Summary of one book and one article

The fabric of culture



Eugenia, P and Hazel（2009）USA, Routledge.



This book describes the interaction and relations between culture and the colth. Culture is a groups (can be a State, or national, corporate, family) over a given period of formation of thoughts, ideas, practices, customs and traditions, personalities, and representatives from the groups overall awareness of the radiation from all activities. Because of Geographical differences, it will bring up a different culture. Different culture will influences of the cloth deeply. It can affect many aspects, such as color, pattern, material and so on.

The main purpose of this book is analyzing the fabric of culture through Fashion, Identity, and Globalization. Fashion is both public and private, material and symbolic, always caught within the lived experience and providing an incredible tool to study culture and history.

The fabric of Cultures examines the impact of fashion as a manufacturing industry and as a culture industry that shapes the identities of nation and cities in a cross-cultural perspective, within a global framework. It investigate local and global economies, cultures and identities and the book offers, for the first time, a wide spectrum of case studies which focus on a diversity of geographical spaces and places, from global capitals of fashion such as New York, to countries less known or identifiable for fashion such as contemporary Greece and Soviet Russia.

The most important information in this book is dressing through nation. For example, it told us the Indian cinema costume and the making of national fashion. After Indian independence, cinema played an integral role in public life not only as a source of entertainment. Cinema had a particularly influential impact in metropolitan areas, where increasingly women were entering the public sector. Looking to film characters as models of the new order, urban woman will try this dress. Beyond the screen, film advertisements and magazines infiltrated the urban landscape, further integrating the cinematic image into daily life. Most critics have agreed that Antonioni’s films create a new cinematic language and visual poetry in which his characters, their identities, and their narratives dissolve. Clothing plays an integral part in this project. At first sight, this might seem an insurmountable contradiction since it is impossible not to acknowledge intimate links between dress and the formation of identity. It is , however, only an apparent paradox because what clothing does in Antonioni’s films is, on the one hand , to articulate the relationship between clothing and identity, and, on the other, to reveal, through fashion and cinema, how clothing becomes an integral part of cultural mediation. So clothes never simply an obvious and unambiguous representation of characters in film. Clothing participates in aesthetic process and journey with its texture, design, fabric, and cut.

The author also looking at fabric and fashion design in global. Goods are linked to material culture changing over time and space. Goods are traded in a globalized economy, both as commodities and as brands. Jeans are truly the palimpsest of cultural and technical capital formation. In fashion terms, jeans have been transformed from a classic item with archetypical features to a bearer of a wide range of style elements, entailing a complex grammar in which features can be endlessly recombined. The innovation pattern for postmodern jeans is truly global in its adoption by consumers, albeit with regional difference.












Chinese Textile Design


Gao Hanyu,(1992) Endland, Penguin group



The main purpose of this article is through Chinese cultural characteristics of different times to show the various textile design like patterns, materials, applications, skills, and so on. The author provides a detailed history of technological developments associated with the production of cloth and clothing. The author also makes full use of ancient Chinese texts in his discussion of the social and political significance of coloured and decorated fabrics throughout Chinese history. Some of the most important of these designs are illustrated in this beautiful volume in which the author , Gao Hanyu, an eminent Chinese scholar in the field of fabric technology, discusses all the significant archaeological material and uses it to explain the development of spinning, weaving, printing, dyeing and embroidery in China.

The most important information in this article is Cheongsam. It has gained associations with Chinese women during the twentieth century. Its history is bound up with social, economic, and political change, and with patterns of migration. As fashion today becomes increasingly international and multi-cultural, many designers are inspired by Chinese clothing and decorative motifs. Yet few people——western or Chinese——understand the historic significance of Chinese clothing. The author explore the evolution of Chinese dress, from the dragon robes and lotus shoes of the imperial era to the creation of new fashion like the cheongsam that symbolized modern Chinese identity. Cultures tend to have deep-seated preferences for particular kinds of colth, embracing both types of fiber and techniques of weaving-for examples, the preference of the Egyptians for linen, and of the Celts for woolen plaid twill. Such preferences reflect, in part, local differences in plant and animal fiber resources, but over time they become embedded in the notion of cultural identity itself. In China this phenomenon expressed itself very strongly as a preference for silk over all other kinds of cloth, and a general dislike of woolen cloth.

The author is also looking at how Chinese fashion influenced Western fashion. During the past decade alone, a host of designers from around the world have been inspired by visions of China. John Galliano did an entire collection for Christian Dior based on the ideas of Shang hai in the 1930s. indeed, ever since about 1993, the cheongsam has appeared regularly on French fashion runways. At that time as the cheongsam was becoming more universalized as a fashion statement, it was also being reclaimed as a signifier of cultural identity in China. At the same time, international travel became much easier, which the result that both fashion designers and consumers became more familiar with foreign dress. Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s western fashion designers occasionally utilized Chinese dress styles and design motifs. The cheongsam, in particular, achieved a certain popularity in the wake of the movie The world of Suzy Wrong.

Dissertation proposal

DHTP Dissertation Proposal Part 1



We have produced a template for your dissertation proposal, a copy of which is reproduced below. The sections relate closely to the work you did in Level 2 where you investigated a topic by doing a literature search, and using primary research methods such as observations and experiments.


Submission deadline for the final proposal: 5 pm Wed 1 December 2010 - submit via email to your supervisor and to Safe Assignment on the VLE


Please download this form from the VLE.


Please save as a word.doc and change the title to your full name, e.g.: John Smith.doc - do not email the proposal without changing the file name.


