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Bibliography

Dineshwori, L. (2020) Eating while watching TV amidst the quarantine? It may lead to weight gain [online] Available at: http://thehealthsite.com/fitness/diet/watching-tv-to-pass-time-during- quarantine-but-eating-in-front-of-the-screen-is-not-a-good-idea-740449/ [Accessed on 1st November 2020].

National Statistics (2021) Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2020, London: National Statistics Pol Droit, R. (2002) 101 Experiments in the Philosophy of Everyday Life, Faber & Faber Kaprow, A. (2004) Essays on the Blurring of Art and Life, Berkeley: Univ. of California Press Sloan, B. and Pelling, J., 2011. Don't Hug Me I'm Scared. [online] Youtu.be. Available at: <https://youtu.be/9C_HReR_McQ> [Accessed 5 November 2021]. Sloan, B. and Pelling, J., 2014. Don't Hug Me I'm Scared 5. [online] Youtu.be. Available at: <https://youtu.be/9C_HReR_McQ> [Accessed 5 November 2021]. Coldwell, W., 2016. Don't Hug Me I'm Scared: the puppets who sing, dance and eat raw meat. [online] the Guardian. Available at: <https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/jan/27/dont-hug-me-im-scared-youtube-viral-puppet-show-interview> [Accessed 5 November 2021]. carmi, m., 2019. How to Animate in Procreate. [online] Youtube. Available at: <https://youtu.be/Onuy0Et9Qeo> [Accessed 5 November 2021]. Moma.org. 2013. Claes Oldenburg MOMA. [online] Available at: <https://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2013/oldenburg/> [Accessed 5 November 2021]. Clarke, B., 2013. Claes Oldenburg: Hold the Pickle? – ARTnews.com. [online] Artnews.com. Available at: <https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/restoring-oldenburg-burge-2200/> [Accessed 5 November 2021]. Whitney.org. 2009. Claes Oldenburg: Early Sculpture, Drawings, and Happenings Films Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen: The Music Room. [online] Available at: <https://whitney.org/exhibitions/oldenburg> [Accessed 5 November 2021]. Treading my own Path, L., 2014. [online] Treading my Own Path. Available at: <https://treadingmyownpath.com/2014/05/15/fair-trade-what-it-means-what-it-does-and-how-you-play-a-part/> [Accessed 5 November 2021]. Stamp, E., 2019. Japan’s Vending Machine Designs Are Like No Other Country’s. [online] Architectural Digest. Available at: <https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/japan-vending-machine-designs-like-no-other-countrys> [Accessed 5 November 2021]. Enorcerna. 2021. 13 very strange Japanese vending machines 2021. [online] Available at: <https://enorcerna.com/wiki/japan/13-very-strange-japanese-vending-machines/> [Accessed 5 November 2021]. London.danslenoir.com. 2021. Dans le noir LONDON amazing restaurant - Home. [online] Available at: <https://london.danslenoir.com> [Accessed 5 November 2021]. The Lazy Frog. 2021. Sensory Deprivation Float Tanks, Swansea. [online] Available at: <https://www.lazyfrogfloatcentre.co.uk/> [Accessed 5 November 2021]. Shakespeare, W., 1994. Romeo & Juliet. Lincolnwood, IL: National Textbook Co. Hirschorn, A., 2021. Remember Astronaut Ice Cream?. [online] Saveur. Available at: <https://www.saveur.com/story/food/remember-astronaut-ice-cream> [Accessed 5 November 2021]. Youtu.be. 2019. 30 SHOCKING TRICKS ADVERTISERS USE TO MAKE FOOD LOOK DELICIOUS. [online] Available at: <https://youtu.be/9k7PJoNAXkk> [Accessed 5 November 2021]. Victoria and Albert Museum. 2021. V&A · Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser - Exhibition at South Kensington. [online] Available at: <https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/alice-curiouser-and-curiouser#objects> [Accessed 5 November 2021]. Carroll, L., 1865. Alice in Wonderland. Public Domain Books. McCabe, J., 2017. Failing at Normal: An ADHD Success Story | Jessica McCabe | TEDxBratislava. [online] Youtu.be. Available at: <https://youtu.be/JiwZQNYlGQI> [Accessed 5 November 2021]. Pigliucci, M., 2018. Stoicism as a philosophy for an ordinary life | Massimo Pigliucci | TEDxAthens. [online] Youtu.be. Available at: <https://youtu.be/Yhn1Fe8cT0Q> [Accessed 5 November 2021]. Driscoll, J., 2014. From spina bifida to gold: Jean Driscoll at TEDxUIUC. [online] Youtu.be. Available at: <https://youtu.be/OPXymHaN67A> [Accessed 5 November 2021]. Liberti, S., 2017. Casually Suicidal | Sarah Liberti | TEDxAdelphiUniversity. [online] Youtu.be. Available at: <https://youtu.be/S8bJ3YlgL1Q> [Accessed 5 November 2021]. Young, S., 2014. I'm not your inspiration, thank you very much | Stella Young. [online] Youtu.be. Available

