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First impressions of the pre-sessional course

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First impressions of the pre-sessional course

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In this week's course, I learned a lot of useful knowledge. Whether it is the way to improve English ability, or how we should reflect in life, I feel very benefited. And I have begun to use the knowledge learned in class to change myself. Through the discussion between teachers and classmates, I found that I had many problems in the process of learning. For example, I could not keep the self-discipline to study and practice every day. After thinking about it, I think it is because I did not arrange a systematic study schedule for myself. I made a study schedule for myself. After that, I could arrange my whole day reasonably, so that I could have enough time to play and systematic time to study and exercise. This also makes me understand the importance of a plan, because before I always think of one thing and do one thing, which leads me to forget some things and then make mistakes. Therefore, I will arrange my time more clearly in the future and make every day as efficient as possible.

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Brand activism is a way for businesses to make a difference in the process of social, political, economic or environmental change. Using brand activism, businesses care less about profit than about the communities they serve, as well as their economic, social, and environmental issues, which enables businesses to build value-based relationships with customers and prospects. Companies express brand activism through the vision, values, goals, communication and behavior of the company and its brands towards the communities in which they belong. Unlike corporate social responsibility, environmental, social, and corporate governance politics (marketing-driven and corporate-driven), brand activism is socially driven

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In today's class, I learned a lot of new knowledge, which I have never heard or understood before. The teacher taught me how to evaluate a document.

The most important of these are CRAAP, which correspond to currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose respectively. I think these parts are very important. These elements help me understand the whole material more clearly. For example, who is the author? When was it released? Which publisher published it? These elements help me to judge the data better and avoid many problems for me.

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Firstly, because he thought that people would change their original, or primal, feelings when they knew that it was a work of art.

In this immersive and interactive artwork. She wanna bring people back to self-consciousness of the moment we're living at the right. She does not tell people that this is her art work, but let people immerse in the interaction with the two police officers, she wants people to get the most authentic feelings.

I think this is very special. It gave me a feeling that I had never had before, and I had imagined that I was in such a scene, and I think I would be surprised if I felt and played this art unknowingly and then knew that it was a work of art.

In another art exhibition, I particularly like a sentence she said, she said not to get anything, but to give something.

Her main emphasis on this exhibition is to feel more than vision, which is very much like hoping that people will magnify other senses and get rid of the traditional sense of seeing an exhibition.

I like this kind of exhibition very much and would like to experience it.

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There are two new tutors in today's class. Each of them taught us different things, one of the teachers was called Nick, and he told us a lot about UCA Library. And he also showed us how to use Bibliography in our work. Another tutor told us a lot of things to pay attention to in the course, and also made me understand the importance of integrity more clearly. I'm also looking forward to having our new tutor in class on Monday. What new feelings he would bring to me.

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First of all, I think the author of this song wants to express a world similar to utopia, and he wants to convey such an idea with this song.

When I heard this song for the first time, I felt very comfortable and relaxed.

But I think that's the ideal world, and people in the real world need to have some kind of spiritual support, like faith. Because of the imagination of heaven, people are not afraid of death. I think the song can only be an ideal and the world can not be a reality, and the world is not necessarily better without these things.

I think what makes him an activist song is that this idea of him, and this idealized world, he's in a sense against a lot of things. And he uses this song to express his views on many things, and the idealized world is his protest against the real world.

I think this song can still be very popular after so many years, because he really shaped an ideal world, even if the world is impossible, but there are still a lot of people willing to have a good fantasy.

video:https://ucreative.sharepoint.com/:v:/s/UC_PSE2023GroupT-JamieBower/EY5oazuHv0JFhNuCVSMenVYB53G0PKt4q4LkbfwUXdDp8w?e=mDlJNt

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Banksy

First of all, Banksy is an artist I like very much. His numerous works can always bring people different feelings and reflections.

Banksy's works are more street in contrast, and he mostly paints on walls in a form of graffiti.

