Filtering Ideas

What are my interests as a creative practitioner?

I am a drama instructor who has worked in schools for over 9 years, with both students and teachers. I am a puppeteer.

Predominately I am an educator and a storyteller.

For me illustration is an extension of these two things. It is another medium that allows me to engage and inform an audience.

As a creative practitioner working in illustration I see myself taking two paths with my work. The first is to create illustrated books for children that are enjoyable for all age groups (adults included). The second is a more personal journey of creating work that directly responds to questions on my identity.

How are those interests reflected in my ideas for theoretical investigation?

The idea of exploring ideology in children’s books directly links to the sort of work I wish to pursue with regard to illustrating children’s books. It is important to me that I represent a secular voice that imparts better ways of thinking and shares knowledge with children. To be able to do that one has to understand how ideology (positive and negative) is conveyed in children's’ books.

My other ideas for theoretical investigation were linked in to my own identity of being a woman in India with a Muslim name, married to a Parsi(Zoroastrian). I do believe these questions and investigations are worth pursuing on my own and may be too extensive for the current requirement. Perhaps these theoretical investigations need to be pursued for my own exhibition or book. Things that I wish to do independently of this course. The wonderful thing is that i have been able to create a strong starting point for something I will definitely pursue after my studies with IDI have been completed.

What are my goals in writing an essay for this module?

The biggest goal I have for this essay is to read as much I can about my chosen topic and thoroughly research and investigate before I write it.

I would also like to spend at least an hour a day dedicated to working on this essay. This will ensure it is of a certain level and quality.

How have tutor and peer feedback helped me to evaluate my ideas?

Both my tutors and my peers on the forum have really helped me make a decision about which topic to pursue for my essay. Both my tutors have helped me think about starting to formulate my final essay topic to allow me to find a certain level of specificity in my work.

Before discussing my topics with my tutors I was looking at very broad ideas.