A predominant thread throughout my work is the idea of identity, through
different passages I try to create pieces of a visual nature that an individual
can watch and understand. My thoughts, feelings and questions always transpire
into an idea that I try to put into a visual form. Through the use of film and
words, a story can be told but it is up to the viewer how they receive it. I
feel that in today’s society we are heavily reliant on the media, particularly
film. The active audience theory suggests that we as audiences involve
ourselves in what we are viewing and often make sense of the message by placing
it within our own personal and social contexts. Eventually leading to the
accepting of these ideologies as part of our own, moulding us into mass outcome
of the media propaganda. We are told who we are without even knowing it.
Using this idea I try to create visual stimulus in a rather conceptual
manner enabling the viewers to come to their own conclusion. Within my work I
use a manipulated narrative, I create people to speak for me. To create a
narrative allows us as viewers to understand a fictional character and find a
way to relate. In my work I tend to use multiple subjects with different
personas, to allow a viewer to choose to relate to one if not all if they want
to. There are no names or background information, what you see is all you have.
As a human being I am not trying to tackle a major media mess but as a young
women I am trying to understand my place within society. My work attempts to
vocalise how Generation Y has become infatuated with the idea of perfection
and what we will do to achieve this. Specifically, it shows the pressures placed upon young women
and teenage girls from different groups of society, with the male sex having a
greater influence.
My work is often self-therapeutic; it allows me to express my thoughts
and ideas through visual stimulus. Like writing in a diary, I feel my projects
allow me to grow as a person, gaining closure and answers. Film allows me to
express my ideas on a larger platform due to the advantage of sound and
movement. Creating a visual poem allows us to watch and listen simultaneously
and gather a greater understanding.
When I create my work I do not aim for an audience alignment but rather
an understanding of what I am trying to convey.