Sample template


Student Name Sun yi nan


Course Textile design


Supervisor name Andrew Milligan


Email address Y.W.Sun@dundee.ac.uk


Date 26/11/2010


Using the template


Enter your personal details in the box above. The email address will be used by your tutor and others to contact you. You must check this regularly for news on tutorial dates.


Read each heading carefully and type into the text box below.


Email your proposal to your supervisor and load it up on Safe Assignment of the VLE


Total word count: between 250-500 words (excluding bibliography).


Working title (max 25 words)


This should give an outline of your research topic. If appropriate use a title and a subtitle. You don’t have to be too specific at first and you don’t have to word it like a question - but you can if you want.


An exploration of Chinese traditional clothes like Cheongsam and their impact on modern fashion


Summary (max 250 words)


Here you should indicate what you already know about the topic. You should already have done some reading around it. Summarise this reading with regards to the research topic and describe the research area.


Through investigating literature sources intent to exam fabric, culture and Chinese textile design and Its impact on modern fashion. This will include Chinese traditional cultural crafts such as Paper-cutting, painting, calligraphy, music, dance, drama, arts and crafts, cloth and fashion. I will also investigate the characteristics of eastern and western textile design, and globalization to explore their affect on each other and how Chinese traditional dress affect modern fashion. I understand that Culture is broad and complex area can be defined as groups (can be a State, or national, corporate, family), formation of thoughts, ideas, practices, customs and traditions, personalities, and representatives behaviours. And I know fashion is both public and private, material and symbolic, always caught within the lived experience and providing an incredible tool to study culture and history. The most important information in these book is dressing to express national and cultural identity. Different factors can affect the culture of different countries. This is also reflected in the textile design. Such as Indian Antonioni’s films. China has long history and traditional arts heritage. Each age has its own different cultural identities. Local people have a different geographical, ethnic and religious culture that accumulate over thousands. Cheongsam is the representative costume applied in the textile design. Cheongsam also has a great inspiration on Western fashion design. Many Western fashion designer's works have joined the Cheongsam elements. Like Dior.


(Continued over)


Aims: Why are you doing this? (max 100 words)


These are a general statement on the intent or direction for the research – why are you doing this? Refer to theoretical aims and practical ones where relevant. For example: How might this improve your design practice? How does it contribute to the discourses within your discipline? Who else might benefit from your research? Is it aimed at an academic or a wider audience? What do you hope your research will achieve? State your aims concisely.


I want to research this topic because I am very interested in colth and fashion. I am also like Cultural practices in various countries . And it also closely linked with my course. I feel if I can understand it deeply it will improve later design work. When in practice I can learn more about different material and cultural influences through fashion. I think that studying interior design students, product design students and graphic design students can benefit from its colour, pattern, material, skill and so on. My research will target an academic or public audience.


Objectives: What will you produce? (max 100 words)


Objectives are the things you will produce in doing the dissertation, e.g. a review of the relevant literature, a collection and discussion of people’s experiences/opinions, an assessment of a debate or collection of work etc.


Like your aims, these will help your tutor (and you) assess your success. They may change over time but aims and objectives are useful to keep you focussed. Again be concise here – you may want to use bullet points.


I want to let everyone know about a comprehensive review of Chinese traditional costumes . and focusing in a particular type Cheongsam. I will examine the features of Chinese traditional costume and see how it inherits and develops over time and how it affects contemporary fashion. I think that traditional things and modern things have important comparative qualities that will allow me to understand how these interact. I find this research area very interesting.






Keywords (min 5 and max 10)


This should be a list of key terms that help us see if you are aware of where your research ‘sits’. For example, if you are writing on depictions of women in advertising your list might include ‘gender, feminism, representation, advertising, semiotics’. Keywords will help you when doing electronic searched for research materials.


Chinese traditional dress, Culture, fabric,western fashion, Globalization, textile design,






Annotated Bibliography (min of 12 books, articles, websites)


Place here alphabetically a list of materials which you intent to use for you dissertation. Format these according to the Harvard Method!


Please make sure you have critically assessed these as being appropriate for your topic and write a short paragraph for each one summarising the content and its relevance to your research area.


Agins, T(1999) The end of fashion. New York. HarperCollins. It told us how marketing changed the clothing business forever.






Clark, H (1999) The Cheongsam. England. Penguin Group. This book talk about Chinese Cheongsam during Qing dynasty.






Clark, J (1994) The face of Fashion. England. Milton Park. It is mentioned something about modern fashion.






Craik,J(1994) The face of fashion. London and New York. Routledge. It is talk about Cultural studies in fashion.






Clark,H(2000) Modernisy at large. London. University of Minnesota Press. Cultural demensions of globalization.






Eugenia,P(2009) and Hazel C(2009) The Fabric of Cultures. USA. Routledge. This book in 11 chapter talk about the fashioning China style in the 21s century. It is really helpful for my research.






Gao, H (1992) Chinese textile design. London. Penguin group. It is talk about history of Chinese textile design, like skills.






Goodrum, A (2005) The national fabric. Oxford. Berg. This book talk about fashion and globalization.






In the mood for love, 2000,[Film] Directed by Kar Wai Wong， China. The film shows different beauty about women when they wearing Cheongsam.






Scheffer,Y.M.(1994) The changing map of European textile. It is talk about production and sourcing of textile and clothing.






Shanghai website, 2002,New York’s shanghai Tang will do for all things Chinese What Ralph Lauren’s clothing and accessories did for Americans. http://www.goodnewsbroadcast.com/shanghaiTang.html ( accessed November 22, 2002)






Steele,V, and Haas,K(1995) China Chic. London. Yale University Press. This book talk about East meets West.

