Overview / Topics of Interest:
I need to be fully engaged with my theme, topic and subject matter in order to allow myself to work at my best. Like many others, if I’m not passionate about something then I don’t work as well as what I would do if I was. I base the majority of my projects around people, public opinion and debate because I find it extremely interesting to converse with the public and find out what they think about certain matter. I love the range of answers, the patterns and trends and the rare surprises within the outcomes. The public are unpredictable, when working with them I never know what to expect in terms of their reactions to what I want them to do or their responses to what I’m asking them. I want to come across public interaction at some point throughout this project. For a long time now I’ve been interesting in studying and capturing the results to experiments of rapid germ spreading in society. My interest began after watching a science experiment on the TV programme ‘Mythbusters’. I will base my project around the growth of germs, bacteria and disease and the causes, problems and solutions surrounding this topic and how this goes side by side with the suffers of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
Introduction / Research Question:
I’m interested in researching the rates at what particular germs, bacteria’s and diseases spread at within different scenarios plus the effects they have upon society. I want to find out more about people with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and how their obsession with fighting germs takes over their lives exploring the effects it has on their mental and physical health.
Aims and Objectives:
- To gain wider knowledge on the spread of germs, bacteria and disease.
- To develop a theme from germs, bacteria and disease.
- To research statistics and similar topics surrounding this area.
- To develop my idea and have a clear understanding of what my end result can be.
- To create a body of work that captures and portrays clearly the vision intended.- To research the symptoms and effects that people with OCD have.
- To understand the struggles an OCD sufferer faces throughout daily life.
- To look into the reasons why people with OCD actually suffer from the disorder.
- To meet and spend time with people with OCD to understand how they live.
- To talk to OCD suffers/attend meetings and listen to their stories.
Rationale: This project is something that I've wanted to do for a long time so what I’ll get out of it will be the sense of achievement after completion as well as more knowledge and understanding on my chosen topic. This project begins as portraying a ‘problem’ within society, a problem which we can’t completely solve yet can control, this being the rapid spread of germs, bacteria and disease and how it effects the lives of people with OCD. Development will allow me to capture a message and/or solution to my initial idea. This project has value to others in the way that it will widen their knowledge on the chosen subject matter as well as offer my way of thinking on the subject for the public to look upon and think about and judge.
Previous research:The reasoning behind this idea has sprung from doing ‘accidental research’ through watching TV programmes which highlighted the problems surrounding ‘the spread of germs’, at the time I was merely watching them for entertainment and not research or ideas. I will now re-visit these programmes and watch them in an analytical and structured way in order to use them in aiding my with my project development.
General Methodology:The ‘Mythbuster’ experiment which aided in triggering my passion for this topic goes as follows: A glow in the dark liquid formula was used to symbolize the germs spread when someone has a common cold, the formula was the ‘mucus’ which was fitted to the outside on the nose and after this person sat through a dinner party set up the lights were turned off which revealed the extensive spread of the ‘germ’ formula. I want to capture results to a modified and personalised experiment in a similar way to this through a series of stills. I will explore the rates at which germs spread before tackling the main part to my project which will be the effects this has upon suffers to OCD.
Over the summer I was in contact with the science department in university and have been arranging with the lab technicians for me to go over and learn then put into practice taking photos of live specimens, germs and bacteria through a microscope. I will chase up my contacts and set a few dates on order to complete this aim.
Gordis, L. (2008). Epidemiology. Philadelphia: Pa; London: Saunders.
Miller, J. (2001). Germs: the ultimate weapon. New york; London: simon & Schuster.
Open University Environmental Control and Public Health Course Team. (1995). Environmental control and public health. Milton Keynes: Open University.
Singlton, P. (1981) Introduction to bacteria: for students in the biological sciences. Chichester: Wiley.
Sokatch, J Robert; Ornston, L; Iglewski, B, Clark, V; Gunsalus, I. (1990). The Bacteria: a treatise on structure and function. London: academic press
Zimmerman, B; Zimmerman, D. (2003). Killer germs: microbes and diseases that threaten humanity. Chicago: Comtemporary Books.
Qualifications and Restrictions:
My biggest concern is working with lots of things that I've never worked with or had little experience with before like UV lighting, microscope photography and studio work. I’ll be restricted in what I can learn and put in practice in the time frame given for this project.
Replying on people is not something I like to do especially when it comes to time restricted photography projects because it allows for some of that control which is needed to get the work finished, to be in the hands of someone else. This particular project forces me to rely on a lab technician who will spare their time to aid me in the lab and without this person I won’t be allowed to go ahead with attempting the lab work so I'm relying on that person to find the time for me and stick to it. Throughout small aspects of the project I will also require models which can sometimes restrict the completion of the project due to co-operation, timing and availability. I'll also be relying on the suffers of OCD to provide me an incite to their world, without this, I have no project.
Specialist needs:
- Lab access
- Micro scope access
- Skin friendly UV paint access
- Microscope photography training
- UV lighting photography training
- Germ/Bacteria/Disease knowledge
- Studio set up/lighting workshop
- Studio Space availability
- Find models willing to have UV paint on their face
- Locate OCD suffers
- Build relationships with OCD suffers to ensure they feel comfortable talking to me
- Locate OCD suffers
- Build relationships with OCD suffers to ensure they feel comfortable talking to me
Initial Bibliography:
Gordis, L. (2008). Epidemiology. Philadelphia: Pa; London: Saunders.
Miller, J. (2001). Germs: the ultimate weapon. New york; London: simon & Schuster.
Open University Environmental Control and Public Health Course Team. (1995). Environmental control and public health. Milton Keynes: Open University.
Singlton, P. (1981) Introduction to bacteria: for students in the biological sciences. Chichester: Wiley.
Sokatch, J Robert; Ornston, L; Iglewski, B, Clark, V; Gunsalus, I. (1990). The Bacteria: a treatise on structure and function. London: academic press
Zimmerman, B; Zimmerman, D. (2003). Killer germs: microbes and diseases that threaten humanity. Chicago: Comtemporary Books.
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