Orwell that ends well, 47 steps in 47 seconds..

Yesterday I finally began reading 'Why I write' by Orwell. He is such a sharp and inciteful writer but also self reflective of himself and his own journey, what developed and what changed him. From why he needed to write and the challenge of aesthetics and content. Whilst writing 'Homage to Catalunia' he added a chapter he was critised for, which read more like a news report as it related to how some people felt trotskyists had colluded with Hitler.

No-one did he see this properly and accessibly challenged. To provide a balance, expose a lie... He also argues against the concept of objectivity and for a concious understanding of ones own political persuasion, which then allows the political and aesthetic to better flow as he is aware, of what and why he is motivated. His intention does not deny his ego.. but also layered within that is to expose, explore and open up a discussion. At times, conciously to 'serve the revolution' as Breton would say, in his fight against totaliarianism and for democratic socialism.

All of these speak to me, but I not a writer, but I do like to write. Reflecting on the 47 project which is coming out there, with the skill and energy of Lisa Lonsdale as she edits into the night, as her 6month old child sleeps.

I ran into a city at an incredible time, and now I see it, more than I ever did, no wonder it was hard to fatham what else should or could go on.. And I want to celebrate that experience, what did it mean then and now and to each of those people involved.

I've left so many things so late and slow, can I move this faster forward or too slow too slow..No. It will have a rough cut screening before the 5th of May. Just spoke to FACT for a rough cut and they have said £600 for 2 hours..! As its bank holiday monday, she will get back to me on whether they can do anything else though. Will also try static, Black-E, Friends meeting house. Casa is provisionally booked but no access, it is owned by the ex Liverpool Dockers, a perfect venue in so many respects. But I want you all in... even if there is so few of you who know, right now.

After super vision... and book throwing things.

I didn't take my plan with me but the main question, what is this research project to be marked on.. what is it that your expecting of me. The use of the film, why film etc or the themes and ideas underlying it.

Responses and conversation, gentle but film and open.

• Underpin critical theory on area of investigation MEMORY, Objectivity - got to mention this again. Perhaps I include the footage and news that was against the 47 so this is one small space to speak and it doesnt have to speak for the others but in way responds indirectly to the mediation. Representing and Performing Resistance. I wanted to hit him, he was so patronising but! Local issue globalised, within global economic turnmoil. How can past and present theories inform practice and then back to develop theory. PEDDDDDDDDDagogeeeeeeee!
  
• Learning - How am I learning and reflecting on the work, critically and how is that informing the work. I learn and shift and conform with and without you.
  
• Reseach = rushes, how and why made, challenges, considerations. Experiement with forms or why certain forms are chosen.Why do I need to do stills too, what does that allow me? to speak. Consider Media and representation of that time - links to Objectivity and ideas of that, look for Trotsky quote on that in L47 Book by Taffee and Mulhern.
• Research the area and experiment with tools used and what impact might that have.. 2 edits of the same piece or research from say work creates two possibilities.
  
• Documentary practice - why form, why style? What does it presume of the audience? Would the Liverpool lot not be more accepting of a layered type of doc, less obvious, less representative. If we confrorm to a mainstream style of documentary what might we loose in this process? Loose of our words, ways and beings.. narrative structure.. 'excludes areas of enquiry', ' Does the medium then become the message'.
  
• Interview methods, questions before hand, consideration if your not happy we dont have to use it. Men and women seperately, men still set up, books behind, theories behind the ideas, ideologically driven. What they know, what the women might say? How they might talk over the females. Perhaps though one person would benefit from a group setting, performing how he should be to how he is. When comfortable he changed.. opened up.
  
• Ethical thinking on work, why its done, how its done, intention, sharing.
  
• Rushes using digital technolgoy to share, to transcribe.
• Facebook finding Felicity and noting info on 47 and sharing with others.
  
• Asked ?, Can it be practical outcome for the research module? Will what I do speak of what I have done? What I intended.. what I thought about, what I tried. Or do I have to write to be concious? Could I hand in 5 minutes of rushes, 5 photos, 5 pages of blog? Layered approach to researching and also
• Another influence as I write this walks in. I like that, the voices, the lack of isolation. Will it be just books thrown at me, towards me? Can I learn by doing in isolation? Readin in isolation, forgetting and remembering.. over and over again. You know I can't. He, one of the he's I spoke to also needed to talk about the work to, not just the theories around it. Is it about the technique or content or is it about both? I want and need both.. And about the skills that are needed, to start again or redo whilst working. I need you both practical and theory people. I need and want you both for it to make sense to me. One relates to another.. to another and back again.
  
  

Suggested Reading

The history of memory - small chapter on Karl Marx (The past and present). 146 - 50 Dialectical

Women witnessing terror - A Cubille. Witness becomes performance. ' To tell is to resist

Get Brit Library Card - Sound archives. Need letter from Anna, easier to get as a student.

Fuller schedule to lead into the 10th Dec.