Controversial?

[ChevyBaby]

My class got commissioned* by the MET police to create some work of the borough to put inside their jail to 'brighten it up'.

I didn't turn up to the pitch because I don't fancy my work being put up inside a prison to be looked at by criminals - what would i get out of that?

Now my classmate is mad at me because he thinks i should be 'greatful' that i'm being commissioned* to show my work. My responce was that THEY [the MET] should be greatful to us because [and here in lyes the reason behind the asterix] they're not actually paying us, they're bumming free work off of students and paying a few bob towards any materials we might need should we run out.

Am I being a pretentious and up myself or do i have a valid point? I feel pretty **** now because he's making me feel like an outcast but I don't know who else turned up and I'm just worried that I've ****ed up, professionally n it might affect my credentials...?

 

[ChevyBaby]

Oh and also, i pitched my idea to my lecturer the other week and aparently one of the other lecturers 'stole' my pitch anyway so i would have been humiliated turning up n him presenting my idea before me - i think that's what put me in this frame of mind coz i wasn't too fussed before i heard about that.

 

[chito beach]

My class got commissioned* by the MET police to create some work of the borough to put inside their jail to 'brighten it up'.

I didn't turn up to the pitch because I don't fancy my work being put up inside a prison to be looked at by criminals - what would i get out of that?

Now my classmate is mad at me because he thinks i should be 'greatful' that i'm being commissioned* to show my work. My responce was that THEY [the MET] should be greatful to us because [and here in lyes the reason behind the asterix] they're not actually paying us, they're bumming free work off of students and paying a few bob towards any materials we might need should we run out.

Am I being a pretentious and up myself or do i have a valid point? I feel pretty **** now because he's making me feel like an outcast but I don't know who else turned up and I'm just worried that I've ****ed up, professionally n it might affect my credentials...?

You are being a pompous AZZ


I think turning your nose up at this work shows your true character, and yes I would be embarrassed


On several points I think you are off base. Im betting you are a criminal on some level, just not caught and maybe not as bad of crime.

Your work in an environment like that might actually help someone get on a new track

Doing work like this is a great learning tool and you are a student

And yes having your work displayed in MET buildings would not look bad on a resume'

 

[Overread35]

You can't feed yourself or pay the bills if you work for free. Furthermore publicity, whilst good, only works if it will earn you more jobs and somehow I don't think the services of a photographer will be much needed by those in jail. "Free publicity" is often used to try and get free photos because the company pay nothing and the photographer gets published - most times however all it does is undercut the working professional market and also rarely results in more "paid" work for the photographer (though they might get more "free" work offers)

 

[ChevyBaby]

ooh mixed opinions. i think i'm bitter that my work got knicked and i've got so much uni work to do aswell as finding myself a new job and a work placement. there's no way i have the time.

my work wouldn't change anyone! it's not that good, hense i don't show my work to anyone other than my class because i have to.

The piece i was going to produce was going to be a landscape of Dagenham [the borough the prison is being built - which isnt a nice place anyway] shot through a window because there are no windows.

 

[vtf]

I would think nice bright shots of the police in action posted in prison might be nice. Just a thought and whos bob.jk

 

[Derrel]

They want FREE artwork. Your time and effort is of no value. Don't bother participating.
When a large, well-funded organization approaches a group of people and encourages that group to provide it with free labor, or work, or goods, or services, the underlying message is, "Hey,your work isn't worth PAYING FOR, so, let us hlep YOU, by you giving us some FREE labor and product." Yeahhhhhh....riiiiiight....you'll gain so,so much by making artwork for those who end up in jail. Tell them to head down to the local mall and the poster shops, where they can purchase ready-made, cheerful posters for $4.99 apiece.

 

[ChevyBaby]

Derrel, that became exactly my viewpoint, i thought the whole concept was odd and that was exactly what they are saying - but if thats true why is my reply from chito so harsh?

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Wow.

 

[chito beach]

Derrel, that became exactly my viewpoint, i thought the whole concept was odd and that was exactly what they are saying - but if thats true why is my reply from chito so harsh?

Giving away a few prints will not hurt you one iota, will it help you probably not. does it help others probably so.

To me it just shows your character as a human being.

Some things you do because they are the right thing to do.

 

[Derrel]

Derrel, that became exactly my viewpoint, i thought the whole concept was odd and that was exactly what they are saying - but if thats true why is my reply from chito so harsh?

Well, chito feels that, "Doing work like this is a great learning tool and you are a student," so...there might be a clue in there as to how he feels about people who are students. Lots of employers are using students, undergrads and grad students, as basically free labor. Unpaid internships that are really "jobs without pay", working without pay or benefits so that paid workers need no be hired, searching for free labor just to be a cheapskate,etc,etc. Maybe you ought to ask chito why his reply is so harsh. Maybe see if you could book a week's free lodging in his resorts several $150 per night guest lodges...come up with a qualifier as to whom or what you "are", like, "I am a British citizen, so I'd like to rent a cottage for $25 per night...it would look good on your resume as a cultural ambassador."

 

[Studio7Four]

I can see your point, but let me offer this take on it. I figure they probably gave some guidelines about what they'd like to see. Interpret those guidelines to your satisfaction; think about how you can put your own spin on that so shoot something that you really want to shoot. (And if they didn't put any guidelines or restrictions, so much the better.) If nothing else it's a reason to get out and shoot.

If your picture is chosen, cool. If not, at least you got out to shoot. And you get the politically correct appearance of cooperating.

 

[Overread35]

Derrel, that became exactly my viewpoint, i thought the whole concept was odd and that was exactly what they are saying - but if thats true why is my reply from chito so harsh?

Giving away a few prints will not hurt you one iota, will it help you probably not. does it help others probably so.

To me it just shows your character as a human being.

Some things you do because they are the right thing to do.

True point, but even with budget cuts the MET is not an underfunded orphanage or animal shelter.

 

[tirediron]

Hmmm... this is a tough one. I agree with Derrel that an organization like the Met should be able to stump up a few quid for a project of this nature, HOWEVER, having spent the better part of 25 years in Federal Govenment service, I have no doubt that a local project of this nature would be something that would be extremely difficult to justify funding for from whomever holds the purse-strings for HM Prisons.

I would categorize this in the same way that I do projects such as the 'Pets with Santa' that I am doing in a couple of weeks. A voluntary, charitable donation from which I expect no return. Having said that, this is NOT a project in which I would participate simply because I don't believe that prisons should be cheerful, happy places.

 

[Chamelion 6]

I think it's a worthwhile cause. I'd probably have donated somethng myself. But that would be my choice. Do I think any less of you based on your decision or your reasoning? Not at all.

It's your work. You have a right to do with it what you want and that means controlling where and under what conditions it gets viewed. That's a personal thing. If this particular situation doesn't feel right to you, then you shouldn't feel pushed into it.