A Theoretical Understanding of ‘The Art

of Artistry’ Product - Documentary

A Post Modern assessment of Representation through

Documentary • Documentaries, like photography, must be considered a

representational medium. They signify the truth; yet the truth is not as innocent as it may seem.

• Documentaries portray a version of the truth, presented by the creator directly to the viewer. The viewer is drawn into a reality that seemingly does not need questioning, and the viewer experiences co presence in being in the now, looking at the image, yet also there, looking at what the image represents.

• The lens of the camera is in effect the eye of the viewer, and they are in effect there.

Applying this to The Art of Artistry

• We tried to allow our viewers to determine their own perception of creativity through ensuring that our viewers feel as though they are personally experiencing the events through the camera lens. The interviews give a very personal insight into the expert’s view points, and we achieved this with particular success as we kept the shots simple, and the surroundings objects plain. Therefore, we attempted to avoid channeling the audience to our own perception, and instead aided them to create their own.

• Despite this, it is an unavoidable fact that we presented our own version of the ‘truth’ and we hope that the audience can make the distinction between our perception of reality and reality. This will be explored further in question 3, determining audience feedback and reaction.

Theory cont.• Despite their presentation, documentaries

are not an objective but a subjective device, a medium that marshall[s] systems of representation to encourage a point of view abut something.

• Bauldrillard argues that a documentary is a representation of what reality once was, and not what it is. Furthermore it is made in the eyes of the creator.

Applying this• The subjectivity comes from who we chose to interview,

and therefore this represents our perceptions about what a creative job entails. However, we successfully interviewed a range of people who may not have a creative job, yet have an educated view about what creativity is. To contrast this, we also included two artists who do have a conventional creative involvement in their lifestyle. This is a success for us, however we could have made it clearer within the documentary that we wish to challenge audience perceptions of creative jobs.

Creativity Theory

• Everyone has a differing opinion on creativity, and has a different interpretation of what it means.

• David Gauntlett says ‘making is connecting’• Jones says ‘a process needed for problem

solving’• Abra interprets that creativity is ‘ the

achieving of tangible products such as works of art’

So… How did we do?• In making our production we have connected with people, the

viewers, and also we have been able to interact with them to gauge audience reception

• As Jones argues, our production did act as a process for problem solving – we wished to discover what creativity can mean and the differing ways in which it can be used

• We also contested the theory that creativity is the making of a tangible product, our product in itself is a creative piece of art, yet it cannot be touched or felt. Therefore, we have demonstrated that creativity can be viewed in different ways – we would certainly argue that our production has had a lot of creative and unique input! which it can be used in life.