Ethnographic Interpretive Essay
5/8/12
We are trapped within the frame. In this world we are the paradigm. We exist only to attract eyes and conjure emotion within the viewer. My characteristics give me my luster. I depict a pink skinned boy with long flowing hair, His hair then morphs into a piano. There are many objects like me. Though, none of us are the same. Some of us hang on glorious walls in faraway cities. Some of us hang on refrigerators. Never the less we all serve our purpose whether we are failures or masterpieces. What defines a masterpiece? A wealthy man. Besides that there are other things that we must take into a count. Such as aesthetic proportions and basic techniques that make us who we are. I don’t need a space in New York to feel appreciated. I’m not insecure like some art that I know, I can feel beautiful hanging in this room or perhaps in the circle gym during the art show. The attention would be nice but that’s not what I’m all about. I’m looking forward to the future. Watching the creator succeed and take what he/she learned from me and to apply it to the next project.
Justin Mellon
2/21/12
Essential Questions
- What relevance does gender, race or class have to the dynamics of the WHS Honors Art/Portfolio Art social structure?
I don’t think that race or gender has anything to do with the structure of our classroom. Though, grade level and what class you are taking has a lot to do with where you are in the class. As an example, if you take portfolio you have been in this room longer than most people, therefore you are more familiar with the room and more familiar with the teachers.
- What relevance does time (time of day and time of year) have?
Time is a major factor in this room, because people come in and out of here depending on what time of year. Now that it is almost spring we have many new comers in the classroom.
- What relevance does space and place have?
As a portfolio student I have my own workspace in the room, simply because I have worked hard as an honors student over the years. Honors students’ work on the tables, which is enough for the magnitude of the work, they produce. Attitudes and space are passed down from generation to generation.
- In what ways are norms and values passed from elders to the next generation (elders being students who have had Mr. Miller for 3 years versus first time students)?
Skills and certain investigations are passed on from elders to newer generations. Such as drawing and painting abilities and project ideas.
- What dimensions of leadership are observable?
Once I leave someone will take my place. The classroom is organized into a caste system, which is made up by first time students at the bottom, second time students, portfolio students, student teacher, and finally the teacher. Most of the time people are in a good mood, making art makes people free from stress.
- What dimensions of language (spoken and body) are observable?
When a student misbehaves or goes off topic a bit the teacher, (head of the caste system) puts his foot down; sometimes a light tap, sometimes a stomp hard enough to start an earthquake.
Monday
2/6/12
- Being an elder I rank higher than most but not my fellow elders and the ones before me.
- This room is more familiar to me than most people.
- I have spent countless days painting my life away in this room.
- Several younger ones ask me for direction and supplies.
- I do as the elders say. I draw for my own progress and for the pleasure of the elders.
Tuesday
2/7/12
- Rumors of a “portfolio skip day” surface.
- Younger one is confused about the ethnographic research, so I help her.
- Interview with elder. Went well, though I was a bit nervous.
- Favorite paintbrush almost ruined, though I am able to perform surgery. The surgery was a success.
- I almost spill big can of paint. Nobody notices.
Wednesday
2/8/12
- My research progresses, though I feel as though my drawing is questionable.
- Finish portrait of a friend. There is plenty of laughter to go around.
- I work with chalk pastels because oil pastels are not available. The elders supply me with proper utensils.
- Review questions for next interview with foreign elder.
- I make card for a fellow art student who is hurt.
Thursday
2/9/12
- Finish another portrait of a friend. More laughter is followed.
- No art club. I am relieved because I was not able to drive to school that day.
- I almost drop another can of paint. No one notices. Thank God.
- A friend offers me a job; I take her up on it.
- I watch as the younger ones conduct their research. Gives me a certain hope that this room will continue to flourish and grow.
Friday
2/10/12
- The smell of burnt wood fills the room.
- A friend plays a joke on me. Laughs are shared.
- I take down my display only to put up a new one.
- The new display looks good; foreigners stop as they pass by.
- I come in at a later time. Class is usually loud. Though class today is quiet.