Banksy was an artist who had such an impact on the streets that some people even coined words for him, like the "Banksy effect," “The “Banksy effect” is a term coined to describe the increased interest in street art that has emerged in the wake of Banksy’s popularity.

Olafur Eliasson

In contrast, Olafur Eliasson is more of a visionary and ambitious practitioner who has created solar lamps in the shape of small SUNS to illuminate many corners of the world where there is no light.

Olafur Eliasson's art is more of an installation. He makes installations to light up the world

But the influence of Olafur Eliasson is different, he is more willing to use practical actions, or some public welfare to help some areas, his influence is great, he uses his power to light up the world.

Bibliographic references:

https://journals.ap2.pt/index.php/sauc/article/view/25

https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/olafur-eliasson-little-sun

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First of all, I think this organization is not outstanding because it does not carry out some large-scale publicity. First of all, activities of this significance need artificial publicity, otherwise the Fa will not be pushed into the public eye.

Secondly, I think this activity is positive, because as a boy, when I see this thing, I will also think deeply about why female nude art occupies such a large proportion of me. This is a more important question.

Finally, I think the art world will also think deeply about this matter and give a fair and reasonable answer.

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Activism:

the use of direct and noticeable action to achieve a result, usually a political or social one.

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Something done in order to achieve some kind of radical effect.

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When I first saw the poster of Guerrilla Girls, I was interested in the words on the poster, they asked a very sensitive question, a question of thinking about female nude art. This question triggered my deep thinking, and I also began to think about why there are so many female nude artworks in museums, and the proportion of female nude art is particularly large, so I began to get interested in this topic and think about it.

After my reflection, I also think that this problem needs a reasonable and fair explanation. Later, as I went to investigate the materials, I found that this problem had existed for a long time. I found the famous artist Orlan, whose exhibition at FIAC in 1977 made me admire her from the bottom of my heart. She boldly satirizes the society and goes to this exhibition without an invitation. I also admire her courage.

In the whole process of investigation and thinking, I learned to think deeply, and it made me more critical consciousness, allowing me to have my own ideas and opinions.

Studying this course made me feel very happy and valuable, because we often don't come to study with our own opinions.

Bibliography :

Guerrilla girls (2023) Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerrilla_Girls (Accessed: 22 November 2023).

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In today's class, I learned a lot of new knowledge about how to write a better article. I may not have been very clear about how to use this knowledge before, but after Jamie's lecture, I have a clearer understanding of this writing technique.

Today's task was to compare Edward Hopper's Nighthawks with my own work, and I chose a work about my childhood.

First of all, the styles of the two paintings are very different. Edward Hopper's painting is more realistic, while mine is more abstract. In terms of the use of color, Edward Hopper's painting shows the loneliness of the city with the contrast of light and shade, while my painting adopts bright colors as a whole, representing the happiness of my childhood. Edward Hopper's painting gives people a feeling of extreme loneliness. A restaurant with lights on but no door to enter seems to block the outside world from the inside. However, my painting introduces the building blocks in an abstract form, which has accompanied me throughout my childhood.

Bibliography：

Trancart, F.-X. (2023) Artwork analysis: Nighthawks by Edward Hopper, Artsper Magazine. Available at: https://blog.artsper.com/en/a-closer-look/artwork-analysis-nighthawks-by-edward-hopper/ (Accessed: 24 November 2023).

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https://youtu.be/WVTSWjtTbnQ

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In the production of this video, the first thing that came to my mind was the sculptures in the park near my home, because I have lived here for so many years, and every time I see them, I have many questions in my mind, such as why are these sculptures built? Why are they near my house? What do they mean? This is an opportunity for me to investigate. I think there should be a lot of public artworks in my city, but we may not pay attention to them in our daily life. In my opinion, the most important reason why there are not so many radical arts in China as in the UK is cultural difference. Chinese culture is more about patience and humility, so they often don't show their emotions.

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Activism is the intentional effort to promote, impede, direct, or intervene in social, political, economic, or environmental reform with the desire to make changes in society. Activists engage in various methods such as protests, advocacy, and awareness campaigns to address issues like human rights, environmental justice, and other social causes. The goal is often to influence public opinion, policies, or practices to bring about positive transformations or challenge existing norms.

