Looks Can Be Deceiving

Looks can be deceiving

• What is the subject of your image?

The subject to my final image was a Griffin. A Griffin is a mixture of multiple animals that care put together to make one creature. It is something different, and I haven’t really seen many peers do Griffins so, I thought it would be a great idea.

•  What is the content of your image?

The content of my image is a Griffin because, I am an animal person. Ever since I was a little kid I always wanted to be a veterinarian so I wanted to dedicate my final project to something that I enjoy and am very passionate about. Unfortunately, I grew up and knew that I just wanted to be a vet because I loved animals. I realized psychology is for me, but I still have much love for animals.

• Why did you make the choices that led to the composition? Explain the process and steps you went through and why you made those decisions.

I used six different animals in my griffin.

1.) Lion Body: I used the lion as the base and body of the griffins, because everyone knows that the lion is usually at the top of the food chain. So, they represent leadership. I know that I am a leader to that is why I put a lion in my griffin.

2.) Eagle Wings: I used the eagle because it represent courage and strength. They are also known as the “Kings of the Skies”. I feel like this was one of the hardest semester I faced yet and I am pretty sure I did well in my courses. I always have the courage and strength to get threw any obstacle that is trying to hinder me from my goal.

3.) Duck Feet: The Duck feet, was used to represent strong sense of knowing. Many people would also correlate ducks with, people being "lucky". I am lucky and grateful to have everything I want. Many people always call me spoiled and materialistic but, in my life my mom put up a great fight to make sure that my brother and I was always good and that we never needing anything so I always an thankful. 

4.) Alligator Tail: Now the reason why I used an alligator was because, it is symbolic in my life. It is said, if anyone dreams of an alligator it represents betrayal and deceit. In my life, I have been backstabbed so, I always have my guard up when it comes to meeting new people.

5.) Dog Mouth: The dog represents protection, and guidance. It was always said that a dog is a man’s best friend. I have a dog and I love my dog so much. Growing up I was always taught discipline and how to protect my love ones.

6.) Rabbit Ears: The rabbit symbolizes comfort and vulnerability. When I am around my love ones I am also vulnerable and comfortable with them which is a sense of security and everyone should always have that feelings. The person that I am the most comfortable will be my mother. I am a true mama's boy and I am not afraid to admit to it. 

7.) Squirrel: Lastly, I used a squirrel because, whenever anyone see a squirrel they are always having fun running around. I decided to have a dead squirrel because as you get older life is not as fun and you realize that the whole is a cruel place. I was always taught this is a “Dog eat Dog World”. If you want something done you will have to do it.

8.) My Face: I used my face because, this is a project is about me, myself and I.

•  How you would categorize your work (ex. collage, graphic print, mixed media, etc).

To be technical this can be considered as a collage because, it is more than one animal put together. I used Photoshop, to help me crop and paste the parts of the animal together. Believe it or not but I forgot how to use this software so it took me hours in order to get accustom to all the different types of tools.

• What artists or works are appropriate to compare your work to?

The artist that I can compare my college to would be Wangechi Mutu. In class, we were exposed to a video by Mutu, she was attached to a huge object/ creature and it was extremely violent. As my final, I tried to imitate her video. I used a lot of symbolism in my project that represents me.

• What quote from Society of the Spectacle best illustrates the themes in your self-portrait?

Please explain this.

“The spectacle is capital accumulated to the point that it becomes images.” (34)

1.  At the end of the day the overall image is what everyone pays attention to. It’s what matters most. Even if the audience does not pay attention to it, it would not matter to me because this is something meaningful to me and probably my family.  That’s why it is important to do your best at all times, because your final project is what going to count the most. I went the extra mile, I knew that it would take a lot of time to do a Photoshop project but I knew that sooner or later I would need to learn how to use the software. So, I did my best on trying to create a griffin.

• What do you think this image conveys to the audience?

I believe my griffin does convey the audience because, it is a mysterious creature that many people would try to depict the animals apart. Also, the dead the squirrel would leave the audience thinking. Everything in the griffin is symbolic. It either represents me or is a part of my past.  

• What are the differences between the midterm self-portrait and your final self-portrait? What influenced these changes (events, readings, information, artists)?

There are a lot of differences between my midterm and final. My midterm was more of a visual and it was more of a craft project. It was fun using markers, paint and cutting and pasting on to a shoe box, but just like the semester is coming to an end, so is my college career so I need to take things more seriously so thats why I did what I did on my final. My final is digital and it took much more time then my midterm, unlike my midterm it is more of a serious task. One of the  reason I did my final as a Photoshop project, is because, soon I will become the President or Vice President of my organization: Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., and I will need to know how to use Photoshop, to create fliers so I thought it would be a great idea to experiment with my final project. So, I defiantly put more time and effort on this project. Overall, both the midterm and final project represents me and my life. The only reason why I kept the theme was because this is “Self: I as Image” course so I just thought I could share myself and the why I view my life to the class.



Reference:

The Situationist International Text Library/The Society of the Spectacle. (n.d.). Retrieved December 

     12, 2017, from http://library.nothingness.org/articles/SI/en/display/17