Newer Ideas

•For projected installation, differing sources of “news” surrounding the shock and awe campaign will be analyzed
- Main idea is how media sources will alter happenings to better suit their controller

- What parts of how we see the world are edited to help secure the interests of those with power

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•The media is used to give the populace the false feeling of participation in their government’s affairs.

- Repurposing of media images to create stimulating thought and dialogue liberates them

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•Who decides who is the “freedom fighter” and who is the “jihadist”

Firming Up Concepts

•Ballot box piece- What is one’s voice in democracy? How does the media effect one’s voice? How are those in the Middle East so much different from us?

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•Presidential piece- Media’s use of creating a personality out of politicians to remove us from the democratic process. Oversaturation of rhetoric and “sound bites” within our experience of events. Ongoing justification of conflict

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• Helmet piece- What is our connection to conflict? All of us, not just those at war, feel and are responsible for the repercussions of war. As fighting for democracy abroad is portrayed to us with disconnect, fighting over democracy at home is just as harmful.

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• Projected piece- How is news construed to support the interests of those making it? Where is the desensitization of violence condoned by those informing us? General desensitization of the view of violence because of its portrayal to us.

September 11th, 2011

Today, as we are inundated with horrific images of the biggest national tragedy of our lives as Americans, we need to really put some thought into what this anniversary means to us. The world changed as we knew it on September 11, 2001. To those who can remember the times before, the pain of the change in retrospect is very tangible. Today we remember those who died innocently, even some in acts of heroism. As those who died inhabit our thoughts, we also must decide how we want to remember them. They must be seen as human beings who were lost in an unimaginable act of evil and be remembered for who they were; beautiful individuals, grandmothers, mothers, daughters, sons, fathers, all connected to others by our intricate web of humanity.

We however, cannot view the fallen as some would like us to; victims of an enemy she we must peruse through multiple conflicts and manhunts. Although we can't change what has already happened in the conflicts that we have entered, we can separate the memory of those lost on September 11th with the justification for the securing of interests by those with power. We must not let the legacy of the fallen be more death. This date should remind us of how as a nation we can band together and support our collective society as Americans

In a time of such ridiculous political turmoil, we should look back at the stories of complete strangers who acted with heroism and compassion, attempting to save lives and ease pain. Let the memory of this date remind us that we CAN join together and that the actions of one can make all the difference, especially in the eyes of those in need. We as citizens still have power and voice. Let the images of planes smashing into towers jar us loose from the sensationalist antics of our current politicians and set us free to participate in the system, with informed thought and action. Our actions in response to these images need to be in helping instead of striking, repairing instead of destroying.

Let's also not reserve this thought for the fall, and certainly not every decade. As I said before, every day since has been vastly different and our actions on a daily basis inform the legacy of 9/11. We must be proud of our nationality while still being tolerant for others. Misguided bigotry is no longterm answer to what happened, in fact it only keeps the wound open and fresh for longer. Can we afford for intolerant actions and words to inform the younger generations to inherit a bastardized view of what September 11th means for our collective conscience?

September 11th, 2001 will be remembered, but in what way it is remembered will be it's lasting legacy.

1. PRODUCTION OUTLINE

A.) The installations will be based in sound and video, utilizing constructed/found objects in conjunction

B.) The intended audience is the general public who attend galley shows

C.) The thesis “Generation of Warriors” is intended to comment on the conflicts that entire generations have now been defined by, all stemming from the need to secure interests of their motherland. These conflicts have not only influenced those who have fought, but everyone in very large ways. The socio-political climate that is currently brewing is one of volatility and distrust. Brought upon by stemming issues of colonialism throughout the Middle East, the United States has ushered in a time of recession, scandal, and loss, which has never been seen. The body of work will consist of 4+ individual installations utilizing imagery from not only the conflicts, but from those who have been instrumental in steering our society towards where it is currently. The installations will be sound/video based and use concepts of appropriation relating to combat, protest, government, and revolution along with other concepts. The pieces will be installed in a gallery in a manner of which they can comment on each other while still keeping their voices intact

D.) The themes explored will be: Mass media saturation, the idea of War as myth, Political elitism, political voice, experience of conflict

E.) My relationship to subject and theme is one of direct experience. I am reacting to these issues and making art.