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In the last class, I learned how to make a good presentation, which requires me to accompany my body movements while making a speech, because body language can not only help us to eliminate the tension, but also help the audience to better understand. Tone is also a very important point, both rise and fall help the audience better understand, do not keep monotone, and do not rely on memory to deliver a speech. Speaking speed is also important, not too fast, with some pauses, combining these points can get a good presentation. After this class, I think my presentation next time will be better.

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Today, I was driving down the road from California to Washington. Next to the road on my way back is a pea-picking camp. Out of curiosity, I got out of the car and questioned the workers. Their crops have all died because of a drop in temperature, and 3,000 workers have lost their jobs. My heart was very sympathetic, and I also felt sorry for them, so I planned to stop going home for a while and take a photo for them. But I took one after another, but there was no one that satisfied me, and finally I finally found a moment that made me feel perfect.

Own thinking:

During the class we watched a video of the famous photographer Dorothea Lange. I love the photos she takes, because the photos she takes record the tragic suffering of these people. At the same time, the photographer's constant pursuit of perfection is also worth learning. And his spirit of willing to pay for the people is also worth learning.

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How do Olafur Eliasson and El Seed change the world through their artwork, and which one do you think is more effective?

With the development of science and technology, art is becoming more and more popular. Nowadays, there are many artists who rely on the form of art to change society and use their own power to pass on positive energy. Next, I will use two artists, Olafur Eliasson and eL Seed, to explain how art can change society.

The first artist, Olafur Eliasson, invented the "Little Sun" lamp, which uses solar energy.

As an environmentally friendly energy source, solar energy is deeply loved by everyone, and it does not require additional costs to buy, to a large extent, to help those poor people solve the problem of electricity. It is also a renewable energy source, so it is suitable for anyone (Eliasson, 2020).

The second artist I would like to introduce is eL Seed, who is a graffiti artist. He did not invent a great invention, he was relying on his own power to help society. He wants to preserve history. Throughout his life, he had a great interest in Arabic language and history and culture (Bengoechea, 2016). So he wanted to use this kind of Arabic graffiti to draw more people's attention to these historic buildings.

I think Olafur Eliasson is more effective, because he really brought light to more people by his own power, and also added a light to the lives of many poor people. He made a real difference in more people's lives.

(258 words)

(No date) Olafur Eliasson’s little sun: “a work of art that works in life”. Available at: https://www.moma.org/explore/inside_out/2014/03/26/olafur-eliassons-little-sun-a-work-of-art-that-works-in-life/ (Accessed: 30 November 2023).

El seed, the master of calligrafiti (no date) UP MAGAZINE. Available at: https://upmag.com/el-seed/ (Accessed: 30 November 2023).

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How does JR use art to create change, and do you think it works?

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How does JR use art to create change, and do you think it works?

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Nowadays, more and more people are exposed to art, and some of them are using the power of art to change the world. This article will introduce French street artist JR, who uses the power of photography to create change.

JR works as a photographer as well as a street artist. He didn't just take pictures, he put them up on the streets in a kind of poster. All his works are in black and white. JR has talked about his art activities at TED and won TED 2011, so he created "Inside out "(JR,2011)." When they think about this painting, they forget to think about food and clothing for tomorrow "(JR,2011). This is the power of art. JR is truly using his power to change the world.

In general, JR used his power to change people. He used art to change people's perceptions and ultimately create change.

Artist (no date a) JR. Available at: https://www.jr-art.net/about (Accessed: 01 December 2023).

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The March on Washington For Jobs and Freedom, which took place in 1963, gathered around 250,000 people in the US capital.

The Salt March in 1930, which represented the first act in Gandhi’s nonviolent protest of British rule in India, is another famous march.

More recently, The Global Climate March in 2015 drew close to 800,000 participants around the world.

