18 September 2009
Mind F*%k
Nothing very possitive to say. Although I have been told my flight may be changed, I am, at close of play on Friday still unsure if it's happening or not. I can't get my head to work on anything useful so, unless, I manage to fly home either sat or sun sometime, the 2pm deadline will be missed by me. God, I am craving a bag o' chips the food is outrageous :(
I've had a bit of spare time today and managed to finish my found type alphabet/font. It's not quite as complex as I would have liked but it's worked out OK. Our Monday deadline became a problem when we were told it was a national holiday. Seeing as I won't have internet connection for the weekend it has to be finished today, thus is slightly less varied than I had hoped.
The basic idea is that there are these crazy, tangled networks of power cables in Delhi. they were one of the first things that really caught my eye when I arrived at the hotel on the first night. Ever since then I have been fixated by them. My original concept was to make the letters from the wires! Thinking this might be a daunting task for myself, I'm a pretty basic photoshop guru, I had a look for a less time consuming way of communicating the same idea. On a random walk to the metro station one day I noticed these sticks connecting some of the wires, this then proved the inspiration for my typeface. Also included are some of my favourite found typo images, accumulated over the period I have been here:
The basic idea is that there are these crazy, tangled networks of power cables in Delhi. they were one of the first things that really caught my eye when I arrived at the hotel on the first night. Ever since then I have been fixated by them. My original concept was to make the letters from the wires! Thinking this might be a daunting task for myself, I'm a pretty basic photoshop guru, I had a look for a less time consuming way of communicating the same idea. On a random walk to the metro station one day I noticed these sticks connecting some of the wires, this then proved the inspiration for my typeface. Also included are some of my favourite found typo images, accumulated over the period I have been here:
17 September 2009
C'mon
C'mon Lauren and Tony. A Blogs a Blog fir a' that....forget Facebook, get your experiences and pics down here too please.
Street vendor packs
I was inquisitive about all the strings of these little packs being sold in the tiniest of stalls seen around Delhi. They are intended for those on very minimal budgets to purchase goods in tiny quantities. Tobacco, sweets, shampoo, soap-you name it, all available for a couple of rupees a pack. (of course the companies who produce them make a huge profit by selling these tiny quantities to the impoverished). Interestingly the successful, innovative, colourful design of these packs is leading the way to a new Indian packaging vernacular.
On you go Rob. Sitting in my ivory tower in Sunny Broxburn you've reminded me why India (and indeed Turkey, Egypt, Thailand, Morocco, Fiji and other countries I have experienced in my lifetime) in the end make me angry about our Western oppulance and inability to see just how luxurious, free and safe our life is compared to many souls, who but for the fate of the geography of their birth aren't entitled to the same. Sounds like you're really engaging in the project- glad that me and (particularly) Mike wrote the original brief- and that Kalpna (not sure if that's the right name or not of the film lecturer over there) was open and receptive enough to take it on board to deliver as an element of a film project. Good luck with the development of it all. Genre and film style to brainstorm and research now then....Enjoy!
We're just waiting for an answer from Sumita on the selections for Scotland- I think by the time Aileen emailed it would have been the end of the working day there- so hopefully we will hear a response tomorrow. Will keep you all in the loop.
How are the rest of you feeling about Gilly's decision to want to come home now? Although justified, it's still seems such a shame that she's unable to make the best of a bad situation. I know you all must have various degrees of homesickness and sometimes you might not feel 100%- but try and make the best of the short time that you've got left. By next Friday you'll be starting to think of packing......
We're just waiting for an answer from Sumita on the selections for Scotland- I think by the time Aileen emailed it would have been the end of the working day there- so hopefully we will hear a response tomorrow. Will keep you all in the loop.
How are the rest of you feeling about Gilly's decision to want to come home now? Although justified, it's still seems such a shame that she's unable to make the best of a bad situation. I know you all must have various degrees of homesickness and sometimes you might not feel 100%- but try and make the best of the short time that you've got left. By next Friday you'll be starting to think of packing......
Letting rip.