The Storied Object Creative Writing Piece
12/21/11
Cold and distant, he sits in the “time- out” chair at the table by himself. He confines himself to his furniture; it’s all he has aside from the shack high upon the hill. To you and I it would appear that he has nothing, though his furniture, his distressed, decrepit furniture is his life. He sits there with his one body, his furniture broken and nailed back into place just like his heart. His one body, the singular, physical existence that is his one body is out of shape and underdeveloped. His crimson skin is scaly and would appear to be wet if witnessed in person. His “stick and poke” tattoos are worn with age as he sits in his chair for what might feel like a lifetime. Though his physical appearance means little to nothing to him, for he always had trouble dealing with his identity. Exiled from society for his red and headless deformity, he ever really had a name of his own for there was no face to match a name with. He now sits at the table with his several faces, several identities in which he can interchange moods, thoughts, and personalities. With the use of his heads his singular body has become more of a medium of thought and emotion rather than a means of transportation. For he does not move away from his furniture his personalities forbid him from leaving the table. One day he will work up the nerve to leave, one day he will leave his “time-out” chair. Where will he go? Probably nowhere because nowhere is his only home.
History/ Yourstory:
History/ Your Story
12/16/11
The passage that I copied from E.H. Gombrich’s was random. I even forget what it was about. I chose the passage more to fill the space more than to convey a meaning, though I’m pretty sure it had to do with Italian artists and their methods. My personal, textual, history merely had to deal with my art career in high school. I started to the brief story with my sophomore year and about how I wasn’t too keen on drawing so my art teacher gave me a book about Jean- Michel Basquiat to study and I was forever inspired, simple as that. Of course I went into more detail, writing about junior year and the amount of my senior year that I have experienced. The image I used was a portrait done by an artist called Georges Rouault. One of my favorite artists and I remember my teacher telling me that Georges work really inspired him when he was younger. For the graphic for my story I simply re-drew a picture from a pervious painting in which I took paintings from art history and painted them in my own style.
History and your story: History, Ideology, & your life.
9/19/11
Prompt: What is the relationship between history, ideology and your life? What determines whose stories get to be considered integral to a culture? How do we recognize fact from fiction? How might stories evolve over time?
The relationship I have with history is the fact that I exist. The fact that I am here breathing and experiencing this reality. This is the present though eventually this moment will be the past and apart of history. The relationship I share with ideology is the fact that I am able to form my own ideas, ideals, and beliefs. The fact that I can be my own person without any questions asked. I can be an artist, I can be an idiot, I can be a genius, but I can’t be you I can only be myself just as you can only be you. I think what stories that are considered integral to a culture depend on who is in power, who ever is on top and has the superior social status. I mean personally I don’t believe that I think everyone’s story should be heard but just look at our society. We really can’t recognize fact from fiction; maybe through physical evidence, but for a reality to exist one must be there to experience it. I did not exist hundreds of years ago so for all I know our history as humans could just be a handful of disturbing fairytales. I think that stories evolve over time similar to that of whisper down the lane. Instead of individual people changing the story, cultures themselves translate and interpret stories in different ways.
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2010 -2011 School Year
6/1/11
Collective Aesthetic
I think that our collective aesthetic or the art show as a whole really worked out for the most part. You can tell that some people put a lot more effort and time into their instillations than others though that doesn’t contradict the fact that the art was a success. The people who won the awards deserved them though many great artists were left unrecognized which is tough for everyone, that was probably the one thing that was off about the art show. Although it definitely was a good art show it certainly wasn’t the best. The show left me unsatisfied, as the show went on I felt pretty optimistic though after the show ended I had a moment of emptiness, I felt like a lot of people could have put forth more effort and some awards were out of place, other than that the art show was a success.