Bibliography：

The 1963 March on Washington (2022a) NAACP. Available at: https://naacp.org/find-resources/history-explained/1963-march-washington#:~:text=On%20August%2028%2C%201963%2C%20more,Martin%20Luther%20King%2C%20Jr. (Accessed: 03 December 2023).

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34 Best Quotes About Activism — By Activists

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“I've found the cure for depression is action”
— Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia & climate activist

“Activism is my rent for living on the planet.”
— Alice Walker, American writer & social activist

“Do it! What are you waiting on? Do it! Stand up for what you believe in. The world needs your voice. Whoever you are, you have something to say. Say it.”
— Kerry Washington, American actress, director, and activist

Bibliography:

Harvey, B. (no date) 34 best quotes about activism - by activists, Good Good Good. Available at: https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/quotes-on-activism (Accessed: 03 December 2023).

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Relationship between group name and Activism

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Relationship between group name and Activism

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Our group name is protest, and it's a very important part of Activism. Because the most important thing in activism is resistance, when people find an issue, they will take the initiative to protest. Only when people protest can they be taken seriously and more and more people pay attention.

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Tania Bruguera Tatlin’s Whisper #5 (2008)Tate© Tania Bruguera

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Activist art is about empowering individuals and communities and is generally situated in the public arena with artists working closely with a community to generate the art.

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Art activism is a form of activism that uses art as a means of social and political change. It involves creating and sharing artworks that raise awareness of social issues, challenge existing power structures, and inspire action. Art activists often use a variety of mediums, including painting, sculpture, performance, and installation, to convey their messages and engage with audiences. The goal of art activism is to provoke dialogue, inspire critical thinking, and encourage people to take action towards positive change. Art activism can take many forms, including public art installations, protests, and community-based art projects. It often emphasizes collaboration and participation, inviting viewers to actively engage with the artwork and become part of the creative process.

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Definition of art activism in my own words

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Definition of art activism in my own words

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I think Art Activism is a form of Activism, in which we use art to express and spread a social problem or phenomenon that we find.

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Keith Allen Haring is an American graffiti artist whose art originated in the graffiti subculture of New York City in the 1980s. His animated images have "become a widely recognized visual language." Much of his work contains sexual innuendo, which turns into social activism through the use of images to advocate for safe sex and AIDS awareness. He was a gay man, and he was diagnosed with AIDS, and he not only opened up about his condition, but also included this element in his work to allude to the social issues of the time.

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Farzat's paintings revolve around criticism of bureaucracy, corruption and hypocrisy within the government and the wealthy elite. His paintings, often without captions, are known for their harsh criticism and for depicting genres rather than individuals. Through his satirical cartoons, he earned the respect of many Arabs and the ire of their governments. Since the start of the Syrian uprising, however, Farzat's cartoons have been more direct, depicting real people including Syrian President Bashar al-Assad(Ali Farzat, 2023).

I think this artist is very useful, he was once threatened with beatings, but he dared to stand up, and he used his own hands to draw cartoons one by one, which satirized different social issues.

Bibliography:

Ali Farzat (2023) Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Farzat (Accessed: 04 December 2023).

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Hank Willis Thomas is an artist based in Brooklyn. He is described as a "conceptual artist who focuses on themes related to perspective, identity, merchandise, media, and popular culture." Thomas's work revolves around race, gender and ethnicity. As a black American, he was particularly concerned about the unequal treatment of African Americans and black people in the history of the United States. He has made many permanent installations to give a voice to these people who are not being treated equally.

Bibliography:

Drummond, J. (2023) 5 activist artists you might know and 10 you might not know... yet!, The Art of Education University. Available at: https://theartofeducation.edu/2022/07/jul-5-activist-artists-you-might-know-and-10-you-might-not-know-yet/ (Accessed: 04 December 2023).

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This weekend, we learned about activism. Various types of activism were studied in the classroom. In the class, we have seen many kinds of action art and learned what action art really means. Although this is the first time I have such a deep understanding of action art, I am very curious about action art.