So yesterday we were assigned a new video media project. After a morning of short movies, most of which were music videos by Michel Gondry, each of us was assigned to a different group of Indian students in the afternoon. Topics were chosen at random by each group, of which mine ended up with 'documentary' as a genre, 'musical' as a theme and 'article 25' of the human rights act as the subject matter. The Goal is to create a one minute short film combining those three elements! Sounds simple enough right?......
We began with a brainstorming session, one A4 sheet for each section. Quickly working out that tackling the genre and theme first was foolhardy we started with a brainstorm on our subject matter. To give you a rough idea on article 25 of the human rights act: It's the need for basic human rights, food, proper education, health care, clothing, and so on. It's a very broad subject and in a city like Delhi it's rife..... At least from my perspective!
As I joined in with the discussion with my fellow Indian students a few of them threw around ideas that seemed quite shallow. In short, they fail too see the bigger picture! Discussions with Nagoo and Raghav proved otherwise though, and the students in my group were willing to accept and take on these ideas. I found the whole thing very interesting and it proved a fantastic opportunity for me to reflect on the contrast of our respective countries!
I am a patriotic man, I love Scotland, but now I am forced too access the reasons why. I love the scenery, the people, our national football team that always 'almost' gets there, our sole world class athlete Andy Murray, the list goes on. But what are these things? These things do not apply to any of our human rights. These things are the cherry on the cake, the tip of the iceberg if you will! Why do I really love my country? Let's start with the basics: food, clothing and housing. Our system allows even bottom feeding Junkies to have these things, Christ we even feed their habit with prescription drugs. They are offered help, a way out! They are always given the chance to turn their life around. Our system isn't perfect! Some sceptical people among us would argue that it isn't right for us to pay taxes so things like this can happen. You don't know the half of it mate! As far these issues go Scotland is fucking heaven in comparison to India. Dole money? forget it! proper food? Forget it! A house for your family? Here's some tarpaulin and a few branches my man! I could go on........ I've been here for well over a week now and the sight of a filthy sixty year old woman cradling a 3 month old baby, asking me for ten rupees doesn't shock me anymore! Article 25 of the human rights act? Does that refer to how many times it's violated every time I blink?
I'm getting a bit off track here, my purpose was to talk about my experience in class yesterday. I'll recap: we were in the process of discussing article 25 as a group. After which we were told that one person from each group, all five, were to select one spokesperson to bring their ideas forward. After some delegation in a language I couldn't understand I gathered that Nagoo was proposing that I be the spokesperson. It would give me the opportunity to voice these opinions on the divide between our countries regarding this issue. I gladly accepted.
When I stood up in front of the class I was not sure what to say at first. I had our brainstorm in front of me and we had all spoke about which particular topic we were going to base our film on. Whether it be on food, education, and so on. We figured that each presents a broad host of ideas on its own and that tackling multiple, or all of them, would never fit into the proposed one minute. So I began with the intent of explaining this, first going into the reasons why we hadn't really looked at our genre or theme at all. Then it all just came out, I wasn't sure whether I was offending anyone by what I was saying. I tried to explain that I wasn't in any way trying to belittle their country but I don't think anyone really understood. Explaining how our dole system works, the fact I get my higher education paid for. How our system deals with single mothers, the overall general standard of society in Scotland. The fact that there is such a gulf in social hierarchy when compared to Scotland that it doesn't bear thinking about. I'm not sure how the students responded to my opinions but I did get a few laughs amongst the depressing stuff. They seem to be speaking to me today so hopefully I never offended anyone!
The thing that bothers me most is that, for the most part, every human being should get the same treatment. India has the right to have a system like ours in place, the people have that right! There are so many fantastic things about this country and so many good people, that's foundation enough to turn that poverty on it's head. Giving a disabled man a pushbike with a fucking wind up handle just doesn't cut it! Huge changes need to be made here.
Despite everything I have said though, the majority of people you see in the street seem happy enough. Maybe if they knew what they should have their expressions would change? Who knows. I can't see anything changing in my lifetime that's for sure. So any Scottish, European, American, who ever else is reading this: Perk the fuck up, your life really isn't that bad.
We began with a brainstorming session, one A4 sheet for each section. Quickly working out that tackling the genre and theme first was foolhardy we started with a brainstorm on our subject matter. To give you a rough idea on article 25 of the human rights act: It's the need for basic human rights, food, proper education, health care, clothing, and so on. It's a very broad subject and in a city like Delhi it's rife..... At least from my perspective!
