As Madonna announces her first ever greatest hits tour, I thought I would put together a selection of creatives and outline the skills on show to help you Get into the Groove as we reach the end of C1 and move into C2. We may be just back from a Holiday but you should be ready to Express Yourself. If you are a Boderline student, this might help. It might be crazy for you but this could be a great starting point. So, Ladies with an attitude. Fellows that were in the mood. Don't just stand there, let's get to it. Strike a pose, there's nothing to it. Vogue
ESTREAM: BBC MODERN MASTERS
This BBC Documentary series is fantastic to see how some of the worlds most influential artists worked, what their inspirations were, the history and stories in the work and how they have inspired the next generation of creatives.
If you want to see how to create a body of work, through commitment, problem solving and determination. These guys are a great starting point. Their assents to world famous artists can be mirrored by many other artists but in Western Culture, these 4 artists have had an undeniable cultural impact and these programmes explain why and how.
Skills you should be trying to emmulate: Being adaptable, Aware of the current political and social trends and changes, Clear focus, Determination, Self Belief, Challenge societal norms, Self publicity, Commitment, Changing ideas to fir your needs. No excuses.
FILM: EYE OF THE STORM
James Morrison is regarded as on of Britain's greatest landscape artists. This is a video of his process and his inspirations as he sets out to do one last painting.
This is a study of a man determined not to let his age and failing eyesight stop him from producing work.
A wonderfully inspiring story of one mans love for his art and a tribute to it by the people around him and people he has inspired.
Skills you should be trying to emmulate: Deep understanding of your processes. Mastery of Skill. Determination. Making the best of your situation. Hard Work, Passion, Desire.
NETFLIX: WEDNESDAY
Wednesday is on Netflix, it tells the story of, a now teenage, Wednesday Addams as she joins a new school, having been excluded from her previous school. The story is good, but with Tim Burton directing it is the visuals that kept me entertained. Did you spot any nods to Burton's previous work or the previous Addams Family incarnations. It is full of them. See video below. Full of Gothic buildings, great monster design, cool costumes. A modern take on mythical creatures. This is a murder mystery with a twist.
The scene of the dance has become massive on tiktok and there are clips of Jenny Ortega talking about her preparation and where the moves came from. It's an amazing scene made more interesting by the cultural context it sits within. Take a look below.
If you have already watched it, why not watch the Pitch Meeting that pokes gentle fun at it and raises a number of very good points about the some major plot points.
Skills you should be trying to emmulate: Clear research into cultural context. Clear visual style. Commitment to every aspect of an image. Looks interesting. and in the show. Accepting help. Not always using/accepting the obvious. Adaptability. Fearlessness. Confident to do things alone, but happy to accept help from friends, family and staff.
TV: Winterwatch
Winterwatch is back on BBC. The BBC wildlife programme that showcases British wildlife, marvels at it's beauty and discusses the struggles and successes of different creatures.
Always a key feature of the show are the incredible images that are produced, beautiful photos and videos that explore the key formal elements. Form, Mood, tone, shape etc. From Photography in a storm up a mountain to fashion inspired by bird plummage, it shows how nature can inspire us.
Each show has a mindful minute too, a space to relax and enjoy a quiet moment, in this busy phase of the year it's important to take these short breaks to reflect and progress.
Characteristics for success shown here to get the best images of nature which you can use are determination, commitment, patience. Mastery of a skill, so you are ready when the moment arrives. Wide research so you can be in the right place at the right time.
YOUTUBE: ANJUNADEEP
Anjunadeep is a London Based Record label and club night that showcases some of the best deep house Djs in the world. Their Youtube is full of mixes to listen to and DJ sets to watch.
I also like there minimal marketing approach, their logo displayed on beautiful images. Sometimes a physical symbol is places in the space, which adds a different vibe. The images selected give you a sense of what that mix is like.
Paula Schers more abstract Jazz artwork used a similar technique and brands such as Gatecrasher and Cream would use similar marketing in the early 2000s. The repeated image with different settings is definitely a fantastically simple but effective marketing tool.
The sets themselves are amazing and great to work to. I have had them on in class this week and will definitely be adding them to my list of inspirational tools to keep trying to find new information about.
Skills you should be trying to emmulate: Repetition of ideas, Imagery to change the mood, clear understanding of what the product is (once you recgonise the symbol,) Intrigue in the work. Modern and stylish, Clear branding message.