Justin Mellon
Art Show proposal
1 Artist Statement Size: 8.5” x 11” Presentation: push pins
1 Name Plate with url Size: Not too large
2 Bottletars Size: 16” and 19” Presentation: Stool
1 Survival Kit Size: 24’ cubed Presentation: Stand
1 Haiku Box Size: 2 ft Presentation: stand
12 Still Life Drawing Series Size: 9” 12” Presentation: push pins
3 Still Life Watercolors Size: 18” X 24” Presentation: push pins
1 Recontextualized Still Life Size: 24’ x 36” Presentation: push pins
1 Recontextualiized Skeleton Size: 24” x 36” Presentation: Push pins
1 Sketchbook Size: 11” x 14”
Bleaching into life
They say drive fast, live faster
Old man into dust
2. Eric’s Box
Born into hard love
To adapt, to change, to bleed
Life grown desolate
3. Sean’s box
Thump, thump, thump, crash, tear
Splinters and Wires dissolve
Sound catastrophe
4.Lexi’s box
A Fire Inside
Sealed away with flowers dead
Don’t play with matches
5. Marcos’ box
Life beyond the eye
Trying to find my way home
Living through shadows
11/15/10
Pablo’s story
For Pablo life was not a cakewalk. Life was hard and rough living in Mexico at this day and age and Pablo wanted much more than what he had. He sought economic benefits that he could not achieve in Mexico. Through out most of his life Pablo has faced many hardships such as poverty, harsh rules and laws, and death. Both of his parents were shot and killed in Mexican drug trade. Pablo was tired of the chaos and despair so he planned an attempt to cross the border into America.
Pablo woke up one spring morning in a haze of determination he was ready to fulfill his dreams. He kissed his grandparents and nieces and nephews good-bye and set off on his journey to a free land. You would think that someone would put in a lot of time and hard work into this plan but not Pablo, not knowing where to go he started walking the train tracks assuming that it would end up somewhere. He walked and he walked and he walked it felt like these unrelenting tracks would never end he as far as he could see into a democratic oblivion. But instead of seeing the free land he was hoping for he saw a speeding train.
The train had been accelerating at an immensely high speed with unfathomable velocity. Pablo was cocky and he had thought that years of boxing and vigorous training had prepared him for these kinds of situations. Oh how I wish he was prepared or at least smart enough to get out of the way. It all happened in slow motion he reached his arms out to the point where he could no longer extend them he flexed his muscles and stood his ground as the train approached him at what seemed like light speed. In an instant the train pulled him under I wish I could say he died peacefully. After the train had gone a safe distance I approach the tracks his body was just lying there bloody, broken, and bruised he stared into my eyes and with one gasping breath he said “vive la Mexico.” A tear rolled down my cheek and fell off of my face onto his, if only my heart were stone.
Justin Mellon
6/1/10
Collective Identity
Hello I am some big important guy from the art world and I am from somewhere in Europe so you can tell that I would be a big art guy because I am European. In May I traveled to America and observed an Art show at the Wissahickon High School. The art there showed talent and a mentionable skill. All together I’d say this art show was a success. It had a large range of traditional artwork such as still life drawings and portraits and on the other side of the spectrum there was a lot of non- objective abstract expressionism. The Wissahickon art department should be recognized across the globe! I witnessed the most superb artwork in the world!!
Conceptual art proposal
4/27/10
Well I’m not really the kind of person that uses much thought and intellect in my art and using a camera to make art just baffles me. I don’t really understand what conceptual art is so I’m just going to wing it on this one. For my conceptual piece I will paint pictures of what I see going on in the hallways and put them in front of the camera almost like an animation of what is happening at the time and place. I will mostly paint a series of different people walking through hallways and then just an empty hallway.
Prompt Question: What are the ethical differences (if any) between the surveillance of objects/property and living subjects?
I don’t see any difference whether the thing been surveyed is alive or not. Whatever it is it’s being watched. The only difference is one is living and one isn’t. The alive one would have more of a purpose to be surveyed to see if it doing something wrong, educational purposes, to see if something illegal is going on, etc. it would also be more exciting surveying an alive being. Not to mention more interesting. Watching an object would be boring. Except if an alive being acted on it and the same goes for property. Say you are a security guard at an art museum and all you do all day is stare at objects then one night you catch someone break in and to make an attempt to steal a piece of art that is the only time when watching an object would be exciting. Property is different; property is the same concept except there is no object. No, maybe they just go hand and hand because when the thief broke into the art museum he invaded the property the art museum sat on, and you surveyed an alive being invade the property to act on an object so really there is no difference it just all goes together.
Surveillance log 1: Monday 4/19/10
I will be surveying this classroom for five days this is day one and I can already tell how vigorous this project is going to be. The male to female ratio is not very compromising. With a total of nine females and three males I think this experiment will be quit interesting yet troublesome at the same time. I will post my next log tomorrow for now I’m out.
