RESEARCH

Most of the research I have conducted is in my blog. First bit of research I did was just about everyday life in quotes I wanted to get a feel of everyday life. I then started to research everyday life struggles such as love, relationship, friendship, depression, mental illness, alcohol and drug abuse, death, loneliness etc. and how I wanted to in- corporate some of these certain struggles within my photograph work. I then looked into equality and to do same sex relationship as that is a very modern thing within the media but I thought that would prove difficult as I don't know any same sex couple, so what led me on to researching more in depth about mental illness and the struggle that has on an individual everyday was the fact that my house mate suffered from mental illness and in fact self harmed herself, I thought it would make things a little easier for me as she would be willing to open up to me instead of just a random stranger as I'd be more closed off and wouldn't express the true feelings and emotions into the interview.

After I decided on my idea for the project I would research into photographers and get a greater understanding of self harming and the effects it has on people. These photographers include C - Paige, Larry Clark, Christian Hopkins, individuals on blogs who have experienced the illness, not only have I looked at photographers who portray mental illness but I've looked at artists and they are amazing. Clare Lieu is one of the reasons behind me researching this, the artist can capture raw emotion and can use their imagination to capture and get a grasp of the emotion, these art works look very much like a photograph. Another one is George Harding he has also suffered from mental health problems like Christian Hopkins, what I liked was that he turned Mental illness into a positive thing instead of an negative problem by talking and including people. Robert Lenkiewicz is another artist who has died but what made me so drawn to him was he painted a picture of 'mental handicap' and stated that these are people, they are part of society, they are ourselves and this goes for everyone who suffers from mental illness.

After looking and researching and I thought pop stars harm themselves so with the help of my lecturer I did just that. Richey Edwards from Manic Street Preaches he harmed himself before he disappeared. I wanted my research not to just look at photographers and artists but also people in society, its someone who is in the spot light and its saying that the pressure get to everyone at some point no matter who you are.

Research which I will need to complete the project is keep researching photographers and artists to gain more understanding and knowledge of self harming but also get an interview set up with my friend who went through self harming and let her express the emotions she was feeling, how she dealt with it and how did she got out of it but also why did she start self harming in the first place.