Lecture Reflections:
HAWRAF were a complete design agency in New York that were in business for 3 years. Alec Dudson explores the gift that they left behind for any agency, freelancer or stat up to take and use as a how to guide for creative business. There is a scepticam from Dudson that I share, was there a motive for the sharing of operational files or was it done in innocence? There is an argument that from these files being shared, the members of the team have made a name for themselves, more so than maybe what they would have from their initial business. Alec explores the files and shares key documents that have proven to be helpful in his own practice. He identifies a particular document that guides the reader through a client interaction and how best to ‘land’ a new business venture. There are ideas and concepts within this lecture that I feel are relevant to many areas of my current practice and project. Project management and validity are ones that should be considered thoroughly before a project is launched. One key document that I found to be interesting is the price list and time allocation for the work to be carried out. If I were to explore the idea of freelance work or agency work this would prove to be vital information in allocating time and providing an accurate account for a clients budget. Alec made a comment about this and suggests that not all of the time a business would be able to stick to this pricing list and in this case there is evidence to show that this was the case. Billed works would fluctuate from their initial outlined cost in the knowledge that as a business they would not be able to operate at 100% being a young studio. This fluctuation allows for the highs to compensate for the negotiated prices that fall short of the proposed cost. Further to this Alec explores the rules of engagement drawing up contracts. While I have not yet fully explored the parameters of my project I believe I will be working with other people and organisations and therefor will need to draw up a contact of roles and responsibilities to project myself should the worse happen.
Reflections from a tutorial
Having started my research and investigations I had begun to frame my question. I stopped for a moment to gain a fresh perspective from Stuart. I wanted to explain the idea and my approach to the questions that I had been exploring. We spoke about the timing of the idea and with Brexit creating a divide in Brittan, it was also creating a divide in Europe. Britan voted to leave the EU with a 51% share of the votes. Cornwall had voted 56% to leave. With tourism and fishing being the key contributors to this vote. I spoke about plans to take this idea into a community project, by this I did not think about a group of school children painting a wall, I wanted to collect information and ideas form people and use this data to design an outcome. I wanted to collect the voices and stories of people from the local area and aim to share their stories. I believe my first point of call should be to test my ideas and test the theory with a survey. I will write a series of questions that aim to discover the thoughts and beliefs of people who live in Cornwall and who identify as being Cornish.
Identity
Being Cornish is being descended from many generations of Cornish.
Living in Cornwall does not make you Cornish, anymore than if I had been born/live in China it would make me Chinese.
Expectations:
It is essential that through this process I remain neutral on all ideas and focus on collecting information. While the conservation of Brexit may arise I do not wish for this to become an overwhelming idea within the project. I aim to use my research to further frame my question and I anticipate that this will support my initial theories and questions about identity and Cornwall.
Reflections of initial research
From initial research that includes books, news articles, websites and videos I concluded that there are a strong identity and ownership of the Cornish nationality. The river Tamar is not considered a county line but a line between two nations. This is one view held by those of the opinion that Cornwall should be an independent state, similar to wales or Scotland and Ireland. In part, I appreciate their view and accept the research that is presented. In the book, Cornwall: One of the Four Nations of Britain it states that Cornwall was first noted by the Greeks and named the land of Tin. In addition to this, Les Merton in his book, Cornish Dialect details a story that describes Roman soldiers invading the south-west. Marching down the A30 to be fronted with a thick Cornish accent. A ted talk: Is your identity given or created? (Marcus Lyon) explored the concept of Brazilian national pride and identity. similarly, the cornish pride and value in identity are just as strong. Lyon photographed a series of persons that had an interesting story and connection to the area. This method of recording could also be adopted within my project. I had considered filming my process and interviews, not to make a film but rather if it were suitable I could curate a film, at-least I would have the footage to do so.
Questionnaire:
I have asked 20 people, ranging in age these questions, I had 18 responses that have provided me with the information below.
- How long have you lived in cornwall?
- Are your family origionally from cornwall?
- Do you consider yourself to be cornish?
- What does Identity mean to you?
- What do you think makes someone cornish?
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/WPMFSWH
What does Identity mean to you?
- Being urself and that identity isn’t the place u come from
- Geographical, Social, Ethnic and Personal factors that influence and develop your personality.
- Being different than others/ Standing out
- Identity defines who you are, how you act, what you enjoy, what you hate and what you believe in
- Where I am from and where I now live
- Things that make us up to be who we are
- Who you are when no once is watching
- everything that makes me who I am
- identity is the person who you show yourself to be not the place you live in
- Pride in your heritage and who I am
- A sense of belonging, affintiy
- Everything that makes you you.
- Who you believe yourself to be
- belonging where i came from
- What makes you you, a name chosen by you is you
- What makes you, you. If being gay, bisexual, trans etc is you then that is your identity.
What do you think makes someone cornish?
- Family history/being born there
- If they believe in themselves that they are Cornish
- If they are originally from Cornwall
- if they live in cornwall for 5-10+ years
- Set of values, way of life and sense of belonging
- born and bred in cornwall with a thick accent
- Being born in Cornwall
- Love of the sea, protective of nature/environment, humour and songs
- If they don’t intend to live anywhere else other than cornwall and believe that they are cornish.
- Born and bred
- they were born here
- Eating pasties on a daily basis, going to the seaside
- Not necessarily patriotic but still loves where they live, and hates the weather as much as everyone else
- Person who likes the sea and eats pasties 🙂
- Being born in Cornwall
- Being born in Kernow
- If ur born in Cornwall , then u are Cornish
- If you’ve lived in cornwall your entire life i feel that is enough to call yourself cornish, you pick up on the culture fast
Bibliography:
John Angarrack: Our Future is History (Independant Academic Press (2002))
John Angarrack: Breaking The Chains ((Independant Academic Press (1999))
Les Merton: Cornish Dialect (Bradwell Books (2012))
Colin Francis Murley: Cornwall: One of the Four Nations of Britain (Cornish Stannary Publications; First Edition edition (Dec. 1996))
Pixels and Serifs. 