2006 Individual Pic Curation_Nicholine
1)
Link: http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs44/i/2009/163/3/8/Exam_stress_by_renaissance04.jpg
The picture is about exam stress.
The picture has a sepia filter. The colour indicates indifference from the people around you and the lack of joy. The photograph is taken with a low aperture with a wide focus on the whole picture. The spilled pills from the can are the main focus in the picture. There is some form of depth in the picture by looking at the decreasing size of the fonts on the paper. There is implied movement of someone eating the drugs while studying, as seen by the spilled drugs and opened cover left on the table. There is a low key lighting from the top. Looking at technical perspective, the light is placed there on purpose to divert attention to the pills. Also, the product placements of the subjects are filled with lines that are less dynamic. The pens are all pointing towards the pill bottle in the middle to direct the viewer’s attention. By linking all these points together, and using logical references, studying may bring about negative mindset such as drugging, which will snowball into undesired effects. Our target groups are parents. While looking at the picture, it can help to gain awareness of the stress students have in school and gain their empathy towards them. The gloomy emotions of the picture can help to increase the parents’ curiosity towards the negative effects and play a part to reduce stress for their kids.
2)
The picture is about ways of parenting for their kids in school.
The misc-en-scene for the whole picture depicts a strained relationship between a parent and his child. The covering of her eye and a slight frown from her eyebrows are indexical signs to show her displeasure. Looking at the subjects at the foreground, the parent is currently coaching her about studies. On the other hand, the father looks patient and decent. The father’s scene deviates from Orientalism. Yet again, looking at the attire of the child, her red fingernails and loose tie indicates her discontent and lost of interest in this situation. The overall picture shows how a parent-child relationship could possibly like in education. Using assumptions and referring to metonymic codes in the picture, the parent may be patiently guiding his child, hoping that she will do her best. However, this may not be of interest of the girl. Looking at the personal perspective of the girl,the displeasure of the girl indicates how studying may not be what she wants to do. Linking back to the social issue my group is working on, parents should learn to put less pressure on their kids (in Asian context) and take a step to understand their kids further.
