Media Education... Our Love/Hate Relationship with Sex and Violence

I saw Machete last night. (For those of you not familiar you can check out the link (as long as it is active)).

Today I watched a documentary; Inside Deep Throat. (Once again a link for those unfamiliar with either the documentary of the movie that is it documenting.)

I am constantly in awe of the country's/our culture's inability to reconcile rational and objective thoughts dealing with Sex and Violence and what impacts the two truly have on our day to day lives.

Violence: We've all watched violence in movies. Slapstick violence (Laurel and Hardy movies), gruesome violence (the Saw Movies), thriller violence (Psycho) and any other movies in between. We are exposed to violence everywhere. The point is that it is not hard to find yourself watching a movie with explicit violence or playing a video game that incorporated violence against inanimate objects, alien races, altered humans (ie Zombies) and even other humans as well. It is not at all difficult to gain access to media that includes violence and although we preach to children that violence against your fellow man is looked down upon, we still turn on the TV, sit our kids in front of it and let their brains melt to the titillating story telling phenomena that are the Powerpuff Girls, Samurai Jack and Invader Zim. (At this point I would like to state that I have enjoyed and still enjoy all these shows and think that they are beautifully and artistically done... the artistry is not in question here.)

There is countless research out there that suggests and supports that violence in cartoons, movies and video games (as well as immediate environment) causes mental and social problems for children (and even adults). However despite the mounting evidence that suggests that violence in media is in fact bad for you, there is little to no violence education and more importantly little to no violence censorship when it comes to children's programing. Adults (as in parents and legal guardians) are strongly encouraged to teach their kids about NOT practicing violent acts and the difference between media and real violence.


Sex: Yes, we all watch sex scenes. More often than not there are sex scenes in movies and the envelope for what is appropriate on the screen is constantly being pushed. We've gone from seeing Lucy and Desi sleeping in separate beds to Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss in a Matrix sex scene. We are repeatedly bombarded with sexually explicit ads on giant billboards and in magazines. We have stars who are barely out of their diapers represented in sexually suggestive ways. We even have little children dressing up as beauty queens and walking around on the cat walk in bikinis with pound of makeup on.


HOWEVER, despite all the sexually explicit and suggestive material out there, sexual content in mainstream movies cannot come close to the severity of the type of violence we see in movies. AND sexual education and freedom to openly speak about sex is taboo. Sex education in this country is at times controversial. Many places teach sexual abstinence in schools and fight more progressive views/ideas such as handing out condoms to school children. Parents do not feel comfortable when it comes to talking to their kids about sex (yet are more than willing to play a round of Splinter Cell with their already sexually active yet unprotected children).

Getting your hands on media containing "mature sexual content" requires you to go to a specialty shop. No specialty shop exists for violence (unless you count gun stores). Meanwhile you can own a gun at about age 12 yet you cannot own a porno mag or see live nude girls till you are 18.

Most sexuality in movies is surrounded in violence (such as sex before or after dangerous and violent situations, forced sex and anything and everything in between). We are subjected to violent language almost freely but sexuality explicit language is minimal at best.

To me it is all ironic, sad and a bit scary that we chose to focus on such terrible parts of human nature and emotion and fail to acknowledge and celebrate something as beautiful as sex and sexual relationships and intimacy. I am taken aback at how we chose to indulge in all the ugliness that we are capable of and very little in all the beauty.

So whats the point? Well I don't know if I have a specific point. Maybe I am just making observations on something that I find alarming and intriguing. Perhaps I am recollecting all the times I've heard, "Make love not war" and remarking (mainly to myself) how that message never really stuck. How a love revolution failed and has succumbed to violence and greed. Or perhaps I am trying to say that you should see both those movies for various reasons and perhaps make your own observation about the irony in our society.

A Seriously Delayed Un-update

Its been a while since I've done anything substantial in my world of art making. Quite honestly, between the thesis project and my horrible job job, my photographic freethinking creativity has been somewhat drained. I pick up my camera and dread what I may, or may not photograph.

Recently I had a conversation with someone new to photography about the practice. He asked me how one becomes a photographer. The best answer I could come up with is this: Everyone has the ability to look at the world and find something beautiful/memorable/meaningful. They associate the experience before them with an emotion or a sentimental point in time so they pick up their camera and snap a picture and when it comes out they look at it and are disappointed that the sunset does not look as impressive as they remember in their head. Obviously the camera is blamed for the lack of sentimental image reproduction. Cameras are just there as a tool. Like a hammer, cameras by themselves, are objects. What a photographer does is uses the camera tool as a way to elicit emotional and mental responses.