Surveillance log 2: Tuesday 4/20/10
Today seems a bit calmer than I suspected. With the lop- sided ratio of 9 females and three males. I feel like the class should be louder and defiantly more rambunctious than it actually is there is another male that comes in and out a few times during the class period it’s good t have another male just to mix things up a bit. I’m out.
Surveillance log 3: Wednesday 4/21/10
This class has really started to bloom I can see now that the class gets louder and louder within each day it defiantly a lot more exciting to see the people in the class room interact. As I sit here behind my lenses and watch silently as they do what they call “art.” Ha “art” what a strange thing they like to do. Well however I am out.
Surveillance log 4: Thursday 4/22/10
A few of the female specimens remain silent today what a peculiar sight to see. I wonder why they would go through so much torture. I mean being silent for a whole day sounds kind of ridiculous. I would not be able to do it; I have too many things to say to too many people. Well that’s enough for one day I am out.
Surveillance log 5: Friday 4/23/10
On my last day surveying the class I sat in the front of the room where I could capture a vantage point over the class. They seemed rather restless, probably because of the fact it was a Friday and every kid is just itching to get out of these factories we call schools. They wanted the weekend and it was theirs. I wasn’t doing much I was drawling characters in the back of the room. I am out.
Still Life Surveillance Log entry number 1
2/22/10
I landed on this strange planet just a few hours ago and I’m already on the brink of this unrelenting insanity. This world must be some kind of up side down parallel universe. This planet supports life and plenty of it but there is no sign of water, there is plenty of oxygen but no hydrogen this world can exist without the basic components of life, it is outstanding yet disturbing until next time, Space Captain out.
Still Life Surveillance Log entry number 2
2/23/10
My second day at this wasteland full of life and the creatures that inhabit this world have noticed me and have begun to get under my skin. Strange black creatures with distorted faces and bodies steal parts from my destroyed battle ship with the key pieces they have stolen I don’t know how I’ll ever get home. Though it is strange some creatures I have observed resemble some of the fictional characters we see on earth such as power rangers and batman I will find out what is going on here another day for I’m out.
Still Life Surveillance Log entry number 3
2/24/10
My third day was a very successful day I made tools and weapons out of pieces of cars and old broken down machinery and I found a tank that can still operate I think it is safe to say that I wont have any trouble with those nasty black space creatures now that I have this tank and the fact that I have formed and alliance with the power rangers. Yes, in one day I taught the power rangers how to speak English and to write and read, they are fast learners. Now I have to wait another day good night, out.
Still Life Surveillance Log entry number 4
2/25/10
My forth day and I have already taken over more than half of this planet my army of power rangers have successfully imperialized a good portion of this planet soon they will all be in control of the mighty planet of earth. The war is not won yet though it still rages on. The black creatures are strong in numbers and they’re not all black either they’re a few different species yet they all work together with the wise clay elders. The clay elders are tall, sturdy, and carry immense power yet they are immobile so they hardly cause a threat to my army tomorrow we will o into battle in an attempt to take over the rest of the planet. Out.
Still Life Surveillance Log entry number 5
2/26/10
We successfully took over the rest of this planet now it is completely annexed and now under control of planet earth. With the creatures under control I was able to retrieve the stolen parts and we repaired the ship and I contacted base on earth with the good news and I was told to report back to earth for a medal and the ceremony I will call this plant “Sector B05” I think it is appropriate. I will travel home I think the power rangers will keep everything under control. No revolutions we will hold a hard grip on Sector B05 until next time. Out.
Still Life Surveillance
2.25.10
Prompt question: Where does truth and/or fact exist in the relationship between the surveillant and the surveilled?
I see fake truth in the relationship of the surveillant and the surveilled. No one wants to be surveilled, people like their privacy we have earned the right for our privacy yet this privilege is taken away from us every day. We spend almost our whole lives in front of screens, cameras, and other electronics and pieces of technology that our advanced civilization has to offer. And the thing is most of us are unknowing how and why would a human being need to know so much about the other to the point where we are being watched, every move, every word that comes out of our mouths will be forever recorded on a camera in a hallway at your school or bank or restaurant or where ever because big brother is watching you and every single thing you do, all day every day.