Assignment 3

we have a group meeting  in production design studio yesterday to take a talk about each person's dissertation. Everyone try to think about how to start this hard work. we all choose some topics and find some interesting things that we want to explore.  It was pretty uesful when after listen to other people's thinking. Cause we can get some good ideas that we never think about it.

Then i still want try to do culcure and design. It will have links with my major textile design. It will be interesting related with my project. i can make fabric samples and compare them see what happening. It will be fun. Then i did this mind map. I hope it will help me on my dissertation.

  

Wiki

Culture and design



Sun yi nan
Textile design 3 rd year




My topic is culture and design. I am a Chinese student. My specialty is textile design. I understand the State of culture . I also learned in the UK for a year's time. So I want to explore the textile, clothing cultural design between China and UK. I want to think about Chinese culture design and British cultural differences and common points of the design. Even the East and West culture design.
So I refer to a lot of books, the Internet looking for information. Hope I can get more information and inspiration and help me get better overview.
Culture is the survival by people, each kind of cultural elements are produced to meet the needs of humanity. So that the culture is the life, its centre is the man. Design and culture have inextricably linked. Eugenia(2009) and Hazel(2009) have both shown that “Design by thinking to create and embody the requirements of the human spirit, its purpose is to improve people's material life style, creating a new culture.” Since our creation in real life is a continuation of the cultural activities, and then create should need to look for from a traditional culture. National culture is influenced by the national natural conditions and social conditions. it has own unique language, ways of thinking, values and aesthetics.


Culture is manifested through a specific form , but this time the cultural forms, on the one hand is based on the cultural significance of nationality, on the other hand, is the embodiment of the modern features.
China is a ancient country with a lot of civilization. China's long history of costume design from the primitive society, Shang, autumn, Northern and Southern dynasties, Tang, Xia, Jin and Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, to modern all have distinctive features.
Chinese and Western fashion culture connotation has a big difference. Chinese fashion design is a single-source of culture, in its formation process, has closely linked with China’s rites. It has strong social and political ethics tendencies. In their development process, they have conservative thinking. Chinese clothing culture is stress on the line and pattern meaning. It gives a implicit feeling
Such as, Autumn clothing (221 BC ～770 ) clothes very long to knee, there are several-meter-long sleeves, waist have sash and people dress boots. Both women and men all wearing the jade in waist.
Dress of the Tang dynasty (581-907) because of economic and cultural prosperity . so clothing develop fast, are unfolded unprecedented splendid spectacle. The silk with various colors . And have Special patterns like the pheasant, bucket sheep, squamous . There are five colours of embroidery. Tang dynasties, the most fashionable woman is dressed ru skirt . It is blouse with long skirts, dress waist high in the sash .
Modern costume (1912) women's favorite is qipao. Robes of high neck, the elegant and dignified feeling, slightly tight waist and hip loins reflects the curve; in particular, open on both sides of the gap, when woman walking the skirt horn will flying, has a lighter feeling .
Daily wear can be selected to spend in cotton fine cloth made, both simple and generous. Selection of flowers, pigment cell, strips made , can demonstrate the gentle, steady style. Selection of woven cotton satin, velvet, is use for greeting. It is the most luxurious costumes in party. In recent years, batik, Freehand, and other process used to make the cheongsam gown " joined the ranks of the upscale fashion. Cheongsam in sleeve type has a sleeveless, short sleeve, mid sleeve and long sleeve; there are traditional collar and changes without collar; improved traditional dress is also favored by the ladies.


Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyaka is the earliest Asian designer that introduce Oriental color design concepts into Western. He created the "wrinkle series" became the flag of the Oriental culture. Issey Miyake works, not directly to placed East of the element symbol in the fashion, but rather deep understanding of the Oriental culture, humble, natural heritage, and place it into the garment. All of these, from his own traditional cultural connotation understanding, that is what he said, wanted to "discover the spirit of the potential behind the kimono."


However, Western fashion design focusing on the form, that form is content. The clothing is a special body art. In their development process, style changes but obvious. Variation and innovative more than inheritance and continuity.


Western fashion culture have so many derived. It originated in ancient Greek culture, Roman culture, influenced by that painting, sculpture and other artistic. In the history of Western clothing, early 13th century, has established the stereoscopic 3-d cutting method. And the invention of the three-dimensional cutting and the use of a watershed between Eastern and Western clothing, from this, Western clothing become stereoscopic, contour becomes flexible.
Western apparel design uses three-dimensional cutting methods-draping method depending on the human body for at least a tetrahedron polyhedron. attentive towards the human body from top to bottom and front to rear of various aspects of the relationship, use undulating Plait, get clothing that culminated with a three-dimensional body with a three-dimensional effect.
Western apparel design of transliteration collar and pleats collar rotavirus (like a fan-like around the neck) applying so wider.
Western fashion design decoration is a three-dimensional form .its wonderful place: the first is the three-dimensional structure , natural balanced; the second is a decorative effect with the aesthetic mentality, because rich layers, collocation, overlapping surface space are interspersed with interesting effects, easy to stir the ornamental beauty.


And China as the representatives of the Oriental culture have the beauty of vaguely. They through the design, layout, colors, lines give the overall harmony and beauty, a great deal with embroidery, Ribbon, patterns and other decorations. Express their rich meaning and imagination.


Eastern and Western dress design completely are two different cultures to reflect and, therefore, the style of costume culture formation and national customs, history and culture of origin are closely linked. Visible clothing is a kind of culture.

                       
You may know, the Chinese hostess costumes are very traditional. Some are using China Red elements. Some are using buckles. Some use Chinese traditional pattern. However British hostess costume stereoscopic effect is very strong. This is a very typical due to the differences between Eastern and Western cultural history led to the design.