at: <https://youtu.be/8K9Gg164Bsw> [Accessed 5 November 2021]. Sartre, J., 1943. Being and Nothingness. Routledge.

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My video for the Pecha Kucha presentation. The story / explanation of this is basically preparing food (inspired by the food preparation scenes in Studio Ghibli movies). I wanted the video to have a weird atmosphere, so it has no words, colour changing light, and upbeat music. I added in scenes of the "fruit" becoming sentient or self aware at random points to break scenes, as I wanted it to look like a waking up sequence. Towards the end, after eating one of the "fruits" the other ones in the bowl become too nervous after seeing the fate of their friend, that they pass away from fright. So then they become ghosts at the end! In my story/ video, although these look like fruits, they are in fact not fruit. They are sentient beings that look like fruits, therefore they are a nameless substance. This was very, very outside of my comfort zone. I have very little experience with video making and editing, I have even less experience with gif making- illustration is what I focus on, but I wanted to challenge myself to do something I rarely do. I had a lot of fun with it!

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A different gif !

Although I couldn't make the gif I wanted for my video- I did still want to include some kind of gif. Both video making and gif making are very out of my comfort zone so I'm so glad that I managed to attempt it to an alright outcome.

I decided to do a very very simple gif for one segment towards the end of my video. Since the "fruit" in my video die (from the shock of seeing their "apple" friend die) I decided to turn them into ghosts! This is the outline of the ghosts.

I used a very soft to colour in the ghosts. I wanted them to look mostly transparent but also very soft and fuzzy at the same time. I decided to do the gif by saving the jpeg every time I moved the ghosts upward.

These are all of the pictures before I made them into a gif. I did this by using many layers, and then saving it as an animated gif.

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Can't do gifs - another idea!

Since I couldn't make the gifs, like the ones shown in the picture above, I decided to do something else!

I decided to make two sets of eyes for both fruits. One with open eyes (alive) and one with closed eyes (dead :( towards the end of the film!)

I added them to the apple and I thought it was quite cute!

I wanted both fruits to have a different emotive look. Sticking with the apple looking a bit angrier (red usually reminds people of anger) and the orange to look a bit more frightened and unsure.

This is a screenshot while editing this section of the video in the "SNOW" app! I thought the fruit looked quite cute. I know it looks quite simple and home made- but I like that aesthetic and I did it on purpose! It makes me think of obscure home videos / obscure videos you stumble upon on Youtube at 3am or something, haha! I felt a bit inspired by one of my favourite series on Youtube: "Don't Hug me I'm Scared" created by Becky Sloan & Joseph Pelling, with the first video posted to Youtube on July 29, 2011. https://youtu.be/9C_HReR_McQ I love the aesthetic, atmosphere and story of these! And I love how quickly the narrative can develop and change during these short videos (and during the entire series). With my fruits I was inspired by how many, if not all of the objects and foods in the Don't Hug Me I'm Scared are personified in one way or another. Such as this particular video, DHMIS 5. https://youtu.be/tS_Xq7gSCBM Taking place in a kitchen, with food, cans and other related objects becoming sentient! I added eyes to my fruit to attempt a similar effect.

(Images of DHMIS taken from: https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/jan/27/dont-hug-me-im-scared-youtube-viral-puppet-show-interview )

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Pictures for Filming

I decided to take some pictures when filming. These are pictures of my different filming areas! I'm not really sure if it is necessary to include these but I felt like it might be good. :)

I used a "sunset" colour changing lamp for many/all of the shots in the video! I thought it added a nice touch.

I used the app "SNOW" when taking pictures and filming. I used a pre-set filter called "35mm 04" on 50% for all of my shots, I think it added a really nice texture, so it was not too plain.

