Disertation Constellation

For this assignment, I’ve been tasked with writing up my topic idea for my dissertation and proposal and what will be my research and writing technique.

What’s my idea?:

My focus will be on Topoanylis, which is the study of human identity as it relates to the places in people’s lives. (e.g: The house I grew up in is an essential part of my childhood since I have many memories there and it was quite a big step to move out of my childhood home into halls, and soon my old house will be just a memory since my parents will be moving out of it soon.) This study will act as a story and sensory anthropology report, the format I have chosen for my dissertation is a 6000-word conference paper along with a slideshow presentation.

Why did I pick this particular subject?:

Last term I wrote an essay on “story anthropology”, the name of my essay was “The transition of a person through negativity”, in this I explained how a person can go through life after a bad turn in their life can start changing and feeling new things and to some extent contribute something positive toward something or others. So when I was given feedback on my work, my lecturer suggested that I explore topoanylis if I wanted to continue this sort of theme for my dissertation and I believe that my last essay was very successful.

What’s so important about this topic?

This topic is supposed to give people a new interpretation of life as I did for the other one, I gave my own commentary on human behavior and society, so with the recommendation from my lecturer to further explore this subject, I want to give people a new sense of familiarity and a way of seeing into someone else’s mind. Another reason why this topic is important is for me personally, writing my last essay gave me the chance to write my own commentary by comparing my world views to others and to give people the sense I feel, and while I really enjoyed writing and felt I was really good at reading, writing and understanding anthropology, especially the specific topic I was writing about, so I really want to continue writing in this type of subtext.

What are going to be my research methods?:

A good way to start is by revisiting the book I read and referenced to for my last essay, Sarah Pink’s Home truth gender, domestic and everyday life, since in her book she commentates on a person’s daily life around the house, narrowing it down to the smells, the sights, the feels and the experiences to establish a person’s identity (e.g she mentions that for housewives certain sentiments aren’t necessarily forms of familiarity and because of this some housewives could experience oppression, isolation, depression, loneliness, and even disempowerment with isn’t conterminous with a house wive’s identity) another thing to do is research more authors/philosophers who specialize in this kind of topic.

How am I going to write it out?

For both the dissertation and proposal, I will take the massive word count and divide it by categories which will then limit the word count to each category, when all typed up and combined it will complete the entire word count.

Book: Pink, S, 2004, Oxford, Berg

My Book Idea

On the 10th of February, I started progress on making the book.

Idea:

While I was in Rajasthan I came up with an idea for my theme of my book, my idea was to create my hieroglyphic alphabet based on certain things I spotted during my time in Rajasthan. The idea of the book was to use HP reveal to translate my hieroglyphics into English.

(My hieroglyphic alphabet) (My book design)

Supplies:

Red fabric
Thread
A button
White fabric

I first started by drawing big versions of my hieroglyphics to create full design and detail next I then scanned them to my email and imported them onto adobe illustrator to create laser cutting files

Once the design was laser cut onto the wood I then glued little wooden sticks to the top of each one and with that, I created my hieroglyphic stamps

Next, I took the red fabric and cut it to the right length

Once I cut it to the right length I then cut up a piece of cardboard (at the same size as my sketchbook) and fit it in between the fabric, I then use a sewing machine to secure the cardboard inside the fabric

Next, I used the print pattern (that I laser cut) I then stamped the design to edges of the fabric (then filled in the missing gaps by hand)

Next when I folded the book closed I marked the position where I wanted the button to go, then I hand stitched the button securely in the right position.

Next, I took some string, painted it black and sewed it onto the edge of the book, this string would then wrap around the button keeping the book in place.

Next, I took some white fabric, measured the right length, cut it out and sewed it on the top of the inside of the book, this acted as a banner, displaying a friendly welcome to the reader (written in my own hieroglyphics)

Next, I took my scanned hieroglyphics onto my computer and created digital sentences, these were meant to act as fun facts about Rajasthan and its culture, once I printed and cut them out I then glued them onto the white fabric, cut them out and sewed them into my book.

My finished book.