Another example, I buy clothes in the UK, the same model， in the United Kingdom is feel more large, I wear ill-fitting. Because of the geographical differences, East and West is different. Westerners are tall. So clothing model design is relatively large. It is so interesting.




Western culture and Eastern culture have the big difference .It mainly manifested in its space awareness. Western space on behalf of the entity, the East is an artistic space. look at the left side, this is an ancient Chinese form of terra cotta pots, it does not fit in the crop, just imagine when it walking, clothes and clothes inside the space, it is flowing out of that big wide robe sleeves, free.

The right side of this picture is the French designer Dior in 1947, he released a new style, has been around and leads the fashion of Paris, this characteristic is the West's narrow clothing system. Clothing with the perfect combination of the human body, there is no space. It does not have a free charm. The West must focus on the entities, and Oriental emphasis on non-void. Now take a look at the exact and fuzzy.

This dress is attached, no sleeve of the crop. When person who wears it, There has many folds at the axillas. Only emphasizes the space between clothes and the body. this is also a unique Oriental crop out of a phenomenon. Left this one is a designer called Armani. Such a power has done to the extreme. Clothes after the person with the human body is exactly, and harmony, but these clothes can only be hang to there, it should not be folded, if you put in the trunk, then when you get out to wear , there are a lot of wrinkles, it will not be able to wear very spiritual, very nice.

Today more Westerners are astonished at the magnificent ancient Oriental culture, loving those exudes a unique charm of Chinese traditional arts (calligraphy, painting, theatre, paper, embroidery, etc.). In these arts, with completely different from the Western Oriental life philosophy and aesthetics, reflected in fashion, art, clothing, particularly focusing on the spirit and temperament. For example, solemn, generous, implied a clothing style that reflects the golden mean of Confucianism; nature, comfortable, confident to reflect seeks Taoist philosophy, etc.


　There are a lot of Chinese elements. For example, the thought of Chinese elements is the Red Lantern, the Opera, Dragon, qipao, Chinese Kung Fu, Chinese Red. The style is usually, big with flaps, buckles and collar. Patterns are mostly traditional disk flowers. Colors are red and yellow. The overall performance is indirectness, clean and elegant style.


In the long history of clothing throughout, we occasionally see the fusion of Eastern and Western fashion style, and this integration will often gave a dazzling light, and even affects society . Opening of the "Silk Road" from the distant Oriental China's exquisite silk appeared in ancient Rome, it was so fascinated by ancient Roman nobility, the ladies who are willing to spend on expensive price to achieve their aim of fashion.
But just last year, in 2004/2005 winter Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche advanced clothing models along with the Chinese movie music coming. They wear Assorted bright imitated traditional-style like Qipao ,wearing plate with butterfly buttons trousers. Dragon Totem, China flowers, Brocade, embroidery, fabrics and weaving techniques, show extreme luxury, brilliant and beautiful Chinese style. Today is world renowned American designer Tom Ford use luxury China wind to give YSL drew a heavyweight period.


With the acceleration of the process of globalization, fashion trends without borders are obvious. Guy(2000) states that “Design has become a global phenomenon.” China fashion designers use Western designers design practices. Italian fashion guru George Armani has always had a passion for Asia. 2005 spring/summer fashion series use of Chinese calligraphy, cloaks, straw and other elements. Last summer, he designed costumes used Chinese elements with popular elements of the last century in France, plate buckle, Chinese knot, tassels and other details on the right.
Culture and design are inseparable. We want to make more use of elements to create more design work.


Bibliography:


Eugenia, P(2009) and Hazel ,C(2009) the fabric of culture


Winter, A(2008) the fabric of culture


Breward, C and Evans,C(2005) fashion and modernity


Agins, Teri(1999) the end of fashion


Guy, J((2000) the culture of design


Gao, Hanyu(1992) Chinese textile design


Armani’s cloth pictures at: http://www.giorgioarmani.com/index.html


terra cotta pots pictures at :


http://www.zh5000.com/js/daqi/dayong/dy-online-0003.htm

mind map

I did the mind map about Wiki. I just hope it can help me to write the Wiki.
My topic is culture and design. 
 I want to explore the textile, clothing cultural design between China and UK. I want to think about Chinese culture design and British cultural differences and common points of the design.

wiki meeting

Last week we have a new project called Wiki. My eight members and me in a small bar to talk each task together. We discussed a lot, give each student different recommendations. Finally we establish everyone’s subject. Next step we need to do a lot of things, like view the books, gather information, to expand our knowledge, and then to write a thesis. It is not a hard task. Hope everyone enjoy it.

                           

my textile design works

Innovators , Strivers

I Choose a design project from this year is Called culture project. And i Choose two “types” from the table are Innovators and Strivers. Innovator is self-confident risk-takers, seeking new and different things,setting their own targets to achieve. When I started the culture project , I took a search of information, interviews then got some conclusions. Such as Some typical example of cultural art forms, opera, church and so on. First, from among them we should find interesting things, such as patterns, pattern, color, etc., and then through our own innovative, bold reform, to design our own things. Everyone will have their own different perspective. We can see things that are not the same, so get something it is not the same. This is a process of exploring.

Striver is sattaching importance to image and status, as a means of enabling acceptance by their peer group, at the same time holding onto traditional values. For example in this culture work, striver will be analysis of culture very deeply. Or traditional values based on historical data to analyze. Then divided into many types of culture. Culture is a group (which may be national, it can be people, businesses, households) in the period of time to form thoughts, ideas, behavior, customs, habits, representatives, and from this group as a whole consciousness of radiation out of all activities. Then they may discuss the importance of culture, and then see where is the key points and learn from. Where is the value. And with peer or different people discuss.When they get a clear answer then undertake to do the project.