I'm pretty pleased with the visuals for this. Although I am a bit self conscious as filming and editing is extremely out of my comfort zone. I never do it- but I really wanted to push myself to do this!

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Gif - failed attempt

I decided I was going to make a little gif for my video presentation. I watched this tutorial: https://youtu.be/Onuy0Et9Qeo When attempting to learn how to make a gif. To be honest- if I had given myself a lot more time, I think I could have done this, however; I know I struggle a lot with this kind of thing and it was very outside of my comfort zone, and I know I was on a bit more of a time crunch, so I decided to eventually not do this- perhaps another time.

I decided to screenshot a part of my video to draw over for my gif, as I thought it would be easier to figure out a layout or something!

I didn't add any colour because I was getting confused and frustrated and realised I should have left more time for myself to do this! Although, I know if I learn more about gif making, I could make more in the future which I fully intend to do. I wanted these fruits to be blinking and tapping their feet as they are nervous because they just witnessed their friend being eaten!

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I took a picture of an apple and made a little character for it! I took process shots during each section of the process.

I wanted the little apple to look a bit angry, as they are aware of their possible fate! Also, because the apple is red- and the colour red is sometimes associated with anger. I wanted a more simple design- since I would be making it into a gif, I needed it to be clearer and more straight forward to play around with.

I used Procreate on my iPad to do these.

I included my little final image for the orange at the end- I might change some things during the gif making process, but I am pleased with how it looks right now.

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I took a picture of an orange and made a little character for it! I took process shots during each section of the process. I wanted the little orange to look a bit annoyed, as they are aware of their possible fate! I wanted a more simple design- since I would be making it into a gif, I needed it to be clearer and more straight forward to play around with. I used Procreate on my iPad to do these. I included my little final image for the orange at the end- I might change some things during the gif making process, but I am pleased with how it looks right now.

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I think this is quite cool, I like this one the best!!!

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Another rough idea! Not sure which one I prefer, but I feel like this looks like it has more of a theme or narrative with it

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Initial ideas for my Pecha Kucha video

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Claes Oldenburg - Artist Research

Claes Oldenburg is a Swedish-American sculptor, he is best known for his large scale sculptures of food.

I love the idea of large food sculptures, especially because some of these look so realistic. I feel like it influences our senses, because seeing these and associating each with the actual food it is a sculpture of might make some people immediately think of the taste- even though these are not items of food at all.

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Consciousness and Eating - Research

When eating food, we can often eat without really thinking about what we're doing, or we can fully engage and immerse ourselves in the activity of eating. Research shows that if you eat without paying much attention to what you are doing, for example, eating while watching TV or while watching something on Netflix, you are very likely to be hungry sooner than if you are more focused on the look and taste of your food. This is because your brain receives the signals of being full sooner if we are more engaged in the activity of eating (Dineshwori, 2020). The other side of this is that eating without paying attention could lead to overeating. For instance, if we have a packet of biscuits while watching TV, we might eat the whole packet without realising, which might be tasty but it would be better to be more focused and enjoy the eating!

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Eat, Consume, Devour - Research

In the west, we have a consumer culture and overindulgence. This is a western concept because we have an excess of food. To use the United Kingdom as an example, we have food through our own agriculture and from importing foods from other countries. The value of food, feed and drink exports in the UK was £21.4bn in 2020, whereas the value of food, feed and drink imports for the same year £48.0bn (National Statistics, 2021). This means we are importing more than we are exporting. When contrasting this to parts of the world that have less, there is an imbalance of food wealth in the world. Some countries rely only their own agriculture for food with little or no imports, while others rely mainly on imported food as they are limited with what they can grow or farm. This made me think about inequality in the world, not just with what we have in terms of food, but also with working conditions of farm workers in other countries.

Some farmers do not get a fair pay for their produce, which is why FairTrade food is making sure farmers get paid a fair amount. Fairtrade is a positive step forward in making sure farmers get a fair wage but getting a fair pay should be automatic anyway, in the same way that most fights for equality shouldn't have to exist if the world was fair to all. Which unfortunately it isn't :( (image taken from: https://treadingmyownpath.com/2014/05/15/fair-trade-what-it-means-what-it-does-and-how-you-play-a-part/ ) As well as buying food through shops and markets, many countries have vending machines for drinks and snacks. Japan has its own unique and exciting take on vending machines by offering hot meals like soup and chowder in cans! It can also offer insect snacks and alcoholic drinks. Japan's vending machines also have non-food items such as jewellery, umbrellas, socks and toys.