F.) War, democracy, colonialism, myth, 9/11, sensationalism

G.) Using current media sources, the installations comment on the nature of how information is transmitted and the news media affects it. The digital nature of the conflicts we enter comment on how we deal with them and their lasting effects

H.) I plan to show and discuss pieces in the department before the final show of all of the work

I.) My approach is one of layering and comparison. Although I present my ideas in a way of which my opinion is there, it does not overtake the audience, and will allow for open though

J.) No collaborations yet. Possible help from others with installation

K.) Various electrical components, speakers, computers, found media footage, final cut pro, soundtrack pro, headphones,

2. FIELD NOTES, OBSERVATIONS, AND RESEARCH

A.) Richard Mosse, Alfredo Jaar, Janet Cardiff have inspired the ideas behind the thesis.

B.) Some of the theories and subjects that inform the work are post-colonialism, media critique in the form of Noam Chomsky, and some of the post-modern philosophy of Slavjo Zizek

C.) I have been watching multiple news sources, as well as taking in films, movies, and television sources to see how some subjects within the work are treated in the world.

D.) The most problematic aspect of producing my thesis will be to keep true to the concept and not get caught up on small aspects.

E.) The biggest support for my production of the thesis is the sincerity of my feelings towards the subject.

F.) Most of my research has been in the way of literature. I have read Slavjo Zizek, Edward Siad, Chris Hedges, Evan Wright, and Lance Bellet. I have also watched the documentaries Armadillo, Wall, and The Oath. So far from interviews, I have discussed the subjects with friends who are Veterans and others who I have met with knowledge of the conflicts.

G.) Possible subjects and imagery include: Digital War, Digital Camouflage, images of the political process, and images of home front reaction to the conflicts

H.) I plan on creating preliminary compositions to screen with the department and other artists along with the same for videos. Drawings and explanations of the installation topics will also be utilized.

4. RESEARCH OUTLINE

A.) Books:

Orientalism by Edward Said

The Edward Said Reader by Moustafa Bayoumi and Andrew Rubin

War is the Force That Gives Life Meaning by Chris Hedges

Generation Kill Evan Wright

News: The Politics of Illusion by W. Lance Bennett

In Defense of Lost Causes by Slavjo Zizek

B.) Films:

Percepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Wall by Simone Bitton

The Oath by Laura Poitras

Armadillo by Janus Metz Pedersen

C.) Internet research has mainly been based around Wikipedia articles for guidance on what to read on as well as the Magnum website.

D.) Outsiders that I have discussed my project would mainly be considered my family, even though the experiences brought out in the piece have no real outsiders.

E.) I have not contacted any experts as of yet, as I don’t know what would define an expert in this situation

6. BUDGET

(1)Replica helmet $30

(1) Projector (rental) $400

(3)Extension cords $50

(1) mp3 player $25

(1) set of headphones $30

(?) Gallery Bulbs $20

(3) Podiums $100

(100) Post cards $0

Materials for install in gallery $100

Concessions for opening $60

Total: $815

Thoughts on the myth of war

I've been thinking about what the concept of "the myth of war" means to me and my work. I see there being a continuance of multiple conflicts without an incredibly strong benefit for the nation being driven by the myth which is becoming an issue. Creating heroes and morale points out of what is in reality a grotesque situation (as any war is) helps keep a seemingly democratic public interested in supporting the conflicts. Although some conflict is necessary, the current situation has grown out of hand, mainly because of the myth created around the Middle East. The volatility of the myth is not only in continuing interest based conflict but also within creating biases and bigotry towards those being alienated.

Ideas on the media and how it effects us

As I've been reading News The Politics of Illusion I've been thinking about how I feel the media has effected the subjects I'm commenting on. The idea of sensationalizing has emerged as an important subject throughout the text. When sources overuse imagery to create news or feeling out of a seemingly dead topic to in turn drum up ratings, it adversely effects the population tuning in. Many other topics related to sensationalizing are stereotyping, generalizations, overreaction, and misconstruction. These topics stretch beyond "bias" into a realm of danger, where the public is being stimulated just for reaction. Nothing good can come of anything of the sort.