MA-ness

Like starting anything new, there has been a lot to take in over the last few weeks. A whirlwind of information, timetables, reading lists and paper...meeting new students and tutors, all the while adjusting to a new way of thinking and working. 

This week has been labelled research week, and I am starting it by reading back through all my notes so far. Sifting through the rambling remarks on MA-ness and finding the bits that may lead to some potential project starting points, or areas that need may require deeper research.

We have been talked to about 'MA-ness' quite a bit over the last few weeks, and I have been having a little think about what it means to me; as someone who has come straight from a BA, I feel I have different motivations and aspirations than some of the other students who may have come back to education after working for however many years. I don't want to have a complete 'career change', I don't want to leave behind all the research and body of ideas that I have spent the last 3 years building on my BA. I feel like I have a fairly clear idea of the direction that I want my practice to go in. I know that I want to make contemporary jewellery that is a vehicle for social commentary, I know that I want to address feminine issues, I also know that I want to take inspiration from domestic, utilitarian objects to visually influence my designs and connect with my narrative. 

So for me, 'MA-ness' is going to be thinking much more deeply about the specifics in these areas, and find a more theoretical grounding to my themes. During my BA, I found myself really enjoying the research side of my practice. Not only into my narrative of feminism and traditional and modern female roles, but into jewellery and contemporary craft in general. I am very interested to see where the handmade fits into this ever growing digital world. I also would like to question whether jewellers can address topics with gravitas within their work and still create appealing and wearable pieces. I am going to research these areas with my new, MA eyes! Alongside this, I also want to bring a 'realness' to my collections, and undertake some primary research involving real women and their stories.