(images taken from: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/japan-vending-machine-designs-like-no-other-countrys )

These show a large variety of vending machines- I love all the different designs, they're so fun, bright and unusual! I also really like the idea of the flower vending machine, I think that is very sweet. (images taken from: https://enorcerna.com/wiki/japan/13-very-strange-japanese-vending-machines/ )

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Sensory Deprivation - Research

The next topic in my thought experience took me to the idea of restaurants that are famous for having people eat in the dark in order to heighten the taste of the food they eat- which is supposed to give a more intense flavour.

This is the homepage to the website of one of these restaurants- Dans Le Noir, which is based in London, UK. This restaurant invites guests to dine in the dark, in which you are served by unexpected guides. Since this is in complete darkness, the website mentions that each table is allocated a waiter, which you call by name when you need something- rather than waiting with your hand up as they wouldn't be able to see! This restaurant also offers wine tasting in pitch black!

One of the good things about this interesting experience, is that (for anyone who feels anxious eating infront of others) no one will be able to see you !

TThe restaurant has also hires waiters that are either blind or partially sighted, due to the nature of the restaurant and the setting. I think it's very cool that they're giving opportunities like this! (images & information taken from: https://london.danslenoir.com ) The concept of these restaurants reminds me of deprivation or isolation tanks. These are dark, soundproof tanks filled with water to restrict stimulation. The idea is that by reducing the three main sense: sight, hearing and tough- it allows or brain to enter a higher level of relaxation.

I'm looking at a spa in Uplands (Swansea) which does floatation / isolation sensory tanks, to gather some research. I found this particular one, named the Lazy Frog Float Center.

They offer isolation tank services for £40 an hour. When looking at the website, they list a few benefits of the tank usage.

The website also mentions that 1 hour in the tank has restorative effects of 4 hours of sleep! It explains that floating is simply a way to get the most refreshing rest possible. The participant spends an hour, lying/floating in the dark in a body temperature solution with Epsom salt, with relaxing music playing in the background. "Scientists estimate that up to 90% of the brain’s normal workload is caused by the effects of routine environmental stimulation the combined effects of gravity, temperature, touch, light and sound on the muscles, nervous system and sense organs of the body.

The float room screens out these external physical stimuli, creating a pure state of “sensory” relaxation. Under these unique conditions, your body has a chance to restore its natural powers of self-regulation, while you simply lie back and rediscover the latent abilities of a deeply relaxed mind.

The temperature inside the room is kept at a constant 93.5 degrees F – relaxed skin temperature. As a result, the nerve endings which cover the surface of the skin no longer perceive any sense of separation between the skin and the silky mineral solution which surrounds it.

In the dark, weightless tranquility of the room, the boundaries of your body seem to dissolve and vanish. As you enter progressively deeper levels of relaxation, even your body seems to “disappear” from conscious awareness because of the sharp reduction in signals being transmitted through the nervous system to the brain.

Free from all external stimulation, your body can achieve a state of relaxation, which is deeper, purer and more beneficial than sleep. With no body to look after, your mind can attend to other business. The sudden de-stimulation of large areas of the nervous system triggers a spontaneous chain reaction throughout the body known as the parasympathetic response. Muscle tension, blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen consumption all drop dramatically. The whole chemistry of the body changes.

Blood vessels including capillaries dilate, improving cardio-vascular efficiency and increasing the supply of oxygen and nutrients to every single cell in your body. This is called the vasodilatory effect.

Stress related chemicals such as adrenaline, cortisol, ACTH and lactate are removed from the bloodstream and replaced by beneficial endorphins. High levels of cortisol and ACTH are known to weaken the body’s immune system and create feelings of depression, while lower baseline levels are associated with feelings of confidence.

