Research Essay
Our first project in this unit was a research essay. We were told to find a topic that had two clear sides and that we were deeply interested in. I chose to write mine on animal testing. It’s something that always bothered me and I wanted to learn more about it through this project.
Read my essay here:
Surreal Photoshop
During this essay we also made surreal photoshop compositions in Digital Media. These compositions were supposed to relate to our research topic in some way. I chose to photoshop a very aesthetic piece made out of watercolor images. I wanted to showcase the superficial outer face of beauty, but also highlight the cruetly that contributes to it. The image is very pretty, but if you look at what the animals are trying to say/looking at, it conveys an entirely different message.
ARTIST STATEMENT
“Consequences” is inspired by animal testing and the different effects it can have, both good and bad. We had to relate our surreal images to our research essays that we worked on in English this semester. My essay focused on animal testing, specifically in medical circumstances. I decided to focus on the cosmetic side of this issue and the good and bad consequences of it.
The main focus in the image is the woman getting ready, with many makeup products on her vanity. I wanted to show some of the good products that are accomplished through animal testing, though there are better ways to test and create them. The second focus of the image is the animals, some looking at the woman, and some looking at the audience. I highlighted them to show the impact that animal testing and products have on animal populations, as well as how innocent creatures can get violated in order to create trivial things.
Though this image has some darker meanings, I did want it to look very sweet, soft, and gentle. I love the look of watercolor art, and wanted to use this soft art form to contrast the deeper meaning of the image.
Worldbuidling Project
Our next English project was a collaborative narrative treatment. We explored storytelling techniques, plot structure, and character development, then applied what we learned to craft detailed and meaningful stories. I teamed up with Lulu Duarte and Rachel Berry, and together we created a treatment set in a world where women are auctioned off into marriage and forced to live strictly controlled lives—told what to wear, what to cook, and stripped of all personal freedom.
Once our treatment was finished, we presented it as if we were pitching it to publishers or producers.