Dear David and John
I had understood 'formal problem' to mean a problem or issue to do with some
aspect of visual form as distinct from a problem that has some other
context, such as an intellectual problem, an emotional problem or a
practical problem. I did not understand Hockney's distinction to be
between, say, a formal problem as distinct from an informal problem - that
would be really complex and would justify a long discussion of terms. Or am
I being overly simple about this?
Kind regards
Tim
Professor Timothy Emlyn Jones
Dean
Burren College of Art
Newtown Castle
Ballyvaughan
Co Clare
Ireland
Tel. 00 353 (0)65 7077200
Email [log in to unmask]
www.burrencollege.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Haley" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 12:37 PM
Subject: Re: Why draw?
> John
>
> My apologies, it was late and please forgive my ignorance. Despite my
> interest in research, I tend to shy away from such terminology. I can
> only guess that a 'formal problem' (as opposed to a 'problem' per se)
> must carry some dialectical significance or attached discourse, as in a
> 'research question' implies a context and possible methodological
> approaches to seeking an answer, compared to a simple question. But
> this is conjecture based on my own intellectualism, rather than
> intellect, or the confusion of complicatedness with the simplicity of
> complexity.
>
> Maybe someone else can shine some light on this?
>
> Thanks
>
> David
>
> David Haley BA(Hons) MA Research Fellow
>
> MA Art As Environment Programme Leader
> SEA: Social & Environmental Arts Research Centre (MIRIAD)
> Manchester Metropolitan University
> Postgraduate Research Centre
> Cavendish North Building, Cavendish Street,
> Manchester M15 6 BY
>
> Tel: +44 (0)161 247 1093
> Fax: +44 (0)161 2476870
>
> On 26 Jan 2005, at 12:12, John Stell wrote:
>
> > The issue of whether 'formal problem' means something different from
> > 'problem' may well seem silly but in the context of a network devoted
> > to drawing research is actually significant.
> >
> > Drawing research very often involves writing about drawing as well as
> > practical drawing itself. If this writing is to communicate
> > successfully
> > to its readers we have to ensure that the terminology used has a clear
> > meaning. I appreciate that artists may justifiably use texts to perform
> > other functions than straightforward communication in a rational way.
> > However, there is a need for clarity at least on some occasions.
> >
> > I have heard the phrase 'formal problem' on a few occasions in the
> > past,
> > and I hoped someone might be able to explain what it meant.
> >
> > John
> >
> >
> > On Tue, 25 Jan 2005, David Haley wrote:
> >
> >> With the greatest respect, given that this has generally been (in my
> >> opinion)
> >> a very interesting exchange, this is now getting a bit silly - am I
> >> meant to
> >> respond to 'Why draw?', or 'formal problems', as 'opposed to a
> >> problem'?
> >>
> >> Frankly, it's too late and these questions seem to be glib reactions,
> >> rather
> >> than considered inquiries (don't ask me to define the difference!).
> >>
> >> I know, these are the things I should ignore, so please have a go, at
> >> least,
> >> to offer an answer, or move on.
> >>
> >> Good night
> >>
> >> David
> >>
> >
> > --
> > Dr John G. Stell room: E.C.Stoner 9.15
> > School of Computing phone: +44 113 34 31076
> > University of Leeds fax: +44 113 34 35468
> > Leeds, LS2 9JT email: [log in to unmask]
> > U.K. http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/jgs
> > --------------------------------------------------------------
>
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