Task 5 - Practical Approaches

After more research I've decided to explore the relationship humans have had with animals; the myths and symbolism humans project on to animals in different cultures and countries through the ages and the complex and destructive impact these beliefs and cultural traditions can have on animals.

I need to simplify the practical approach in order to communicate my themes. I will compare how a certain animal's reputation and cultural, symbolic meaning can change in each country. Using a small group of animals or even just one I can effectively communicate what I want to my audience.

To keep the practical process simple I will look at the dog and how it has been perceived through history throughout various cultures and how it is viewed in modern society around the world. Dogs have become loyal friends of humans over thousands of years but today despite being seen as pets in the UK they are often eaten in some Asian countries. Using one animal will allow me to bring my research into sharper focus and have a solid body of research to inform my practical work well.

The work will be a series of editorial illustrations that could be used alongside a magazine or journal piece of writing about the subjects I want to explore.

I want to continue trying to develop my own process, using a digital drawing process that communicates the emotion and sincerity of the subject's context. I will also experiment with other processes, particularly ink drawings and collage.  

Themes

Certain themes in my research are reoccurring. 

Fear of the dark

• mistrust and suspicion of animals with black colouring
• medieval fear of nocturnal animals - how did they see in the dark?
• Times before electricity people were more naturally wary of the night and the creatures that became more active in the pitch black of night
• fear of the unknown - many myths were born from lack of understanding

Dogs throughout folklore and culture have been portrayed as heroes and loyal protectors but also symbols of evil or omens of death. All these are entirely projected on to the dog by humans. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kxg0_EpOcWs Chinese Zodiac

Tolkien - David Day
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Nzh93npJTe4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=tolkien+the+illustrated+encyclopedia&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiP5O7Cu5baAhXICsAKHTVSAKUQ6AEIJzAA#v=onepage&q=tolkien%20the%20illustrated%20encyclopedia&f=false

No Go the Bogeyman - Marina Warner https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=mTKbiv43hJYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=no+go+the+bogeyman&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiC4rHLupbaAhXlAsAKHSpxCvoQ6AEIJzAA#v=onepage&q=no%20go%20the%20bogeyman&f=false

Black Cats & April Fools - Harry Oliver
https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=JI3jq20ohZoC&oi=fnd&pg=PT5&dq=black+cats+and+april+fools&ots=KMhOMGO3GK&sig=n2rFIlWDQXb72C9Mjeey1u4-WQQ#v=onepage&q=black%20cats%20and%20april%20fools&f=false

http://www.reeldogs.com/dogs-of-horror/

http://www.gulfcoastgreyhounds.org/hist-mid-ren.html Greyhound History in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_dog_(ghost)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anubis