Exercise

Email your tutor a short summary of any ideas you have for this assignment. Use their feedback to help you to refine or expand your ideas. Include a description of how you intend to submit your assignment, as well as any other questions you may have.

Record your correspondence in your learning log.

My Proposition

Prompted a little by the social perspectives work that comes next in the chapter, and also by my research into just what sublime is, and my ongoing interest in Keith Arnatt, I want to explore a canal that is local to me.  I live in the middle of the Cotswolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  But, the designation specifically excludes the route along the canal due to its industrial zone nature.  I want to challenge the idea of what beauty is and show that, even with the industrial elements in scenes, the area could and should still be seen as beautiful – the theme of the assignment.   
Why I think this might play to the question of sublime is that it does make one stop and think about the scene – maybe not in a ‘wow’ sense but I do think in the sense of challenging what might pass for a beautiful scene or view in a typical image one might see of the AONB – hence the linkage back to Arnott.

Does this sound along the right tracks?

Tutor Response

Your exploration of the canal sounds appropriate. It’s great that you have thought about the context even within your short email, build upon this contextual information within your assignment research and reflective text. Arnatt is relevant and yes the sublime can be thought about in different aspects, not just the awe and power of nature. The localisation of your idea makes it more personal to you which is good. Look at the idea of the industrial sublime – this link may lead to further ideas.
http://www.uwyo.edu/artmuseum/exhibitions/archives/2012/edward-burtynsky/

Hope the shoot goes well, speak later.