As I joined in with the discussion with my fellow Indian students a few of them threw around ideas that seemed quite shallow. In short, they fail too see the bigger picture! Discussions with Nagoo and Raghav proved otherwise though, and the students in my group were willing to accept and take on these ideas. I found the whole thing very interesting and it proved a fantastic opportunity for me to reflect on the contrast of our respective countries!
I am a patriotic man, I love Scotland, but now I am forced too access the reasons why. I love the scenery, the people, our national football team that always 'almost' gets there, our sole world class athlete Andy Murray, the list goes on. But what are these things? These things do not apply to any of our human rights. These things are the cherry on the cake, the tip of the iceberg if you will! Why do I really love my country? Let's start with the basics: food, clothing and housing. Our system allows even bottom feeding Junkies to have these things, Christ we even feed their habit with prescription drugs. They are offered help, a way out! They are always given the chance to turn their life around. Our system isn't perfect! Some sceptical people among us would argue that it isn't right for us to pay taxes so things like this can happen. You don't know the half of it mate! As far these issues go Scotland is fucking heaven in comparison to India. Dole money? forget it! proper food? Forget it! A house for your family? Here's some tarpaulin and a few branches my man! I could go on........ I've been here for well over a week now and the sight of a filthy sixty year old woman cradling a 3 month old baby, asking me for ten rupees doesn't shock me anymore! Article 25 of the human rights act? Does that refer to how many times it's violated every time I blink?
I'm getting a bit off track here, my purpose was to talk about my experience in class yesterday. I'll recap: we were in the process of discussing article 25 as a group. After which we were told that one person from each group, all five, were to select one spokesperson to bring their ideas forward. After some delegation in a language I couldn't understand I gathered that Nagoo was proposing that I be the spokesperson. It would give me the opportunity to voice these opinions on the divide between our countries regarding this issue. I gladly accepted.
When I stood up in front of the class I was not sure what to say at first. I had our brainstorm in front of me and we had all spoke about which particular topic we were going to base our film on. Whether it be on food, education, and so on. We figured that each presents a broad host of ideas on its own and that tackling multiple, or all of them, would never fit into the proposed one minute. So I began with the intent of explaining this, first going into the reasons why we hadn't really looked at our genre or theme at all. Then it all just came out, I wasn't sure whether I was offending anyone by what I was saying. I tried to explain that I wasn't in any way trying to belittle their country but I don't think anyone really understood. Explaining how our dole system works, the fact I get my higher education paid for. How our system deals with single mothers, the overall general standard of society in Scotland. The fact that there is such a gulf in social hierarchy when compared to Scotland that it doesn't bear thinking about. I'm not sure how the students responded to my opinions but I did get a few laughs amongst the depressing stuff. They seem to be speaking to me today so hopefully I never offended anyone!
The thing that bothers me most is that, for the most part, every human being should get the same treatment. India has the right to have a system like ours in place, the people have that right! There are so many fantastic things about this country and so many good people, that's foundation enough to turn that poverty on it's head. Giving a disabled man a pushbike with a fucking wind up handle just doesn't cut it! Huge changes need to be made here.
Despite everything I have said though, the majority of people you see in the street seem happy enough. Maybe if they knew what they should have their expressions would change? Who knows. I can't see anything changing in my lifetime that's for sure. So any Scottish, European, American, who ever else is reading this: Perk the fuck up, your life really isn't that bad.
16 September 2009
Confused?
I know there's a fair bit of confusion with you lot regarding the Pearl students coming to Scotland. What Pearl do in the selection process is really not our business- however you are already bonding with a student group who you presumed you will be able to experience all in India and Scotland with. We are indeed out of the loop on this one - but we're try and find out what's happening and resolve ASAP to ensure you are not getting stressed out there in a strange country. Make the most of it- and just keep keeping in touch via this blog on all that you are experiencing at Pearl Academy. Despite typos and spelling errors-this blog is not censored in any way. We want all who read this blog to truly get the experience you are having- not just some pretty pictures. Speak soon.