I think what has happened to me, is that I, at this point, am no longer able to use the camera as an effective tool for the purpose of story telling. I am using it to create photographic visions for other people's ideas and not so much my own. I am craving the free flow of thought as expressed through my favorite medium, but at the moment it does not come.

What I am attempting instead, is a body of Assemblage works that closely tie in with my recent experiences in life (mainly the dating scene). I am hoping to come up with 24-36 pieces by the end of the year and I hope that they inspire someone's imagination.

So, in conclusion, I am alive, I am thinking about art and I am longing for the day I can once again freely and confidently express myself through photography. In the meanwhile, I am keeping busy.

A View from a Parking Lot

Here are some images from my show.

It was a learning experience and has me thinking even more about new uses for new spaces.

Here are some views for everyone to enjoy.

To Loath Thyself

Is it possible to make work that you hate and still make good work? Hate is as strong of an emotion as love.

I recall making work that angered a lot of people. I particularly hated the work. Not so much the final piece but the whole process of coming up with the idea and creating it. However I loved that the work elicited such strong emotions from the audience. A few people walked away from it understanding the goal and appreciating that I just put then through 8 minutes or so of hell. It was a mad science experiment influenced by my attitude towards some pretty insane circumstances. I was hateful and angry and I created work that people hated and were angry over. I would most certainly do it again.

That experience, however, is not what I am referring to here. What I am interested in is if a work can me successfully made but with the artist hating the out come?

I find myself going back to work I did in the past and absolutely saying to myself "what was I thinking, I HATE this thing" while simultaneously people coming up to me saying that they love what I did. Its a compliment for sure and I appreciate the insight my audience has. I just feel a strong aversion to my own work.

Perhaps that is precisely what keeps me making more and new work. I try to smooth out and rethink ideas and executions of work. Could my aversion of my own work be the thing that keeps me going and striving to go farther and continue on the path of art making? Time will tell.

Good-Bye Irving Penn

Irving Penn died today. He was 92 years old.

I don't know what else to say about a great photographer who created a lot of amazing work, that has not already been said by folks who are a lot more qualified to write and speak about him. I think his work and the reputation of his kindness speaks for itself. I know that if I were even a tenth of a percent as talented as Penn was, I'd be happy.

So, enjoy the following image by the late and great, Irving Penn, a fellow Gemini.

ITS UPDATE TIME!!!

Thesis: I have a personal deadline of September 25 for my second draft. I feel like I am almost there just the little nitty gritty work is eating up all my time.

Also, am I going with a hard cover or a soft cover? No idea yet. Nor do I know what I want to write for my artist statement.


Deep breathes. The finish line is almost in sight.


"Brave, brave Sir Robin. He bravely ran away."

Mental Notes

1> Be more positive. (Maybe I need to say that over and over constantly until I believe it).

2> Post more of my own images...

3> Make more images (that are not for, or having to do with, work).

4> Find more time to read, see, observe. I have been very lax in that regard. BIG NO NO!

5> Be more positive!

Book Layout Experience...

Place, place, place, place, place, DELETE, DELETE, DELETE, place, place, place, place, DELETE, DELETE, DELETE, DELETE.

I Think I Am Gonna Be Sick!

What do you say to a person that you've admired for so long when you first meet them?

I dunno but lets see if I don't vomit all over myself or say something completely offhand, unrelated and juvenile.

Meanwhile I could be setting myself up for disaster for no reason. He might not be coming up anyway and I may not meet him even if he does.

A Pledge Being Realized

On April 27, 2008 I made a post, a pledge, to myself that I would exhibit my work more often and at more places.

To my surprise and joy that is exactly what I have been doing this year. So far my CV is coming along.

I am not claiming that I've taken every opportunity (I have to work on that confidence thing I've been hearing about). However, I have been doing my best to take as many opportunities as I am comfortable with.

Here is to making the rest of 2009 a successful time for my budding art (and thing) making career.

I'd let you pat me on the back but my hand is in the way.

SMAC (Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center) in Auburn, NY will be featuring some of my little creations in their gallery. Here is the link to their website:

http://www.schweinfurthartcenter.org/exhibits/2009/CollageAssemblage2009.html

If you are in the area (and more importantly, if you are actually reading this) stop on by. I don't bite so if you wanna say hello I am all for that. Artist reception is August 30th.

Now I go to do a little happy dance.

News Flash

After trying to pretend that it wasn't a problem, I have finally started to update my website. Its coming along well, especially if I consider that it used to look like and how it had no function. Lets just hope this new motivation lasts well into the middle of October.

