Date of Award
12-1-2017
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts
Department
Mass Communication and Media Arts
First Advisor
Needham, Jay
Abstract
This paper breaks down my process of transitioning to a new environment through ethnographic documentation. Through the progression of my creative work, I explore the various ways in which I express my own internal feelings through my art. By expressing an alienation within a foreign country in a multitude of filmic ways, these depictions help illustrate my mental and physical journey. My work is informed by psychoanalytic theory and I am most influenced by Jacques Lacan and Sigmund Freud. These theories help me understand the human condition and how I create media art to help me come to terms with my surroundings. Another part of my influence is the genre of ethnographic film, and in my use of this style, I attempt to portray the isolation that I’ve experienced as an American citizen while living in Ankara, Turkey. Many contemporary artists have influenced my approach to the post-production treatment of my ethnographic footage such as David Lynch and the Propeller Group. In addition to a summary of these influences, I discuss the thesis exhibition and my plans for the future.
Access
This thesis is only available for download to the SIUC community. Current SIUC affiliates may also access this paper off campus by searching Dissertations & Theses @ Southern Illinois University Carbondale from ProQuest. Others should contact the interlibrary loan department of your local library or contact ProQuest's Dissertation Express service.