Context of Practice: Evaluation

End of module Evaluation 

Generally speaking, I found COP to be beneficial to me in a learning environment, the module hasn’t improved my actual animation practice but it has informed me contextually about the practice and how influential it can be and the impact it can make on society. Sometimes I need reminding that by choosing animation, I am not sacrificing my other interests in current affairs and culture; so I found COP to be a refreshing introduction of academia into the syllabus. I did not find the lectures to personally benefit my practice but it was enjoyable to discuss topics which I may have already formed an opinion or understanding on, and getting a new insight into it. I particularly enjoyed the lecture on Consumerism, but that may be the inner cynic in me.

I really enjoyed the essay writing, it was a well needed break from the need to constantly circulate creative ideas and to stretch the academic part of my brain after so long. My quote led me to a topic I really appreciated delving into. Essentially I was discussing whether the history we know is real, or whether it is just a series of accepted judgements by a group of individuals. This was probably one of the vaguest quotes that I could’ve chosen from but it sparked an interest in propaganda and stereotypes that I find very interesting. I actually relished in the research for the first triangulation essay. It was fascinating to educate myself on a topic that was so different to all the previous modules; I learnt more about history that was unbeknown to me before and came to understand techniques that are employed by authorities to advertise their views in times of war. I had a brief knowledge that Marvel and Disney were involved in war editions, but I did not know the extent to their employment by military services until researching for this essay. It’s good to be reminded that you can use a platform such as animation for fun, trivial projects, as well as those that could possibly impact the path of history and society.

The animation analysis essay was also enjoyable, I think it’s important to sometimes take a step back and analyse pieces of work in order to inform my own practice, in terms of how tone, colour, character and sound can all interact to create a really powerful piece. This followed on in my sketchbook where I found more examples of political animations. I really enjoyed learning more about these and would love to make an animation of my own on a topic surrounding socio-political themes. The sketchbook was a laborious effort and there were definite ebbs and flows in the enjoyment of filling the seventy pages. It was interesting to see the visuals laid out in relation to the subject matter of my essay but I did not find it very productive in regards to the module. Although, it was a very fulfilling feeling when I’d got it all done. Saying this, I am quite pleased with the outcome of my storyboard, which is the topic of my final essay. I think it ties in with all the themes that I had previously discussed in essays and it is a direct product of my sketchbook. It is also not a style that I usually lean to so it was nice to get out of my comfort zone from the other modules.