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Probably binging Schitt's Creek in my room right now

Group tutorials with Bryan

Writer's picture: Shivam SrivastavaShivam Srivastava

Today we had group discussions with Bryan. I spoke about what my major focus is with this project. I want to deep dive into the history of Devanagiri script and find that one insight that helps me create a type-focused project. I started looking into the works on Fiona Banner, aka The Vanity Press is a British artist renowned for her diverse use of text and language in her works. She explores themes of conflict, sexuality, and the limitations of language through various mediums, including large-scale text pieces, sculptures, installations, and films.


Two of her works really inspired me -

  1. Dont Look Back 1999. This piece involves a detailed transcription of the 1967 documentary film "Don't Look Back," which focuses on Bob Dylan’s 1965 concert tour in the United Kingdom. She transcribes every scene, action, and dialogue from the documentary, presenting it in a continuous block of text without conventional punctuation. This technique creates a dense, immersive textual experience. The work highlights the limitations and power of language in capturing the essence of a film. Banner's transcription draws attention to the gap between visual media and textual representation, questioning how effectively language can convey the nuances of a visual and auditory experience.

2. Black Hawk Down 1997 - This piece involves a detailed, unbroken, and descriptive account of the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu as depicted in the film "Black Hawk Down.

It is considered a significant work in Banner’s career, showcasing her unique ability to transform visual media into a textual experience. Banner’s use of text goes beyond mere description; the layout, typography, and visual presentation of the text itself are crucial components of the artwork. The sheer physical presence of the text mirrors the overwhelming nature of the content. By forcing viewers to engage with long, unbroken passages of text, Banner creates a sense of immersion and demands active participation, contrasting the passive consumption of film.


I especially love the visual impact of both these projects, In Black Hawk Down, the irregularity in the text is profound. Lines jump and stutter, the narrative fragmented yet cohesive. The depth of the text captures the essence of Dylan’s turbulent tour, the ink impressions varying as if echoing the fluctuating emotions of the moments captured. There is an irregularity, a rawness, in the way the words are laid out, that resonates deeply with me. Each pause, each break, feels intentional, laden with meaning and emotion. In "Dont Look Back," the relentless flow of unbroken text overwhelms me, mirroring the chaos and intensity of the battle it describes. Both projects are visual, tactile, and deeply emotional, challenging me to rethink how I engage with text and the stories it tells.


Going back to a few questions I had about my project -

  • What am I trying to achieve with this project

Essentially trying understand the stereotypes associated with the south asian scripts for being considered backward and third world.

To foster a better understanding for the scripts for the UK audience.

Breaking the stereotypes associated with its assumed difficulties.

  • What is my ultimate goal?

To create a piece of artwork/project that not only visually engages people but also educates them about the versatility and diversity of the language.


What exactly do I mean by versatility and diversity of the script/language?

Well to begin with it is versatile not only in its capacity to represent a wide array of phonetic sounds but also in its historical and structural connections with other scripts. This versatility is evident in its influence on and adaptation by numerous languages across South Asia, from Sanskrit and Hindi to Marathi and Nepali. Devanagari's adaptability underscores its enduring relevance and its foundational role in the region's linguistic landscape. As a native Hindi speaker, I am used to the phonetic richness of the language that really helps me grasp new accents/ languages quicker than people from other parts of the world.


During a conversation with one of my European flatmates we were discussing how I easily understood the phonetics of Romanian language, to which I told them that my language has a wide range of phonetics that allow me to be versatile and articulate any sound using my vocal cords. Hence, it is easy for me to understand other phonetics so easily.


To further proceed with my research I decided to speak to a PhD scholar and expert in Hindi Language from India to help me find a direction for my project.


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