Writing up 2

　　　　　　　　　　

This year we have a design work called culture project. For this project we are asked that we should explore the word “culture” as a starting point, to explore its meaning and then embark on a visual, exploratory and explanatory journey. Culture generally refers to patterns of human activity and symbolic structure that give such activities significance and importance. Culture can be understood as systems of symbols and meanings. Culture can be defined as all the ways of life including arts, beliefs and institutions of a population that are passed down from generation to generation. Culture has been called the way of life for an entire society. As such, it includes codes of manners, dress, language, religion, rituals, norms of behavior such as law and morality, and systems of belief as well as the art. For this project, we asked choose one of 3 themes centred around the word culture. Symbolic Hybrids, Architecture and the urban landscape and Beneath the surface.

I really interested in Symbolic Hybrids. I am a Chinese student. I naturally thought of the typical Chinese culture. China has a long history. So, the representative of the culture is so many. So I learned to use our approach, the mind map from semester 1, go to my ideas and inspiration drawn bit by bit, write it down. First of all, I think a lot of things. For example, Beijing opera, calligraphy, poetry, Wu Shu, paper cutting, ceramics, couplets, paintings, courtyard and so on. I think these can reflect China's unique cultural characteristics. Then I put them on paper, respectively. And then from these few point of view, divergent my thinking. For example, from calligraphy that I thought its color, is black. Material is ink. There are many calligraphic fonts. Each form is very different, there are coarse or refined. Generally written in calligraphy is on Xuan paper. The Four Treasures of China is famous for, namely, brush, ink, paper and inkslab. So I think if my design work can take advantage of Xuan paper and ink, plus a variety of fonts to paint the shape, but also a good idea. From the calligraphy I also thought of the Chinese tradition of ink painting. like this method, I just write my own thoughts and feelings on the paper. Finally I am more interested in Beijing opera facial masks. Because it is a very special art. The performers through their face make up to represent the different roles and personalities. Each one has its own meaning of facial masks. Different colors and patterns represent different character traits. So I want to learn this pattern, pattern, color. Applied them in my textile design. These are just the Chinese culture and art form. I think it could also learn from other countries, some of the cultural forms. They can compared. So I see a number of books information, looking for pictures on the internet, look at other countries art if they have some face mask art like China have. Then I get the color painting in Africa, The traditional Japanese woman’s face make up and so on. Then I have my project topic face visual feast. And then write their different characteristics, and then summed up the application in my works. Last semester I use this method mind map to develop my ideas. I also ues the method called brain storm. I bought a lot of notes of paper, and with team to discuss. When we have something in mind , we write in the notes on paper, and pasted to the wall. It is very clearly to help us to sort out ideas. In this way, thoughts can open, and we got a lot of thing. I also read lots of books and magazines.

If this time I can do it again, I want to choose the interview. In fact, my own knowledge is not so extensive. A lot of knowledge I do not know. This esoteric things like the culture, it is too difficult for me to understand. Perhaps I only know that on the one hand, a little bit. So I think we should be able to interview some teachers and researchers like this staff, because they are knowledgeable. They can be very clearly told me that I want to answer. The last time we did the interview, I have asked a teacher, he gave me the answer is very professional. He has his own unique insight. Unlike most of the respondents answers are very casual, very superficial. So I think I can based on their professional answers then analysis, sorting, integrated. And then select the one most interested in my own research. Of course, I also thought about using observation methods. But it looks a not very realistic way. Because I do not know what is cultural art form. So, I don not know where to begin. I do not know what should be observed. But I can first interview. I got some of what they call the representation of culture and arts. Then I can have the purpose to observe. I can observe the characteristics of each kind of art, and all of their similarities and differences. So I think interview is pretty useful.

Actually, my design study is talk about the mask. Mask has its own meanings and spirits. My studio brief is face art. They have close link. I think it is quite interesting. For the future, in my design project and design study, I'll try to use interviews, observation, mind map these methods. Select the appropriate method. Because they are really useful. They can help me analyze the ideas and inspiration. They can afford me a lot of information.

Now I feel that I was just a design student. Most time is to learn the works of masters. Then make some satisfied things that I think. Now I do not feel that I am a designer. Because many of my ideas is still very childish, very immature. When I consider something is still relatively simple. So, I still have to work harder.

Bibliography:

The Culture of Traditional China , Xi An

The Peking Opera, wang yin

The Art of the Cameroon, Washington,Haddom

Act of the upper, Meudon

The way of the masks, London, Lewis

Laga Culture, Bleakley

Life and art, Kilenge

Spirits and kings, Meudon

Different Culture, Kassel

The power of art, Barbier

Mask system, Guiart

Sculpture, Heurley

Writing up 1

Last semester my essay is talk about the mask. Mask is a symbol of people's inner world. It is cross all over the world, and it is a past and present an important cultural phenomenon. It has a rich cultural connotation and unique external form. It is valued by the academic community. Mask is a special area of the arts. It first appeared in a very remote past. Many tribes and tribal masks are often combined to sculpture and painting to create works quite exciting. Human wearing a mask for several thousand years of history. The first mask may result from hunting activities. In order to facilitate closer to their prey, hunters disguised themselves with masks of various animals. Folk activities around the world, people tend to use the mask to appear as a ghost and all kinds of strange birds and monsters, in order to express the forces of nature worship or in the imagination to conquer the forces of nature. Some of the folk opera performances, the mask is still a major make-up tool. Such as in China，Guizhou, in opera, and so on. Mask has its meaning and spirit. The mask is not just mask on the face. It is a kind of art. It is man who is most fascinated by man. Since he is puzzled by his own being, he is most preoccupied with himself. His self-reflection, which he tries to penetrate, understand, and love, never quite leaves him. Mask has a long history and cultural values. I feel myself have a strong curiosity for the different masks. I like their different shape, pattern, color. So I would like to in-depth understanding its heart, to learn more wider implication.