These biochemical changes occur naturally and spontaneously as by-products of deep sensory relaxation. No training or techniques are required. Just lie back and let it happen." (taken from: https://www.lazyfrogfloatcentre.co.uk/what-is-floating/ Images and information taken from: https://www.lazyfrogfloatcentre.co.uk/ )

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Nameless Food

I started to question the idea of "name" in nameless food. Does it have to have a name to be edible? This led me to thinking about semiotics, labels and language. Semiotics "the study of signs and symbols and their use or interpretation" (Oxford Languages) The sign is anything that communicates meaning that is not the sign itself, so the word "lasagne" is a sign to communicate the food that is lasagne. The food itself that is made of layers of pasta and cheese is only called "lasagne" because we have called it that. This reminds me of the liine in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (1597) "a rose of any other name would smell as sweet". Lasagne is an Italian food, most countries who eat this food use the original Italian name for it. However; the USA use the spelling "lasagna". Many foods have different names in different countries, such as courgettes (UK, France), zuccini (USA), corbwmpen (Welsh). This made me wonder, if a country doesn't eat a certain food, do they have a name for it? If it doesn't have a name in a certain country - does it even exist? After this, I started thinking about astronaut food. It is a dried substance that provides nutrients and energy to the astronauts, but it isn't exactly food in the traditional sense.

AThis is astronaut ice cream! I have had it before, it was a bizarre experience. I'm still not quite sure if I liked it or not!!! (image taken from: https://www.saveur.com/story/food/remember-astronaut-ice-cream/ ) This calls into question the notion of what food really is. If we can survive on powdered nutrients- do we need food? During the world wars, food was rationed due to the shortage, and in order for food to be long lasting and enough for everyone, people had a lot of powdered food, such as powdered milk and eggs. The people in the armed forces also had ration packs during their time serving. A lot of people, nowadays, also take these when camping. Another thought stemming from rations and powdered food was about vegan and vegetarian substitutes such as a runny substance which replaces eggs, for those who can't have eggs etc. This made me think about how a lot of substitutes for meat and dairy products are not really food as they are made up of a lot of different substances that are often hard to find the names of! For examples, the meat substitute Quorn is made up of firming ages, flavourings and mycoprotein, which is made from fermenting fungi. When thinking about what is and what isn't food, I started thinking about cartoon food. Some cartoons and animes show food that looks nice and makes the viewer really crave that food, but it doesn't exist- as it is only a drawing. People can make replicas but it wouldn't be the came!

Bacon and eggs - from the film Howls Moving Castle (2004)

Ramen from the film Ponyo (2009)

A cute little bento box from My Neighbor Totoro (2013)

I thought I would also include the famous Krabby Patty from the TV series, Spongebob Squarepants (May 1999- on going)

Scooby Snax from the Scooby Doo franchise! In the same way as René Magritte’s (b: 1898, d: 1967) La Trahison des Images also known as Ceci N'est pas Une Pipe is not a pipe, but a painting of a pipe, cartoon food is not food (unfortunately!).

Similarly, food in adverts, when promoting food is not edible. For instance, to look more succulent, tasty and appealing the food is usually made of a bit of food, paint, glue oil, foam and cardboard. 30 SHOCKING TRICKS ADVERTISERS USE TO MAKE FOOD LOOK DELICIOUS: https://youtu.be/9k7PJoNAXkk Usually, when receiving the food it never looks how it does in adverts!

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Alice in Wonderland - research (continued)

There is currently an Alice in Wonderland exhibition held at the V&A in London, it closes/end in December of this year.

This exhibition explores the origins and various adaptions and many reinventions of the Alice in Wonderland tale and aesthetic, over the last 157 years. This show is immersive, beautiful and theatrical, with big props used to decorate and many depictions of evolutions of Alice in Wonderland from the original book to the global phenomenon which is loved by many.

I have also included screenshots from the exhibition website which include some exhibition highlights. I think these are absolutely beautiful. I love the imagery of this particular picture:

A Vivienne Westwood ensemble for Spring and Summer 2015 collection. I adore Vivienne Westwood style so much, it's very cool that pieces were made inspired by Alice in Wonderland!

This is another piece I love by Vivienne Westwood, this is Bella Hadid wearing a piece for the Autumn - Winter 2020-2021 Paris Fashion Week. It makes me think of the white rabbit, from Alice in Wonderland.

This is another piece I really love, I couldn't find the name- but it reminds me of the queen of hearts!

This is a Fall/Winter 2006 piece, the sheer volume and busy look really makes me think of the Mad Hatter!

Lastly, this is a Vivienne Westwood dress (I unfortunately couldn't find the name) worn by Barbie Ferreira. It made me think of Alice! (Alice in Wonderland exhibit information and screenshots taken from: https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/alice-curiouser-and-curiouser#objects ) (Vivienne Westwood fashion images taken from: https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/happy-birthday-vivienne-westwood-fashion-s-biggest-baddass-turns-70 )

Some very quick (5 mins)n sketches inspired by the Vivienne Westwood pieces! (made using Procreate)