Auto Ethnographic Inquiry

This is a fourteen week documentation of my research for my final thesis project. Ummm, well, in all honesty, it is a diary of facing my fears, literally and figuratively, by committing to draw my portrait in four distinct ways: metaphor [superhero animal], Distorted/Altered, Folk/Outsider Art inspired, and Extreme Close-Up, [realism], and document the events as they unfold. To some this may seem simple and straightforward (big whoop); however, for a person, like myself, that deals with severe, crippling self-esteem issues, this is a daunting task. However, the emotional investment is not nearly as important as the adventure/investigation and real life implications for my students. Adolescent students often fight similar self-identity issues. Inquiry: Does drawing self-portraits assist in developing a positive self-identity? Or is it merely an exercise in "looking" at yet another face?

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Self-Portrait: Distorted Altered Image

The second method of drawing a self-portrait is complete.  This process utilized the Photo Booth program and the internal iSight camera of my MacBook.  Some insights:
This process allows for:
  • Integration of technology into the art classroom
  • Brings relevancy to contemporary art practices
  • Low stress way of developing self-portraits (everyone looks weird)
This method of drawing/constructing a self-portrait was based on an approach introduced in Art Education, DeMarco (2010). Students, utilizing the photo filters available in Apple's Photo Booth program, were directed to take distorted pictures of themselves.  They picked out the favorite crazy representation of themselves.  Once selected, they began drawing the image.  This process is to assist adolescent students in working through self-consciousness and peer pressure.  "Everyone looks weird" (DeMarco, 2010, p. 38). 

Personal Feelings: "At first I wanted to crawl in a hole and hide- hide from the image, hide from the embarrassment of having to draw the silly self-portrait, and mostly hide from onlookers, shaking their heads in disbelief at my choice of subject matter (crap just leave me alone!)." However, confidence grew out of this endeavor.  I cared less about others and more about having fun developing the portrait. I felt redeemed and satisfied at the end.  Key Code: Cloudy, *, :-)

My findings: 
  • More relaxed regarding drawing the portrait
  • Difficulties: self-conscious at first when onlookers would question, laugh, or shake their heads at my 'weird' picture of self.
  • Once work commenced, humor became a big part of the process, rather than critical/self-consciousness about the image.
  • Difficulties: became consumed with replicating the image- to alleviate had to (a.) step back from it, (b.) let the image and work exist
Self improvement: 
  • Learned to 'laugh' at the uneasy situation (onlookers dismay)
  • Became proud of the work/a sense of accomplishment–embraced the 'craziness'-'weirdness'  
  • Bolstered personal conviction to press through and meet the challenge   
Images of the process:
This is the original photo.
   

 This is the initial sketch:

Midpoint:




Completed work:
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