Tutorial - 03/03/2025

In this tutorial, I discussed my current personal and academic situation with Jonathan.

I explained that my personal life has been quite difficult lately. I had surgery in January, and my recovery has been slow, with ongoing health complications.
I’ve been struggling with severe depressive episodes, which have led to being signed off work, and I’m in the middle of dealing with legal issues related to the surgery.
Despite these challenges, I’m trying to engage with local support systems and considering private therapy to improve my mental health.
My testosterone treatment has also been problematic, causing health issues, which adds to my mental and emotional strain.
I recently travelled to London, which used to feel normal and enjoyable, but this time felt overwhelming and highlighted how much I’m struggling socially and emotionally.

I admitted that I haven’t been able to progress much on the physical side of my practice; it’s been mostly conceptual planning. However, I have been doing some writing for the course.
I shared my idea of creating a video project involving my sister and mapping aspects of my journey, originally planned for my old primary school. Due to the emotional challenges associated with that location, I’m now considering filming at my sister’s former primary school, where my mum (the chair of governors) can help with access.
I explained that I want to use large-scale maps and tape to create a physical representation of my journey and film it. I also want to experiment with adding interactivity, like giving viewers the chance to locate themselves on the map using stickers or markers.
Jonathan and I discussed ways to break this project into manageable steps, like testing the concept in a safe space (the school hall) and thinking about the logistics for filming and editing.
I acknowledged that, although I feel overwhelmed, I’m determined to continue with the course. It provides structure, motivation, and a positive focus during a very challenging time.
We also talked about the possibility of stepping back from the course if necessary, but for now, I’m motivated to keep going and find ways to adapt and push through.

I plan to speak with my mum and the school to see if I can access the hall for filming, possibly during a Sunday or Monday evening, or during an inset day.
I’ll coordinate with my sister for the filming and think through logistics for costumes, props, and filming setups (including potential multi-camera shots and voiceovers).
I aim to start filming as soon as possible, ideally before the Easter holidays, to give myself time to review and edit the footage.
I also intend to test ideas for interactivity with the map and explore different ways to present the work during the final show.

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