Visual Methodologies? Research question? Visitor observations???
I am currently working on my research question. My research question includes parts 6 and 13 of the documentation kit. I have not finished yet and, alas, my visual methodologies work it not complete. I could try to quickly write down what I have done so far pertaining only to visual methodologies, but I think it would be better if I covered the whole thing. I am studying the museums discourse through its visitors. I have completed three two painting studies, and four three paintings studies. They are as such:
Christian’s World, by Andrew Wyeth, 1948
And
Bucks County Barn, by Charles Sheeler, 1932
Reflections of Clouds on the Water Lily Pond, by Claude Monet, 1920
And
Agapanthus, also by Claude Monet, 1918-26
Persistence of Memory, by Salvador Dali, 1931
And
Illuminated Pleasures, also by Dali, 1929
And
Extinction of Useless Lights, by Yves Tanguy, 1927
Dance, by Henri Matisse, 1909
And
Red Studio, by Henri Matisse, 1911
Campbell’s Soup Cans, by Andy Warhol, 1962
And
Gold Marilyn Monroe, also by Warhol, 1962
And
Drowning Girl by Roy Lichtenstein, 1963
Starry Night, by Vincent Van Gogh, 1889
And
The Olive Tress, Van Gogh, 1889
And
Portrait de Joseph Roulin, Van Gogh, 1889
One: Number 31, by Jackson Pollock, 1950
And
Number 1, Jackson Pollock, 1948
And
Vir Heroicus Sublimis, by Barnett Newman, 1950-51
I wont go into depth about each one individually, but what I’m looking for is how people look at them and why. Discourse is most easily understood through the subjects it creates. I’m still working on the numbers for average seconds people look at each work, how many people look in 10 minutes, how many people take photos, converse, etc. I will combine these observations with observations about the works themselves, their spatial organization, the museum around them. Where are the works placed? Are they placed according to fame and success? Do the actions of the visitors correspond to this placement? Are they closely watched? Why? What effect does this have on the people viewing them? What other technologies and apparatus come into play here? Do they shape the fame and success of an image, or is it the other way around?
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