Lord Byron once said: can not forget the elegance of Venice had: the joy of paradise, people drink, the Italian Supreme's fancy dress party. Masks as a part in Venetian’ life. When People go out, both men and women, they must don the mask, put on cloak. Mask to cover up the true identity of everyone, so people can afford to thumb, wanton spree. Well-known Chinese writer Lu Xun in his book says, "they maintain their 'order' of the prison, they tear up their 'civilized' mask." This mask is means camouflage. Victor Hugo once said, Only the human mind is real. Strictly speaking, as the appearance is merely a mask, the real person inside the person. Walter Sorell in his book The mask in the arts told us, It is a perceptive and wide ranging investigation of the magic and mystery of the mask and in particular of the universal significance of the concept of the mask as it is and has been expressed in the arts. Masks play a vital part in the religious and social activities of many primitive societies throughout the world. It also sometimes is the role of camouflage.

This semester we have learned many ways to further our own research. For example, experiments, observations, interviews and so on. This time, I have studied is the mask behind the story and it has a different meaning and artistic value. My approach is to use an interview. I think the interview is more suited to the theme of my research. Interview was a very common modern means of communication, through the interviews we can know a person's many stories and living environment and so on. Interview allows the interviewer and the interviewee a good communication between, you can also make more people understand the interviewer, you can also let others share the person being interviewed a lot of experience (such as entrepreneurial experience, work experience, life experience, etc. ), Today, an interview is an essential way. Use the interview method, I can go to the representation of different places such as Africa, Asia, Europe and other places to interview the original inhabitants of the local artists. And they share my ideas and put forward my question. Then they can according to their own knowledge and experience tells me that I want to know. Because the masks has a different meaning and story of this issue I have no way to do their own experiments or observation. Because I do not know what is meaning in it. I am not the person that nurtured by mask art. I do not have that experience. I can not imagined. So I have to learn from other people's ideas and stories. I need to listen to the experience of others and their lives. By understanding them, I can be classified as a conclusion. Observation is to recognize an important method of objective things. People's wealth of knowledge acquired through observation. With the general observation that the observer of the phenomena observed to go through summary, comparison, analysis, research, things can only have a relatively complete understanding of the profound and thus to retain its essence. But for my research questions, observation, if more difficult. Because i did not understand, ijust can get the most superficial observation of the phenomenon, such as masks look, shape, color, but I can not observe the inner meaning . Therefore, this method does not help me understand my research.

So I think these were the best way is to interview. But there are some minor problems in progress. Interviews will be subject to conditionality. The constraints of space and time. They also show a time-synchronization. Of course, may be Interviewee very shy and tension. So interviewee does not want communication. So, the interviewer needs to make every effort to create a comfortable environment, patient and talk to them. Do not create tense and serious atmosphere. The interviewer can create a number of jokes make they happy, let them relax.
To sum up, I discussed my research object, the meaning of the value of the mask. And I intend to use the method, and why I use this method, each method different, and other ways deficiencies. In short, the study process will take a careful and serious attitude. In order to obtain better conclusion.

assignment 4

This assignment our task is interview. This assignment asks us to interact directly with ordinary people in the form of interviews. We can take notes, sketchs, video and so on. We have a lot of topics that we can choose one of them. I choose the ' How do magazines influence people's ideas of design and taste?'

When i went to the coffee shop on weekend, i saw a man sit in there by himself,. So , i am very polite to asked him if i can take interview with him, and just some few simple questions. He was very nice and asked me sit down. Well, actually, it is a difflcult question. Because when i asked him are you usually read magazine ? he told me just sports. Then i asked him How do magazines influence your ideas of design or taste? He thought a long time, and told me. Wa~ it was a hard question to me. Because i am a business man. I don not know. Maybe, I just heard from other people and magzines said this product is good, then i will buy. I always follow mainstream. I believe them. So if it has the bad value or evaluation i will not buy it. So it is my taste. After his answer, I thought a lot of well-known brands, such as apples, Lv, Chanel and so on. Many of my friends and relatives will think it is well-known brands. Something good quality, high credit, it would be to buy those things. Then, i keep asking him, How magaznine influence your other aspects? Do you like read magzines or how often you buy it? And are you think you benefit from it? He was very patient with me, and answered me. Reading sprots magazine is his hobby. He can get some useful and funny imformations from it. It can waste his time and he can relax himself in it. He is not sure it can influence his life or something. He buy it just once a week. Then i thanks for him and went away.

Next people is a teacher that i meet her in the library. I asked her what difference between magazine and other things like newspaper. She told me the magazine's readers do not like the newspapers large, but smaller categories, professional and strong. Readership and target is so clear. Magazine's contents have a greater tendency, professional, different magazines, generally in the vast regions, with different and relatively stable level readers. For example photography magazine, readers to photography-based industry and amateur photographers, so the photographic equipment ads posted in photography magazines, advertising object with the magazine's readers closer to effectively fight these readers become the purchase with this product customers.Magazine is the publication on a regular basis, issuing a longer period, there are weekly, biweekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or even annual, thus affecting the advertising spread. Then i asked her How do magazines influence your ideas of design and taste? She told me she is a drawing teacher. When she read the Film magazine she always focus on Humanity and drama. The audience's entertainment-oriented design applied to her own works.She was very fond of film posters. Because it is a graphic design works of art. Areas with limited space and materials to express all the film is all about. She will pay attention to the film character's clothing, there are different scenes and props. These will have an impact on the design. She often read fashion magazines. She really like see the different pictures , key words, sectense in that magazine. It include colour, pattern, material and so on. It will tell you that fashion elements, trends, change. You will have selectively applied to your design. When she read a travel magazine, when she will pay attention to the new fashion item. Will also note that some natural beauty of the photos, flowers, trees, fish, coral, volcanoes and so on. The structure of these things, colors, are very beauty. She will also look at some well-known buildings. Because it is the old masters. From the texture, physical sense of observation of all aspects. This inspiration will come. She is really a good speaker.

