Day 1. ...

Today has been very interesting....

There has been so many things going on for TWO HOURS. First, we were introduced to our new project - contextual studies aka The Mirror. I'm not going to bombard you with the bored stuff of what I need to have how much of to make sure I pass(e.g. deadlines etc)... we all know we wanna find out what this is ACTUALLY about.

The Mirror ..

.. is about what it is.

We will be looking at what it has been used in the passed, future and present... wow that sounded very unlike me to say. But no seriously.. they use lock away mirrors back in the day.. don't worry we'll get there.

I had Hayley last year for my contextual studies and I was so so happy with her because she is such an honest person. What I mean is that she is not afraid to show what she believes in e.g. hypnosis. Because of this I absolutely admire her! The whole lecture she talked with such passion about every painting, every movie, every snipped, like she really knew what she was going on about. When I watch and see her passion she really send this energy around the room and she fills me up with how can I describe it - feeling that I just want to find out more and more and more and more.. you get the point.

Hayley bombarded us with so much referencing and history, knowledge that I have never heard of, known of or understand even. Painting, movies, people such as; The lady from Shanghai 1947, Persues 1981, Narcissis by Caravaggio 1597 - 99, Claude glass, Jubilee 197, Wishes vs. Wonders and so so so so so many other.

But I will talk to you today about the ones that really got to me.

In one way or another.

Feelings.

Wonders.

Believes.

Reality.

Expectations.

1. Alice through the looking glass - 2016 (film)

Very stereotypical for me to go straight towards the modern versions of what we are studying and looking at, but this is such an easy example to show and tell you how I feel about these topics. I believe in this whole thing. I think we HUMANS need be have a believe of some sort to keep us alive. I believe in the things that I have not experienced because I want to experience them! Well I believe in some of them because they have happened but also because somehow I am waiting for my time for them to happen to me?!

2. The money changer and his wife - 1514 (painting)

I believe in art. I am a creative person so art talks a lot to me. There are so many things such as; culture, meanings, religious that stand behind art especially in old paintings like this. Back in the day they had such as big meaning because of wealth, culture, religion and so on. It's so clear to see what shows what and how. Like this one - counting their money, exposing a mirror, even by just seeing that they had books which had paintings on them just speaks WEALTH.

3. Japanese mirror

Japanese people use to hide the mirror and or close them because they believed that mirrors attract evil spirits and by having open mirrors they are being released out in the open. Another one was that they use to believe that people use to speak to Gods because they found 600 mirrors underneath a pond which made them think that in that mountain there was Gods. So to some people it even became a ritual to speak to the Gods at the pond.

4. Anish Kooper

To be honest, I just like his work. He is such a fascinating person to me, I can't tell you why.. but placing big ASS mirrors around the world and people constantly reflecting into them everyday ... don't call me crazy but surely there is some sort of energy right there.

Overall,

there are so many other interesting things to look and write about that we learned today, but these and a few other really grabbed my attention.

My believes,

Since I was little my Mum use always tell me; "don't look for to long in the mirror".

"It's not good for you."

"Only narcissistic people stare at themselves in the mirrors"

"Only people who don't believe they are enough need mirror to reassure themselves"

and all my life I have lived and still live and believe in these things because of the way I have grown up. I once did a little experiment and I said to myself I will stare into this mirror. I will DEEPLY look inside - since then I can't forget that night. I stared so long and so deeply that I saw my own eyes inside changing their size and it freaked me out. Now as I am writing this I can still see them it's like it just happened. Mirrors are a very interesting thing. So many opinions, stories, history, meanings, etc. Mirrors have always creeper me out a little bit because even though it's nice to see yourself, someone is always look at you. Staring. Right. Back. At. You.

I am absolutely BUZZED and EXCITED for this contextual studies. I can't wait to see what else I am going to learn and find out about mirrors that I didn't know. Personally, I believe that right now I should start exploring and looking at ideas of what mirrors can and could be. It will be interesting to find out some research to see how people feel about them.