305MC Summer Task

September 28, 2011 nicole169

This summer we were asked to look at items that represent Memory, Power and Spectacle.

Firstly, I looked at memory; I chose a doll from my childhood. It is a very lifelike doll, that when I was younger I named Ethan. It looks just like a baby and I used to dress it in baby clothes, and at this moment in time, it sits on my shelf, dressed in green dungarees. Seems a bit child like for someone that is nearly 21 but it has many memories. I always remember back to the day I received it, it was on the day my younger sister was born. I was given it so I wasn’t ‘left out’ and I had something of my own to look after. The night my sister was born, my dad had hid the doll under my bed covers and when I found the doll I was very excited, and the next day I even took it to the hospital with me. We were then asked to account what this memory means to someone else. I always remember my mother telling me stories of how I used to play Ethan. She again added that she wanted me to be a part of the birth my little sister, and it was a baby for me. When my mum used to feed and bath my sister, I would do the same with my doll, I even used to push it around in a doll pram. The day I took it to the hospital I put it on the bed, and the nurse thought my mum had left my sister on the bed, because the doll is so lifelike. Also, I looked after the doll so well, that when I started school, I had left instructions for my mum on how to look after ‘Baby Ethan’.

 

We were then asked to comment on Power. This involved a trip to Coventry Transport Museum. The museum is split into different sections, these include War/History, sports, manufacturers and other transport such as buses and bikes. These help tell the story, and help guide people through the museum. The story that stands out the most in the museum is the section about war, it takes you through the Blitz, and how people coped through the war, it also has recorded accounts of people’s memories. Therefore people can relate to it because of their family’s who were in the war, they tell you similar stories. I can also relate to it because my grandad used to tell me stories of how he used to help make the cars that are in the musuem, including the Humber car. These stories are what built my memories of the musuem, however there is now a difference between the past and how I view the musuem now, as I now have a better understanding of cars, and the manufacturers. I also understand how the war section relates to Coventry. However I do believe that the musuem doesn’t represent me, as it’s aimed at a young and an old audience but it doesn’t have anything for young adults. I now need to comment on the authority of the musuem. The musuem is in the position to show tourists people’s stories and products, which I wouldnt be able to offer people. However it’s position limits breaking into other catergories, it just has to stay as a transport musuem. Also compared to the musuem I have the authority and freedom to have my own opinion on things, whereas the musuem just has to be informative and tell the audience the facts.

 

Finally, I will talk about spectacle. I decided to look at the news story about the National conflict in Libya. Firstly it represents the past by explaining who Colonel Gadafi is and what he is like, the news reporters build up a story and a context by also explaining how the British and American are linked. It’s reports uses devices such as flashbacks to previous new stories, and also uses personal accounts and enquiries. It uses the past to tell of how the conflict started, how it has developed and how our country is involved. The news reports also represent power. It does this by involving Government, the power that they have, the power of the British Army and also the power between the rebels and the Gadaffi followers. The reports show fighting, who is hurt anf the damage caused, this may influence who is represented more. The only way I feel connected is by how it is affecting my own country, and how the government has a secret connection which makes it our business.

 

Finally Guy Debord is suggesting an emptiness at the heart of the spectacle, I believe he means that the spectacle is not a collection of images but a social relation among people, put together by images.

Entry Filed under: Third Year

Trackback this post  |  Subscribe to comments via RSS Feed