So I felt that magazines, newspapers, television all the media. But their functions and features are different. 1.Watch TV on the eyes and has hurt the newspaper does not look 2.Newspapers recently reported that day are what happened and television reports are always happening around us 3.Some newspapers will make a number of false reports and television will not

Then i also meet a man in library. He really like cartoon magazines. Because he told me it is the Youth culture. Sometimes he will also look at some economy magazines. Purpose is simply to obtain information that will help finance and investment. See more of this magazine will help you observe, analyze and sum up things. Look at the problem from different angles. This can open up thinking, a better understanding of customers. Relatively strong commercial design. When he saw the photograph magazine, he will absorb the patterns, the static images made of dynamic animation.

Finally, I think the magazine to a group of people feel is the pastime. They just followed the trend of progress. Not have their own ideas. Reading magazines will not give them what grade on the increase. And those who think that reading magazines is a way to capture inspiration. At the same time will be according to their design to refine the design elements appropriate for their works.

assignment 3 observation

This seminar task is the observation. Actually, i really like this activity. When i feel bored or just sit in someplace, i always like to see different people. Maybe their colth, hair, behaviour and so on. This time the teacher told us we should focus on the behaviour, rule, service. We also have to think about their identity, body language, context and culture. It is a very interesting thing. So i with my friend went to a coffee shop to do these things.

First, i saw an old man and a young lady. The man wear business suit and glasses. The lady dressed a red sweater. They were so happy. They have chat with each other in loud voice. Their head were close to each other. This man always fingered by his hair and laught. I found his mouth move so fast and keep on moving. This lady also stared at him and smile. Their voice was growing so fast. They just drink some coffee . And they are reveling in their own world, not pay attention to look at other places. Though there was a little party near the coffee shop.
To see these, I think body language is really important. It can be said to express what we think of things. And the very vivid and lively. I think deaf-mutes, they use methods like this.

Next, near their table, there were two old ladies and very quiet. On the contrary, they don't talk to each other. One lady just read the newspaper, and another one just be in a daze. They wear a lot of clothing. When they leaving, i found the lady that be in a daze is a disabled people. She sat in the wheel chair. Another lady pushing the wheelchair went away slowly.
I found the afternoon of elderly people sitting here are generally not to speak. Just look at the newspaper, send a daze. They just enjoy the moment's peace. But at the same store they can feel the festive atmosphere. Most young people still spoke non-stop. Their loud laughter, loud talking. Fully relax.

When they leaving, a little boy come here with his mother. His mother buy drink for him. He just kneeling on a Chair and touch food menu on the table. He just play with it . Turn and go past. He also see it becareful. His eyes makes me feel so melancholy. I don't know why. Actually, he is a lively child. He have a bright blue coat. He was sitting for a while and standing for a while. Then waving to his mother and ran to his mum, then went back to the table continue to read the food menu. When he drank the coffee and ate the cake his eyes still saw the food menu and with his fingers to touch it.
Watch this little boy, I feel that childhood is really good. Carefree, innocent, and naive. Feel that they live in the same fairy-tale world. Whatever you think of what to do. No one bound you are. After not grow up there will be a lot of worries and stress. Thought was a child, also seems to take a glass looked, or filled with fireflies. Really want to remind ourselves of the good old days of childhood.

At the same time, i found a baby cry. Her mother sat in a corner with her. Her Mother feed her milk and help her replace diaper quickly. Then the woman sang the songs and rocked the toys to her daughter. Suddenly, the baby laught. Her mother feel happy and ate a large piece of cake. Then she Looking outsides see what's funny things happening.
To see these pictures, I thought of the world's great maternal love. Maternal love is great, selfless. Mom is always the most love their children. To protect them and care them. Foster their grown-up bit by bit. Mother's Day approaching, I wish all the world's mother, happy holiday season

When i also look outside of the window, i saw a old man sat near the window. He was sleeping. I found his head slowly forward lowlihead. After few minutes, it is surprised to me, He showed a lot of saliva. When we heard some music from the party . He wake up because of the loud sound. Then his eyes closed again. It was so funny.

It was a sunny day. It was also the weekend. Everyone seems very happy. They relax themselves in this place, and drink some coffee. No work, no pressure. The waiter was so busy but very friendly. I have chat with him. He told me the white flat is very popular in these few days. And this coffee chop if you sit in drink the coffee they will give you the cup not the one-off bottle . sometime we can see that some coffee shop will use the one-off bottle every time. It is really not good for environment. IF you see your one-off bottle carefully, you can see that the bottle surface will have some accidented line. Because it can protect your hands. The water is so hot. I really enjoy this time.

assignment 2

This is the fourth photo. After I gave these 3 photos to my friends. They gave me different stories. Then i gave them fourth photo. They also can guess what is that mean and gave me a another story. It is interesting and exciting.

I just choose these three photos. Then I send these photos to my friends. The first one is my little sister. She just 12 years old. She is a student. When she saw them, she told me a little story. In the night, the Scotland's night seems preety nice. It is a multicoloured world. A man drave his car to a club. He sang the song on the stage in his world. He is so sportful. At the same time , a lot of models wear the beautiful colth show the beauty of the design near that singer. All of audiences feel so amused. They gave these actors strong applause again and again.

