For this project I intend to explore the history of mental asylums, particularly in 1960. I analyse the patients of such mental institutes and compare them to people suffering from similar disabilities in modern day. From this research, I intend to produce a set of images and supporting text that work together to challenge the ideologies of psychology from the 1960's. In particular I will touch upon how people effected by these mental illnesses were treated by family, neighbours and the media. From first look into researching this theme I have already come across painter Richard Dadd, and the film 'Sybil' which should help me to begin further research.

I will use this blog to present my the my finding via Primary and Secondary research. I will also use it to conclude what I have found and how I will apply it to my practice.

Thursday, 20 February 2014

Trapped: Mental Illness' in America's Prisons




I went on the search for films, particularly ones wit artists flare that make reference to asylums and mental illness'. I felt that although i'd done a solid amount of research it was all based around the hollywood cinematic consumer culture therefore I wan't something a little more low budget.

I stumbled across a number of video's on Vimeo this being one. It is a documentary that talks about the idea's mental illness' and how they are treated in modern day when there are no long hospitals for them. The shots were what I found most interesting about the video as they were fairly contradictory to the films I have previous looked at.

Exposure

Many of the shots are overly exposed creating this dream like ora about the shape with a blurred figure/sillouhette in the middle. I like the idea of over exposure and the haziness it adds as it references surrealism and the inability to make out identity.


Depth of Field

In addition to the exposure the shots house a lot of depth of field, particularly through the use of looking through fences and close up out of focus shots of faces. 


What I am taking away from this research is the ability to be different. I like the use of depth of field and exposure and think they have worked particularly well at portraying the subject matter. Moreover I like there reference to identity or lack there of, the idea that identity isn't completely given away allows the consumer to make reference to themselves or someone they know making it more personal. 


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