Craft of Writing

10. 13th June 2011.

Angela Rogers. Visual Enquiry. Video Lecture.

Writing to communicate ideas and intention, to communicate with and engage readers.

Joanna Lowry - writer, critic, Academic Programme reader, Photography, Moving Image and Film, University of Brighton.

Art reviewing - concise, challenges, discipline, writing to deadline. The job is to convey the work and let the work speak, to help the work realise itself, to let the reader know what they need in order to appreciate the work - history, ideas, context, etc. Economy with words.

The artists statement frames work, for viewer positioning.
A relevant statement to the work - writing not a compensation but revealing what is there. Strip away baggage, help work speak.
Art always exists in the culture, in the world - one half of a dialogue, so needs to be generous to the audience, and offer directions for dialogues, and open up complexities of work, not just open, but explain its terms.
Writing - a set of tools for revealing thinking, a machine for organising your thoughts.
Essay - a well honed machine for efficient organisation of clear thoughts. Prepare for essay in stages. Reading, summarising what other writers have said, distilling the essence of an argument.
Summarise, interpret, respond to readings. Write freely to get through thresholds.
Planning essay - structure, models, the technology. Keep in mind the heart of the essay that captures the essence, the event that that keeps writer and reader on track.
Write in, introduce, place people and ideas in essay, explain relevance.
Description is analysis - in art everything involves a decision - you are proposing what the work is by describing it. Think of reader as a guest.

Jo Lee - artist and writer. Senior lecturer in Fine Art, Nottingham Trent University.

The essay, where analysis vies with writing - roland barthes. Visual and verbal essays. Designers / content - pam phlet press.
the craft of writing - looking seamless.
Process/ making/ distribution.


William Zinsser. On Writing Well. The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction.

Clarity, strength clutter.
Stripping out writing, edit out all redundant words and phrases.
See if it works without certain words.
Euphemistic clutter.
Clarity - clear head. Writing and rewriting.
What am I trying to say. Have I said it Is it clear. Rewrite and again. Read aloud to edit away more. It is rigorous work to be creative.
First/third person - alternate. House academic style.
Punctuation -= shorter sentences. Semi colon - dash.
Referencing. identifies sources. Evidence.
Bibliography - field of influences.
Harvard referencing system. Art and design standard.

Abstract - short statement containing key information about the full paper or conference presentation.


Reflection

I recognise some of the elements of writing mentioned, as I have been involved in such reviewing for some years - the cutting out of words, getting to the point, etc. Although one becomes more efficient, there are always ways to refresh thinking and remind yourself or the purpose - to let the work speak.

I have been using my artists statement for two or three years I think. A few months ago I sat down to rewrite it, as I thought it could do with renewal. However, I concluded that it was still more or less what I wanted to say. Perhaps when I have finished the MA would be a good time to rewrite, with more clarity in mind.

As for essays - the last I wrote were for my teaching qualification, and although they reminded me how to do it, they were about specific subjects. Before that, the last essay I wrote on a subject of my choice was my dissertation from university. That was work. I remember feeling the connections being created in my brain, getting my intention and meaning to match the overall content. In the end I was really pleased with it, I had learned how to tackle and pursue it, and even get through certain dyslexic barriers and confusions. Recently I noticed that I do not seem to have a digital copy of it, only a print. I have also strangely been saving it up for years before I read it again - I wanted to forget what I wrote in order to read it anew. Perhaps it is time. And time to save it electronically.

As to current and upcoming MA writing and essays, I found the lecture full of useful insights about writing, being clear, rewriting, editing, etc.

17th June 2011