The second people is my friend. He is a student in design university. He thinks a lot of people first went to a place to watch a fashon show. When they finish the fashion show, they went to a bar . They are so lucky, because a very famous band on the stage sang the songs. So they are so happy. They drank a lot. When they come from the bar, bacause they drunk, so they feel the world is very misty and the line of sight is also misty. Then they went to home.

Next people is my friend. He is 18 years old and study buniess. He thinks a man walked on the road. He just feeling the taste of this new city. Suddenly, he saw a bar, and heared a piece of graceful rhythm. He is so curious about it, so he went in and want to just look it . He saw a singer on the stage sang the songs, and some models show the new products. Because a company invent a serious of products. So they hold a party for propagandize the new things.

The last people is a guy worked in a company. He told me from these photos is a girl who is a model in this fashow show. And her boyfriend is a singer. Every day when this girl finish her work her boyfriend always pick her up to home. Sometimes they driving sometimes they walking. They are so crazy about each other. So after few years, they married. But this guy also every pick her wife to home.

Photo Task 2

These photos is my photos. I give them to my friend. When she see them, she told me her thoughts. Some is right, but some is wrong. She thinks i like colourful thing. in my opinion, sometimes i like colourful thing like little dolls or object but sometimes i like white and black thing. She thinks i like spring and shopping. I really like shopping but i don not like spring. I like autumn. She think i have good education. Because from photos my schools are so beautiful and looks good. Actually, it is true. And my family is in middle class.

From my friend's photos i think she is a bold girl . Because her room is always chaos and so many thing in a small place. But she think sometimes she is also very lovely. Such as she likes dolls and likes small lovely object. i think she likes colourful colour. She is argee with me. I think she is in a middle class family. Because she likes shopping. She often buy a lot of thing. And she often travelling like go to Italy. She can buy the hot chocolate even it cost 6 pounds. Her family is not bad, they can provide thing to her daughter. So i guess her mum and dad is all have high education and live in a high environment. So their daughter is also live in a good place, and have good treatment. Later, she told me she really has a nice mum and dad. She often buy the famous brand 's object. And i also think she likes the famous stars and the band like rock band. However, i am wrong. She just like idol stars. She don not like rock music. She like popular music and popular stars. When i ask her do you like cooking? She is not sure. She told me maybe she likes cooking or not. She is sometimes don not know herself. But she really like shopping.

Photo Task 1

What is this? i really don not know! Cake? Butter? Ice cream?I guess she cooks the cake in her home~ Maybe she will celebrate her birthday, so she wants make a cake for people.
Later, she told me she went to Italy. In her sister's room. Her sister is good at cooking. So her sister made a kind of special cake for her. It is looks interesting.


Is it coffee? I don not know. Maybe she like coffee? Or she like cooking?
Later, she told me it is hot chocolate. She went to Italy and in a store drink it. It is so delicious. And she don not like cooking.


This pohoto i just guess it is a Christmas tree! Pretty nice! So many dolls on the tree. I think it is near a shop. When she shopping she take this photo. So i guess this girl likes this doll and like shopping.
Later, she told me, it is in the Holland's airport. This doll is both in Holland. So it is so famous in there. And she really like this doll.




This is a another photo about her desk in the room. I think this is her room in China. On the desk , we can see the lovely doll, laptop, lamp, sketchbook, pen, and so many thing. I think she likes rabbit, because this doll is like rabbit. And she like drawing. Her family is the middle class. Because we can see this girl has a lot of thing.

Later, she told me it is a room in Dundee. She shared this flat with her friends. And she just like this doll call Mifei. Her mum and dad loves her so much. So give her money to buy the thing she likes.

It is a another chaos photo . hehe. I think it is my friend's dormitory. So many big luggages. The colour is colourful. Pink, orange, blue ,red. Maybe just move in this room. So she was tidy it at that time.
later, she told me i am right. haha, so happy.

Well, I just guess this photo is my friend's desk in her room. I am not sure where is this room . Maybe in her own room with her family or just dormitory. wa~~ computer, books, glasses, cups, papers, clock, and so on. It is so fun. A lot of thing on her desk and so chaos. I just guess maybe she is a bold girl. And she like shopping ,watching TV , chatting, and watching films.

Later, she told me this photo is in her dormitory in dundee university. In fact, she often watching films and chatting on the internet. She likes shopping and buying different thing.

Understanding Bourdieu

Recently, I read a book called Understanding Bourdieu. It is written by Jen Webb, Tony Schirato and Geoff Danaher. Jen Webb is a program director of writing in the university of culture study.
This book is talk about the culture study. Cultural studies is not a simple thing. It is a very complex phenomenon between history and discipline. Sometimes we just think culture study is about the different country’s history or custom. It is the traditional way to consider. However, we should from other aspects to free thought. We can develop this theme, and produce the new vocabularies and new modes of being professional within the field. Exploring the special and symbolic ways of the world and something is related to culture study. Then I think we can get another perfect result definitely.
The chapter 8 is called the field of cultural production. When we heard this we always will connect with art. However, author thinks it also can include government, economy, power and structure. One of the most interesting thing in it I think is author believe the culture is a game. It is unbelievable. I never have this opinion. But when I think carefully, it is the true. If we want win the game and get the high mark. We should know how to play it effectively. We should use different special thinking. So, culture is like a game. If we want to understand it thoroughly and all sided, we must to think twice.
The field of cultural production is showing us culture is a unifying thing, but it also a separate thing. Sometimes we talk about us, but us sometimes represent ourselves and others.