Possess

What does it mean "to possess"? (Look up the multiple definitions.)

What is in your purse or backpack? Why?

What is the difference between need v.s. want? How much of what you buy is necessity?

If money were no object, would you buy more things? Like what? Why or why not?

Are you willing to buy used things? Are there exceptions? Why or why not?

Do you collect anything? What and why?

If your house was on fire, what thing(s) would you rescue?

What is/are your most valued possession(s)? Why?

What does the saying, “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure” mean?

Analyze the meanings and differences (if any): heirlooms .v.s. junk, ”vintage” v.s. goodwill clothing, estate v.s. garage sales.

What is the value of mementos, talisman or good lucks charms? Do you have any?

Do our habits of buying, collecting etc. matter? If so, why?

-Read/view the article and novel excerpt attached below. Also, check out these articles/links.

After Purging Her Possessions, An Artist Paints What Remained

The “Shelfies of Korea’s Joseon Dynasty

Loved to Death: A Photographer’s Tribute to Discarded Library Books

-Together, discuss and reflect upon themes of possession, ownership, necessity (practical, psychological, emotional), “conspicuous consumption”, desire, burden (physical, psychological, emotional), abandonment/eviction, etc.

-Brainstorm materials/objects/imagery that pertain to the theme of this project. Determine a topic upon which you’d like to focus. In choosing your topic, remember to challenge yourself; find a subject that is new to you.

-Collect/generate at least 8-10 objects or images. You must take your own pictures if using source imagery (though you may borrow in part if it’s necessary for your concept. (See me in that case.)

-Create 8+ thumbnails to arrive at the strongest possible concept and composition. (Each thumbnail should be no smaller than a baseball card.) Consider the full picture plane, including your background.

-Choose the surface, dimensions and material for your project.

References/Things to Check Out:

Menzel, Peter. Material World: A Global Family Portrait

O’Brien, Tim. The Things They Carried (see excerpt attached)

“State of Exception Exhibit”, The Undocumented Migration Project, University of Michigan

Jarrett, Christian, “The Psychology of Stuff and Things,” the psychologist.org.uk, August 2013 (see attached)

Jabr, Ferris, “Step Inside the Real World of Compsulsive Hoarders”, Scientific American, February 2013; https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/real-world-hoarding/

https://hyperallergic.com/450083/the-secret-lives-of-discarded-things/

https://hyperallergic.com/370989/dawn-clements-tables-and-pills-and-things-pierogi-2017/

Simon Evans

SIMON EVANS, Everything I Have (detail), 2008, Pen, paper, scotch tape, correction fluid and ink jet prints of personal inventory, 60 1/4 x 40 1/8 inches.