CONSUMPTION AND GLOBALISATION

Giant Emma Bridgewater tea pot.  The brand Emma Bridgewater is quite a middle class brand and therefore suits the John Lewis department store.

No clear price was displayed which suggested to me that it was just a statement object, for aesthetic purposes only.  Furthermore it has information about the product on it which also suggests this idea that it is for viewing rather than to be purchased.

The teapots size is definitely eye catching and would draw in any wandering customer.  It could be described as a ‘spectical’ as it is something rather beautiful and extravagant and obviously expensive.

Placed in quite a central place in the kitchenware area suggests the popularity of the brand in this store as it allows customers to find Emma Bridgewater goods easily.

REFLECTIVE STATEMENT

I found unit one quite challenging at times.  The visits sometimes felt forced to me but I would say I was also pleasantly surprised by some and ended up being inspired and finding out about new places and galleries.  I think because of the blog, which made you constantly reflect in a public place.  I always have written reflections of my work, however writing it on a blog seems harder in the sense that it seems more  official.  Although challenging at times it has definitely been good for me.  I've enjoyed looking back at past posts that at the time I felt unnecessary but looking back are now useful.  The visual aspect of it is the thing that I find best about the blog, it's a clear way to look back at my work and for me to understand.    

Even though I have kept up to date with most posts a regret with the blog is that I didn't post more of my own visits as I knowingly forget things very easily! Also after every theory lecture on a Friday I think it would have been good to write up my notes from my notebook.  

I do just have this constant reminder that it is all very public and I then become quite self concious of my own writing but then i guess that is okay as I think about things more. Maybe it has given me more confidence and good writing practice. 

TED MANIFESTO

'TED' or Textiles Environmental Design is more important than ever.
We have too much.  An abundance of stuff!  Fashion trends are constantly changing and people want to follow them as they come and go.  This has always been the case however now more than ever it is too easy to just go out and buy unethical cheap clothing due to cheap clothing stores like Primark.  We are producing too much waste as it is too easy to throw clothing away as soon as trends and fashions change.  This is where TED is more important than ever.

These are the TED TEN:

My Manifesto:

Something that is obvious and that needs to change is our consumer set of mind.  I think a good start would be to educate the TED TEN in younger generations.  It wasn't until University that I really began to think about it more seriously.  It is so easy not to think about the ethical parts of clothing when you're out and there is so much at your fingertips for so little money.
I think the idea of introducing stores promoting the upcycling and recycling of clothes rather than stores selling new clothes is a great way to promote TED.  Somewhere where people take in their unwanted clothes and pay for them to be recreated to something new.  To take it further popular stores such as Topshop could introduce the idea into their stores to promote TED.  Taking in their old stock and recreating it for the next season.  I think it could definitely help to reduce waste and any more unnecessary production.  

PATHOLOGY OF COLLECTING

Baudrillard's text certainly explores a lot of thought provoking ideas about this "cultures of collecting".
After seeing this quite disturbing video on youtube (link below) I can take a lot from Baudrillards text and apply it to this video.  The video shows a man's vast collection of female sex dolls.  It is clear from the number of dolls, that his obsession with the collection has been ongoing for some years.  What seems most disturbing for me about the collection is his profound care and dedication for these dolls.  Laid in beds and in human coffins, he seems to treat these dolls like real life humans.  Baudrillard's interestingly says that it is men in their forties that seem 'most prone to the passion' , although this man is older its very likely that he started around this time.

"The practice of collecting is not equivalent to a sexual practice, in so far as it does not seek to still a desire (as does fetishism)"

This quote from Baudrillard's text seems to have a direct correlation to that of the man in the video.  As he states in the video he does not have any sexual pleasure out of the dolls, they are purely an obsession of his to collect them.  However it is not to say that it could be fetishism, a secret desire, that he hides under the bravado of a collection.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUQuunoudz

SECOND WEEK OF WEAVING

DAY 2 WEAVING

BLOCK 3 : WEAVING

Day 1- WEAVING