Rajasthan Part X

On the 3rd of February, we had our final full day in Rajasthan, we started off today by walking through the village and the shops, eventually, we made our way to the grass wood cafe for lunch, after that most went outside and did artwork to contribute to the cafe (since the people who owned it were a part of the family who were working on the hostel)

Today’s sketches:

Later in the afternoon, we all took tuk-tuks to go see the Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace, to get up there we had to pay for cars to drive us up there, our visit was short but the views were excellent.

Rajasthan Part IX

On the 2nd of February, we all made our way to a family home, while we were there we were tasked in drawing/painting our own artwork to contribute to the art collage for their upcoming hostel (Hello!Boho) I decided to do something with my own hieroglyphics, so I wrote the name of the hostel in my hieroglyphics as well as my own alphabet, as a way of people translating my message and to inspire them to write their own message in my hieroglyphics.

(try out HP reveal to decipher the hieroglyphics)

In the late afternoon as I made my way back to the hotel, I stopped to look at the temple.

Rajasthan Part VIII

On the 1st of February, the first thing we did was go to an artist studio to do miniature paintings, during this we were being taught step by step on the drawing and painting process, while everyone gave there paintings color, I made mine in sepia.

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After we did our paintings we were shown around a local’s home where he demonstrated natural dyeing.

After that, he showed us into his house so he could show and even sell some of his miniature paintings.

Rajasthan Part VII

On the 31st of January, we had our first full day in Udaipur, our first stop was the city palace, while we were there we looked around the place, learned about the royal family and did some sketching.

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Today’s sketches:

(My book idea, my own hieroglyphic alphabet)

In the afternoon we took a water taxi to an island hotel named Lake Pichola, while we were there we had a look around and did some sketches until we made our way back.

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Rajasthan Part VI

On the 29th of January, we all went to Jaipur safari, the day started off when as a couple of jeeps arrived at our hotel and took us to the safari, the jeeps then took us around, I only saw a few animals including Monkeys, peacocks, deers, baby owls and (?), there were however leopards, but I didn’t see one 😦

Rajasthan Part V

On the 28th of January, the first thing we did was visit The Indian institute of craft and design for a tour, while we were there we were given a brief chat on how their academic system works, showed us their student’s projects and workshops and even workshop demonstrations.

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Our next stop was the Jawahar Kala Kendra Museum, while there we had a brief look round, and what really caught my interest were the shadow puppets in the Gandhi exhibition

Our last stop was to see (to be added) and her designed clothes and textiles, while there we had a look around and observed the printing blocks, the fabrics, the patterns, and the natural dyes.

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Rajasthan Part IV

On the 27th of January, we all started the day off by going to the monkey temple, there we saw many monkeys and most of us even let them sit on our shoulders.

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Today’s Sketches

After the temple, we made our way to the carpet store to see how carpets were made.

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(The patterns being block printed) (Trimming the excess material)

Heres a link to a video on my youtube channel on how they fringe off the excess material off the floor side of the carpet to prevent the carpet from slipping:

UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_1f0b After we were shown how they were made, we were then invited upstairs so they could showcase their carpets and list out the prices for any of us who were interested in buying them.

Our last stop for the day was the pottery place, there we were shown how ceramics were done in there (e.g if the kiln goes over 90 degrees the ceramics get damaged.) after that we all looked around the shop.

Rajasthan Part III

On the 26th of January, I and my group had our third full day out in Jaipur.

Our first stop was the Maharaja Museum, while we were there we took a look at the artifacts and leaned about the Maharaja and the royal family.

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(Fun Fact: When the flags are raised, it means the Maharaja is in the city.)

Biggest and heaviest silver jar in the world

After that, we had a look round the sundials

Today’s sketches

In the late afternoon after lunch, we made our way to a nearby balcony and did some sketching in front of the Wind Palace.

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Jaipur by night tour

Around 6 PM four jeeps come round to the hotel to pick us up and take on a nighttime tour of Jaipur, the journey lasted for about 4 hours (including stops at certain landmarks)

Everyone (including me) had a good time on this tour and was even one of my favourite activities from this trip :).

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