Diptych Reflection 1.20.10
I worked very hard on this project. But I didn’t do the best that I could. I think I did well on this project but I don’t think I worked to my full potential. well I got more of a work out doing this project than I do in gym class. I used a lot of sand paper, a lot of white paint, 7 different sharpies, cardboard, house paint, and for the base I used wood. and it turned out better than I thought it wood haha get it? no but I had a lot of fun with the diptych project and it turned out really nice and fresh as anything. and I’m sorry that this essay is a little late.
Game Language Prompt 11.18.09
For the text diptych I am using Skateboarding and Swimming. I am using this old plank of wood that was lying in my basement. For my skateboarding piece I am using a sharpie and I am writing with the same size and format but in all different directions, some stencil work, paint, house paint, and sand paper. For swimming, well I’m not sure yet I’m probably going to wing it tomorrow in class, maybe take some paint to it or sandpaper make the text look fayed and defiantly layers, lots of layers or something cool.
Reflection: Personal Identity Investigation 11.13.09
I think I did well on the card project but I don’t think I did my best. I worked hard but not at my full potential. My first set of cards for my cultural identity was horrible. But for familial and stereotypical I think I didn’t pretty well on I was actually proud of myself I worked very hard on those cards. I think I had a hard time on other and heroic but I still tried to do my best. I liked my heroic and my other cards were decent.
My Heroic Identity 10.23.09
Prompt: What defines a hero and what is heroic about you currently, or what heroic qualities would you hope to develop as you age.
I have a job. I work for the YMCA. I am a lifeguard. I think that makes me a hero in some sort of way even though I haven’t saved anyone yet. I know all that jazz that makes you a lifeguard though. I know CPR I have a re-breather mask and a whistle. The only time I ever used that whistle was to tell some kid to stop running. Boy that was exhilarating. The only thing I’ve ever saved was a dummy they use to practice rescues on.
My “Other” Identity 10.13.09
Prompt: In what ways or situations do I find myself treated as an “Other”?
I don’t really think I have an “other” identity I feel like I have been able to fit in or adapt to my surroundings like a chameleon. I mean I guess there’s a few times where I’ve had to work by myself but that’s about it. I had a hard time thinking about ideas for cards on this project. One time my friend invited me to see her play in a concert at this place called the Paul Green School of Rock and I didn’t know anyone, everyone there was pretty immature and annoying anyway. This wierd guy with big curly hair told me to suck his toes.
My Stereotypical Identity 10.1.09
Prompt: What is your perception of how you are perceived by others?
MISSING
My Familial Identity 9.18.09
Prompt: How are you positioned within your family dynamic and how does that influence your identity?
In my family dynamic I am positioned as the oldest child, I have many responsibilities in this position. I have a twin and I am a minute older than he is. I have a job, I have a lot of homework, and I always feel like I have to get something done and that makes me feel stressed all the time. I love my family but I’m not completely sure if I like them. I don’t know maybe that’s just my teenage angst talking. My mom treats me like some deep, sensitive person because I enjoy art so much. That’s not me, that’s not my identity, I just feel like my mom turns me into someone else. I always try to look after my sisters I really like to spend time with them I like to teach my youngest sister Jacey, I like to watch her learn. My brother is my best friend, I love my brother, I have three dogs, I’d like to get closer with my dad but we fight a lot and he’s feeling pretty bad, his father died yesterday. I’m not sure what my Identity is yet I guess I’m just a hardworking kid that likes art.
My Cultural Identity 9.10.09
Prompt: How do you define culture and how does culture define you?
Culture is the way people are in society. The way we act, the clothes we wear, the music we listen to, culture is what defines us as a civilization and where we live. Culture is just a way to remind us who we are and where we are from. Culture varies from place to place. Culture is the taste of art and manners that are favored by a social group. Someone from America and someone from Asia look completely different in terms of looks, personality, rules, laws, and manners because they are from two different cultures. Culture defines me because I am a person that belongs to society. Culture defines how I look, dress, and act on a daily basis. If there was no society there would be no culture. Culture helps me view the world around me and what are my expectations, beliefs, and values. Culture also helps me celebrate who I am, where I’m from, and my heritage. Culture is the deposit of knowledge from one person to another.
