AD4004 Evaluation

Evaluation

From this task, I have learnt that it is important to get across the main points of an investigation and fully explain them, instead of trying to write about every aspect. This is important because it makes sure that the points of a topic are strong and the writer can create a way for the reader to understand this topic through the points made. I have also learnt that research is vital in providing academic and valid references to an idea, and how to find examples of reliable research from different media sources.

I found the task to be indicative of the relation between word and image, helping me to convey researched thoughts in a format that felt comfortable to me. Because I am a part-time writer, I find writing easier to do than making videos, for example, as most of the time words can display more understanding than an image can – especially when it comes to finalising ideas from research of my topics. Though images can reinforce points of interest (as shown in my reports) crucial to understanding the subject matter. I believe that the images I have used represent their respective subjects in this way.

I enjoyed writing about my chosen topics as I found an aspect of each that I was interested in writing about, through further research. For example, in my “Gender representation in the media” report, I talked about the objectification of women in video games (being an art form that I frequent in) and through investigation I discovered the works of Anita Sarkeesian and the feminist view of this topic. I also enjoyed creating my own interpretations of what my chosen subjects conveyed, making a visual connection to my understanding of the research I undertook, as well as explaining the significance of the interpretation to the reader.

Working on my own allowed me to express my own ideas instead of the amalgamation of suggestions from the various members in a group scenario, which often cause disagreement and confusion. However, this format made me unable to bounce ideas off of other people to achieve a more accepted outcome for a project, as would be possible in a team. Although with this task, I was able to structure my time and make progress on the assessment when it suited me. It was also something that I could do in private, as space is important for any artist, and meant that I could relax when writing, alleviating the stress of peers and helping me to focus on researching and writing more fluently.

In conclusion, this assessment has helped me to improve my writing styles when explaining research, as well as how to find and describe research examples. I found it to be an enjoyable medium of expression of ideas and found a balance between word and image in my reports. The ability to work alone allowed me to demonstrate individualist ideas in my own time, as well as focusing on the writing and research without external interference.