Mass media sources tend to echo traditional perspectives – to maintain a position of status quo. The nuances of such perspectives may be so deeply ingrained as to be unrecognisable – part of a natural background interference – affecting the nature of our gaze in terms of the way we interpret what we see, even though are largely unaware of the effects.
But what if the tables were turned to undermine, or reverse the status quo, to give voice to positions that, generally, are never heard? What mechanisms could be used? What tone should be adopted, and what might be uttered?
Perhaps the results might be factual and to-the point – an authoritative poster or a pamphlet? They may co-opt the newspaper, or slightly chattier format of a magazine? Or would they best shout in an assertive manner through the guise of a poster or banner? They might be found lurking subtly and insidiously, buried within a seemingly innocuous piece of text?
I’ve not used text in my images before, apart from an on-off struggle with the titling (or Untitling) of the work. Creating a purely text-based piece is well outside my comfort zone but, even if it doesn’t work, I think it may give clues as to the best way to proceed.
Bibliography
Nina Power film screening & talk, Afterall Film Club, Central St Martins, 6th December 2012
