"To what extent has illustration...
• Advertising? Flags, flyers, posters, products, events, packaging, music, film, tv, fashion

...constructed our understanding or view...
• Propaganda Law vs People? Protest?
• How has illustration played a part in the psychedelic movement? +
• How has creative culture and illustration been impacted by the psychedelic movement?
- 1960's hippie culture
- posters
- fashion
- artwork
- album art
- acid tab art
- music
- music memorabilia
- design
- interior design
- festivals
- gaming
- film & tv

• How has psychedelia impacted culture? Including creativity within these cultures?
- Impact in various cultures
- traditions
- faiths
- countries
- shamanic rituals
- ancient history

• Where are psychedelics / psychedelia thriving? Making a comeback? Why?

• What is psychedelic art?
- what makes it psychedelic (critically analyse known psychedelic art)
- what does psychedelic art incorporate? - main themes / subjects of focus, colours, 
  shapes, beliefs...
- has this artistic movement helped to create or stemmed from other creative movements?
- Where does it appear? 
- What is it used for? How is it used / in what context? 
- Who does it appeal too? 
- What are the main thoughts / taboos associated with this movement and artwork / 
  creativity linked with it?

• Positive and negative creative propaganda surrounding psychedelia- what part has 
  illustration played in this?

...of historical events and perceptions of truth?"
• Key historical events to do with psychedelia?
- LSD
- 1960's
- USA Psychoactive Substances Ban
- Discoveries in medicine
- Underground rave culture

• Taboos regarding the substances themselves? Why? How?

• Truths vs lies and their impact?
- Law
- Substance usage
- Medicine
- How psychedelic art is received within creative circles
- What we have been lead to believe and why?
- War on drugs and legalisation

• Is societies view of psychedelics changing as acceptance grows due to the changes in law and medicine? What part is illustration playing if any and what does this mean for psychedelics and creative culture?

Thursday, 11 August 2016

COP3 Reading List

In these early stages of my research project, I feel it is the perfect time to start compiling a list of the books and academic journals I would like to get my hands on and begin reading asap to help inform COP3. As soon as we start back in September, I know it is going to be a mad rush to get the books out from the uni library that I want before others do, so better to be prepared so I can sign these out on the first day back. Other than sourcing these books from the library, I would like to make use of the University of Leeds library, as well as google books and academic journal sites such as Jstor. 

The reading list so far:

Uni Library


  • Off the wall psychedelic rock posters from San Francisco
  • Summer of love art of the psychedelic era
  • High society mind altering drugs in history and culture
  • Are you experienced How Psychedelic consciousness transformed modern art
  • Spaced out radical environments of the psychedelic sixties
  • Drugged the science and culture behind psychotropic drugs 
  • Psychedelic optical and visionary art since the 1960s
  • Looking for mushrooms beat poets hippies funk minimal art San Francisco 1955 68
  • HFT the gardener
  • Acid dreams the CIA LSD and the sixties rebellion
  • Juxtapoz psychedelic 

Academic Books & Journals

• Sacred Knowledge: Psychedelics and Religious Experiences 
William A. Richards - 2016
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7312/rich17406
______

• Acid Hype: American News Media and the Psychedelic Experience
STEPHEN SIFF - 2015
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5406/j.ctt14jxvrz
______

• Entheogens and Existential Intelligence: The Use of Plant Teachers as Cognitive Tools

Kenneth W. Tupper - 2009

http://www.jstor.org/stable/1602247
______

• Hippies and the Mystic Way:: Dropping Out, Unitive Experiences, and Communal UtopianismMorgan Shipley - Utopian StudiesVol. 24, No. 2 (2013), pp. 232-263
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5325/utopianstudies.24.2.0232
______
The Flowering of the Hippie Movement
John Robert Howard
The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social ScienceVol. 382, Protest in the Sixties (Mar., 1969), pp. 43-55
 http://www.jstor.org/stable/1037113
______
West of Center: Art and the Counterculture Experiment in America, 1965–1977
ELISSA AUTHER - 2012
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5749/j.cttttdgj
______