Blairs Blog
As mentioned in an earlier post I have a blog also (Blair) that I have been running personally during the India Trip. It is my own personal video blog but if any one was interested I have a few videos and pictures uploaded from the trip.
Hopefully our Jaipur trip will be up shortly, been havins some difficulty that I am working around
www.polarblairsblog.wordpress.com
Hopefully our Jaipur trip will be up shortly, been havins some difficulty that I am working around
www.polarblairsblog.wordpress.com
That's been some homeword bound journey! I hope to follow you all very soon, still feeling like trash and, we've been told today that they are re-interviewing all the students, to pick a new group to come to Scotland. I feel like we are the last to know everything, unless you guys have been left out of the loop too?
Hopefully things become clearer soon, enjoy being home :)
15 September 2009
Censorship
All twenty results from the successful one day illustration (collage) project completed at Pearl Academy on Tuesday 8 September. Students worked hard to produce conceptually sound and collage/montage experimentation works- and the end result was an interesting assortment of images.
A wee note from Scotland!
Well- Dougi, Aileen and myself arrived at Edinburgh Airport at 07.35hrs this morning, all a bit bleary-eyed and with an occasional hint of 'Delhi-Belly'. It all seemed a bit weird (and a bit too relaxed) leaving you all there- but positively I guess that means you are all coping well with your new temporary lives in New Delhi. Sumita will more than look after you. Hope you're feeling better Gill.
Blair- I've been enjoying watching your own blog- great videos-and they are getting more relaxed and entertaining as you're getting in the stride of producing them-do you want to put a link to them from this blog for all to see?
I'm working on getting some key pics up of one day project- but I'll see how the jetlag goes today.
On another note: Best Indian Sweets and savouries (including some pasties) can be found all over Delhi in a chain of shops called Bikanervala- happy hunting if you enjoyed the sweets/savouries I left you...
Can you get all five Pearl Students involved in this blog too....their thoughts on meeting you lot , project briefs set so far, plans for trips together....
Blair- I've been enjoying watching your own blog- great videos-and they are getting more relaxed and entertaining as you're getting in the stride of producing them-do you want to put a link to them from this blog for all to see?
I'm working on getting some key pics up of one day project- but I'll see how the jetlag goes today.
On another note: Best Indian Sweets and savouries (including some pasties) can be found all over Delhi in a chain of shops called Bikanervala- happy hunting if you enjoyed the sweets/savouries I left you...
Can you get all five Pearl Students involved in this blog too....their thoughts on meeting you lot , project briefs set so far, plans for trips together....
14 September 2009
Jaipur Group
During a whirlwind tour to Jaipur our first stop was the main campus of Pearl Academy of Fashion- a terrific space to create and very different (in terms of architecture, environment and space) to the campus buildings in Delhi where our project is based.
10 September 2009
Great-and now for some more
Good to see you lot starting to upload and engage with the blog. There's a couple of technical things that bother me here.
One. Can all images be uploaded in correct viewing format to stop any need for sideways glances. Two. Any video content is at low resolution for continuity of viewing, and Three. You are the group of students who have English as their first language. Can you ensure that you take time to treat it with respect- and edit out all spelling errors before you hit the publish it button. Attention to detail is attention to design.
Lastly- can I leave it all in your capable hands to inform the Pearl students who are part of this exchange with you. Get them engaged with this blog - and get them 'signed-up' as contributors ASAP.
One. Can all images be uploaded in correct viewing format to stop any need for sideways glances. Two. Any video content is at low resolution for continuity of viewing, and Three. You are the group of students who have English as their first language. Can you ensure that you take time to treat it with respect- and edit out all spelling errors before you hit the publish it button. Attention to detail is attention to design.
Lastly- can I leave it all in your capable hands to inform the Pearl students who are part of this exchange with you. Get them engaged with this blog - and get them 'signed-up' as contributors ASAP.
Found type
Some pretty painted signs, but here are some less pretty ones for now as I'm sure you'll see the rest over the course of the next few weeks
We're here
Haven't taken many pictures so far. Decided to chill out and 'soak it in' for the first few days. We're having problems getting regular internet connection, and when we do it's often slow. Hopefully more stuff next week following our trip too the Jaipur area! TaTa for now... Christ, that is one overused word in this country. 4 September 2009
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