Anyway, check out the website if you like...

www.ronagelman.com

Not Just an After Thought

Here are a few sample images from the thesis project: Since these were made I decided on a black background. But the general idea is the same.

Bumping Elbows

Its really hard to hob nob with big time artists or attend the "right" art shows when they happen to take place during the times I work.

I've made peace with that and I wish others in the art community would make peace with that too.

I'll just have to find different ways to get people's attention. I'm not worried!


Now, off to ignore my circadian rhythm.

Linearity

"Success is not something we reach at a linear point."

The western world (or someone/ something) has drilled it into our heads that success is measured in a linear manner. Point A will lead you to point B which will finally lead you somewhere down the road to the Gold Mine of LINEAR SUCCESS.

You apply to a college of choice, get an education, you find the perfect internship which leads into a promising young career, followed possibly by yet another degree or two, then you are on your merry way to a "career" with the perfect salary, prestige and perhaps even fame.

WHATEVER!

So the other day when I saved a goose from oncoming traffic (true story) or the time I volunteered to teach photography to kids, neither of those things were successes? Did they make no difference because I gained no monetary rewards from the deed? Or is it because I couldn't put it on my ever evolving resume/CV?

What is a career? What is success?

My passion in life is observing, recording and cataloging the human experience through a long time under appreciated discipline known as ART. My passion will probably not lead me to the holy grail of career success, but I assure you (and myself) that I will not feel like I have not been successful. With every click of the shutter button and every stroke of a paint brush, I will be successful just for having created something out of nothing (well not really out of nothing but you get the point).

So bring it on LINEAR SUCCESS! I refuse to let you drag me down into feelings of inadequacy.

Beginning of the End; The Thesis Debacle

In my mind I am ready to be done with this whole thing. This thesis thing. It makes me physically ill to still talk/write/think about it and yet there are miles and miles to go before I can rest.

In my mind everything is already laid out. Everything is edited, color corrected, marked and printed and ready to go.

So how come nothing is done yet?

I am mentally exhausted by the whole project and I won't lie when I say that I procrastinated way longer than I should have.

The main problem is that my attention span is not good for such a serious project. Its too much focused thinking for someone that enjoys working on multiple projects all the time.

I have about 20 other ideas just lingering up in the ol' attic and they are all in some hurry to get out.

BREATH!

One step at a time I suppose.

My goal is last Friday in September although first Friday of October doesn't sound that bad either.

Well, back to the grid I suppose. 5 days and I want to be done with shooting. Sleep be damned.

Crossing my fingers!

Trapped on Glass

From last semester's Historic Processes Class with Jenn Libby at the Visual Studies Workshop.

Great instructor, great class.

Enjoy!

Overdue and Under Done

Summer is proving to be busier that I had anticipated or really desired it to be. July was pretty much a bust. Had to run down to NYC to see relatives from abroad and then the following week I was once again volunteering out at PEEC as a photo instructor.

The PEEC experience was weird again. Its really hard to get kids (who's brains are on summer break) to get rolling on any sort of project. The first 2-3 days are spent convincing them that you actually do know what you are doing and you are not just playing some trick on them (or trying to make them do 'HOMEWORK'). By the time day 4 or 5 rolls around they finally like you and beg you not to leave, just as you are ready to pack up your gear and head home.

The director at PEEC has asked me to come back next year to teach either for the entire summer or to come in and teach the older kids, seeing as how A) I am cool & B) most of the kids I've taught the last 2 years will be aged out of the younger group by next year. I said I will consider it. Although really I hope to be employed full time by then. (Someone has to start paying off her college debt.)

THESIS:

SO some of you (I am talking about all my imaginary friends and readers) are probably wondering how the thesis is going, seeing as how I planned on showing in September. Well things are really behind. I wish I was more on the ball but once again life got in the way. I am planing to motivate myself to get things going here and at least get some proofs going. Maybe I should put it in writing?!?!?!

OTHER ART STUFF:

I got accepted to a show in Auburn, NY to display some of my creepy little boxes (I will attempt to post some pics up one of these days). I hope they sell.

I have also been showing off some other work at some group shows around town. Even though the support from gallery staff has been encouraging, so far the public has not picked up on what it is I am trying to do. Maybe its because I don't really have a clear vision either.

I hope that once the thesis is over, I can start working on other things that have been festering in my brain. Here is to creativity and its free flow. (I loath artist blocks).

Thats all for now!



Hoping to follow this up with some sample images soon. Keep your fingers crossed!

Sugar Coma

Some new work that will surely keep me up at night... until the sugar runs out.


Enjoy

...In Addition

Not knowing your own self worth, totally and utterly stinks.