Art activism is a kind of activism carried out in the form of art. When artists find some social problems, they will use art to express their views on these problems. They use their works to express their views, so that more people can understand social problems, and trigger the audience's own thinking. This can be done in many different ways, such as sculptures, installations, photographs, posters.

Brand activism is a way to use brand effect to convey information, they use the power of the brand to drive consumers. In brand activism, brands express activism in their own way, and this approach can reach a large segment of the population. And when people buy this product, it proves that people really support this thing, not without any action.

I think activism is a way of passing on energy in some form. People can use many different ways to express the social problems or phenomena they see. The success of this activity is demonstrated when it is taken seriously by the government and people. I think activism is a good thing for society because a lot of activism is a reaction to the problems in society today.

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Synopsis of brand activism from Chat GPT

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Synopsis of brand activism from Chat GPT

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Brand activism refers to the use of a company's brand or platform to promote social or political causes. It involves companies taking a stance on issues that are relevant to their brand and their consumers, and using their influence and resources to drive change. Examples of brand activism include companies that donate a portion of their profits to charity, or that create advertising campaigns that promote social justice or environmentalism. Brand activism can help companies build stronger relationships with consumers who share their values, and can also raise awareness of important issues. However, it can also be controversial, and companies need to be careful to balance their business interests with their social and political commitments.

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Definition of brand activism in my own words

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Definition of brand activism in my own words

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I think brand activism is a way of engaging in activism through the power of the brand, where people spread what they want to say through the influence of the brand, and where people buy products to demonstrate their support for the activism.

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Following the murder of George Floyd by police and the ensuing Black Lives Matter protests, the Vermont ice cream maker and Unilever subsidiary Ben & Jerry’s issued perhaps the strongest corporate statement on the matter. Its headline was We Must Dismantle White Supremacy.

Why ben & jerry’s speaks out (2021) Harvard Business Review. Available at: https://hbr.org/2021/01/why-ben-jerrys-speaks-out (Accessed: 06 December 2023).

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Beauty brand Glossier announced Sunday that it would be donating $1 million to Black resistance causes and Black-owned beauty brands as protests go on across the nation in the aftermath of George Floyd's death.

Glossier is pledging to support Black-owned beauty brands, as well as the Black Lives Matter movement, going forward.

Bibliography:

(No date) Glossier to donate $1 million to black lives matter and black-owned ... Available at: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/makeup/a32731503/glossier-donates-one-million-dollars-to-black-causes/ (Accessed: 05 December 2023).

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Nike’s long-running “Just Do It” campaign is geared toward getting consumers to pay attention to the brand, but analysts say its decision to add Colin Kaepernick risks drawing the wrong type of notice.

Shares of the shoe and apparel giant dropped $2.16, or 2.6 percent, to $80.04 in early trading after the company announced that the unsigned free agent would join the company’s signature campaign. Kaepernick is known for kneeling during the national anthem to bring attention to racial injustice—a move that, he says, cost him his career. Dozens of other players and cheerleaders also kneeled during the anthem, spurring criticism from President Trump.

Not all Nike customers took the news well, with many posting on Twitter their intent to boycott the company. Some users posted photos and videos of Nike products burning.

Bibliography:

Staff (2018) Nike’s ‘Just do it’ ad campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick has people destroying their Nike Gear, KLAS. Available at: https://www.8newsnow.com/news/nikes-just-do-it-ad-campaign-featuring-colin-kaepernick-has-people-destroying-their-nike-gear/ (Accessed: 06 December 2023).

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In this presentation, I prepared a lot at the beginning and practiced many times, so I mastered the time control very well. Although I remembered that I should not write too many words to write keywords, I still did not organize the beginning of the presentation well. I still put pictures of words at the beginning of the presentation, and I did not explain these sentences. Moreover, these pictures attracted people's attention, and they could not focus their attention on my speech. Second, I didn't pay much attention to my camera. So my camera couldn't pick up my body language. At the end, I found that my whole presentation did not have much connection with my essay. Therefore, in my next presentation, I will pay more attention and make improvements in these areas.