Transcript The Contextual Essay A guide

The Contextual Essay
A guide
Where to begin…
• Title Page: Make it Creative and visually interesting
• Contents page (to do last but leave a space for it)
• Title: E.g. ‘Documenting culture through Photography’
Martin Parr: From ‘Think of England, 2000’
A NOTE BEFORE YOU START
The overall final presentation of your
contextual study must be considered. It
will need to be visually stimulating and
interesting with strong visual links to the
written content. Think as your essay
develops how you could present your
work to catch the eye of the reader. Try
and make it as memorable, engaging and
imaginative as you can, however this
does not necessarily mean making it as
big as possible!
Introduction:
150-200 words
Introduce your study and the
photographers you have chosen
to look at. It is good to start
with a statement of thought or a
quote from one of the
photographers that you are
studying. This will entice the
reader and lead them into your
essay…
For example;
“There is one thing the photograph must contain, the humanity of the moment.
This kind of photography is realism. But realism is not enough - there has to be
vision, and the two together can make a good photograph” Robert Frank.
Photographs are used to tell visual stories, to give insight into the lives of others and
influence our understanding of the World around us.
In this essay I have chosen to investigate the area of social documentary within different
cultures. I believe a photograph can say a thousand words and I hope to gain inspiration for
my own practice through exploring the work of Documentary photographers relevant to my
practical theme. I have chosen to study Robert Frank, Martin Parr and Raghubir Singh, all of
whom come from differing backgrounds and concentrate on different people groups……
Robert Frank
Raghubir Singh
Martin Parr
Make sure you…
•State what you intend to investigate or
look at and why.
•What has interested you about this
genre of photography or the particular
Photographers/Artists?
•Are there any links to your own work or
style?
•Any other relevant information.
Biographical information and relevant
influences 150-200 words
Include biographical information but do not copy and
paste from Wikipedia.
Use your own words to include relevant and interesting
background information about the photographer and
significant facts.
Who are they? Where are they from? What era did they
work etc?
Who has influenced them?
Include images to illustrate.
IMPORTANT: Do not waffle!
Analysis section
Aim to look at between 2-3 images from each photographer in depth and write
approx 300-350 words for each. Use the Advanced Image analysis hand-out to help
you.
It is also expected that you include more images as examples of the
photographers’/artists’ work you have been studying even if you do not analyse
them. You must however note the relevant title information and annotate why you
have chosen to include them as examples.
e..g: "Indianapolis" from The Americans by photographer Robert Frank, 1953.’
This image is another Example of Frank’s exploration of American culture relevant to his
portrayal of the nation during the 1950s..
Compare and contrast: 300 words
• Compare and contrast the similarities and
differences between examples of work by the
photographers you have chosen to study.
• Highlight any interesting revelations.
• Chose 1-2 images from each depending on the
number of photographers you have chosen to
study.
• Look not only at the formal elements but the
atmosphere, character and feeling of the work.
• How have the photographers been successful or
not?
• Link back to your essay theme and intentions.
Remember to…
• Include good quality copies of the images you are looking at.
• Note: Photographer, title and the date it was taken or made.
• Use Last names of photographers when referencing them
e.g.: Singh had worked in Rajasthan for ten years before he started to work with
Bresson.
• Include any other information about the context of the image relevant to
the study;
e.g.: ‘The image appeared on the front cover of Time magazine in 1956, exposing
the façade of peaceful relations in Vietnam’
• Link it back to your introduction and what you have set out to
investigate.
e.g.: Singh photographed through Indian eyes. I think he intended to show his
culture and country in colour because of the significance colour has to Indian life. To
photograph in black and white would be absurd…
• Relate any noteworthy technique, processes, concept, theory or
atmosphere etc back into your own practical intentions for unit 3
coursework.
•
E.g.: Singh and Frank both worked in the field of social documentary photography,
however there are some very strong differences in there approaches…
•
…In my opinion Frank shows a very dark portrayal of America, revealing the underground
of poverty lurking behind the façade of the American dream. The black and white
photographs have a colder atmosphere and I feel a sadness and loneliness when I look at
them. In contrast Singh’s images are very vibrant and the mood is very uplifting. I feel he
paints with light to show through his camera, ‘optimism and life.’ I think the significant
celebration of colour gives insight into Indian culture and the important role it plays in
everyday life…
•
"Unlike people in the West, Indians have always intuitively seen and controlled colour... My
artistic sense was shaped early by the culture of the Rajputs of Rajasthan.” Singh
Robert Frank,"Parade - Hoboken, New Jersey", 1955
Raghubir Singh,Trichur,Kerala,1985
Conclusion 200–300 words
•What have you learned? Noticed? Discovered
•Summarise your findings, linking back to your intentions stated
in the introduction.
•Evaluate successful discoveries and any disappointments but do
not say things like “I ran out of time”
• State how you would like to explore the subject further or
anything you would do differently in future.
•Conclude investigation with your own response and thoughts.
•How have the photographers inspired you?
•What would you like to do in your own practical unit 3
coursework in relation to the photographers you have studied?
E.g. I have really enjoyed investigating the subject of social documentary and the impact
photographs have on our visual understanding of life and different cultures….
…In my own work I hope to explore using colour in a similar way to Singh because I too would
like to show an atmosphere of merriment and warmth that I do not feel is possible in black and
white…
Bibliography
Use the Harvard system and always reference
quotes, images, books, websites, journals and
magazines used.
Copyright laws are very strict and plagiarism is a
criminal offence.
Search ‘Harvard system’ in the college intranet
search box for a full guide of how to implement it
into your essay.
IMPORTANT
The contextual study is a significant part of your unit 3
assessment.
It requires hard work, dedication and self motivation to do
well and time management is a key ingredient you cannot
afford to miss.
Hopefully the essay will be an enjoyable task and you will
choose a topic you are interested in.
The research should also help you gain more insight and
knowledge of the area of photography you have chosen to
look at and help to draw strong links between your work
and the work of other practitioners.
•Consider how you write: Do not write how you talk, use sentences,
paragraphs and italics where appropriate.
•Use photographic terminology, do not waffle, be clear and concise
•Seek help with grammar, use the thesaurus/spell check when
needed and word process.
•Try not to repeat yourself, use a variety of adjectives to avoid
repetition, indicating a limited vocabulary.
•Use phrases such as I think, I feel, I believe or ‘In my opinion’ to
communicate your own thoughts and ideas.
•Use quotes if relevant and appropriate to intentions.
•Do not go off on tangents or you will lose structure.
KEEP YOUR INITIAL INVESTIGATION TITLE IN MIND AS YOU WRITE
AND KEEP COMING BACK TO IT.
SEEK HELP IF STUCK!!!
Final note
It is vital you meet the target deadlines set by
your teacher in order to get maximum feedback
before the final submission date.
Now… Go and write a superb
essay, you can do it.