Regarding the last post...

Don's advice:

"Don’t try and spot the core of the thesis.
If you want a working thesis: We use photography as a stand-in for
architecture; we are tourists in photography.
Best thing to do is save the quote, so you can reflect on it, and keep
working on the body of the thesis, in blocks."

Quote saved for reflection, working on body of thesis.
Got it.
a.

Why........

I was having a conversation with a colleague about her thesis the other day. In short, it is an incredible endeavour to design housing in a third world country based on the distribution of water, helping those displaced by war and other causes from their vilalges begin a new life in the city. The whole thing makes perfect sense. It uses a practical system that could be implemented over time, helping people better their quality of life.

These are the kinds of theses that could change lives.

And then I think of mine and I try to figure out what the point of it is... besides to earn a degree and to explore photography as it pertains to the architectural world around me. What am I contributing? To the school.. to architecture as a profession... to Galt? It seems that most people at the school see a problem, research on how they're going to fix it, and spend the next year designing a possible solution - as they see it, trying to make the world better.

Why do I always decide that I am going to do something 'different'? I get some crazy-ass idea that I am going to spend a year-and-a-half taking photos and run with it. My thesis hasn't really even figured out if it's a research thesis or some sort of convoluted 'design' thesis.

Sometimes, I frustrate myself with my stubbornnes to cause trouble (mainly for myself) and go against the norm. (Clearly today is one of those days).

I am learning to continually remind mysel of Don's statment: It's like chocolate. The world doesn't need it, but would be poorer without it.

That'll have to do. My thesis is chocolate. It's too late to go questioning the entire purpose of my thesis now. Or my entire purpose at the school. I'll save that for therapy.

Chapbook

chapbook, the name given since the 19th century to a kind of small, cheaply printed book or pamphlet hawked by chapmen (i.e. pedlars) from the 16th century to the early 19th century, and containing ballads, fairy‐tales, old romances, accounts of famous criminals, and other popular entertainments.

(From Answers.com)

Good to know.

The thesis is.... the problem of what this is.

"Why" is the most subversive question. Don’t answer it.

Is the 'construction' of a print, something I want to document/include in the thesis?
Do I include contact sheets in the work? Are they my ‘sketches’ or diagrams?
Do I include copies of historical photographs or just my own?
What is the story I am trying to tell?
What does it have to do with architecture?
Where can I show my work? and can I do it in mid-July?
- Talk to Jeff L. about using one of the empty shops along Main Street.
Write about your obsessions....
What about the town fascinates me?
STARE at my photographs and find inspiration/stories within them
What does pattern recognition have to do with my photos/groups of photos?
- Rhetorical structure of photos
- Tarkovsky
- The group is an immediate lesson in how to see one image “This is the quintessential photograph of this one”
What happens with the individual photos?
What am I getting out of this?

hmm...

I am still concerned about the connection to architecture.
Very concerned.

I know it's there - I'm just worried that I may not find it in time,
or that I won't be able to verbalize it.
a.

Update.

The last three days:
Wednesday: Printed a train bridge picture on glossy paper - looks great. I'm happy with the glossy paper decision. I'm up to seven finals... though six have to be redone on glossy. It should go relatively quickly.
Thursday: Lost a day due to dizziness... bad timing. Bought a pack of glossy paper though, and a binder & plastic inserts to hold the finals so they don't get ruined. Everything is much more organized now.
Friday: Back in the darkroom today. Printing the public school diptych. Hoping to catch up on lost time. Going to reprint the train image today too... I don't think I need it for Mx reviews as it doesn't really have a pair or group yet, but it won't hurt. It should be pretty easy since I have everything writting down.

Saturday and Sunday will be write-offs... I'm beginning to panic slightly for Mx reviews...

a.

snow

It's windy, it's snowing, it's slushy and gross.
Looks like a perfect day for taking pictures.

Favourites

I want to put together a collection of photographs which I love.
I am finding it very difficult.