An anthropological approach to urban vinyl. -some questions-

JesseFromJersey · **Posted:** Tue Feb 07, 2012 10:41 pm

Hello everyone! I have been semi active in these forums for a couple years now. I have also designed some toys and have a few projects underway as well.
I used to be a graphic design major so my interest in art has always been perked here and there by different mediums and so on.

My current major at the moment is anthropology, which I will be graduating come December with my bachelors degree.
I began to start thinking about how I could combine my interests into a career. My enjoyment of learning about cultures and humanity and my love for designing and collecting and all things urban vinyl and toys.
I was curious as to how susceptible the population would be to an in depth study of this not so small world of designer toys.

Asking myself some of the questions I might have in a research design, I wasn't sure (as I am still an undergrad and haven't had much exposure to the real world of careers in anthropology) if this way work out in terms of getting funding and pretty much being able to complete this idea. I'm still in the process of coming up with a core hypothesis of what I would be studying. Thus my questions for my fellow toy advocates and addicts is this:

-What do you think of the idea?
-is there not enough information out there in the vinyl world for me to research and complete a study? Am I wasting my time?
-any ideas on where I could take this next?

I would appreciate anyone willing to help out. I am not looking to start this any time soon, just throwing around some ideas.

Thanks in advance guys!

paul · **Posted:** Wed Feb 08, 2012 1:24 am

It would certainly be a deep subject to research. The vinyl community has so many sub-sections with so many points of origin that I've always thought putting together a book or something that truly details the history of where everything started would be brilliant. It would also be exhausting, though.

Michael Lau, Bounty Hunter, kaiju toys inspired by old Godzilla toys, the influence of graffiti and street art styles, this new crop of collectors who like cutesy stuff, the older collectors who want art pieces that have something important to say, the eventual progression toward customs and then art prints and then mainstream art. It's an interesting group.

JesseFromJersey · **Posted:** Wed Feb 08, 2012 3:03 am

You're right, there is a vast selection of knowledge and history that can be attained. And yes a book would be an option for where I might go with this. This would be a very thoroughly detailed and thought out process. Just as any other form of cultural anthropology study, It could take years of interviews, traveling and research to attain all the information I would need for a thorough book.

But even after all that being said, this is something that I have a great deal of interest in so I wouldn't view it as exhausting thought, but rather entertaining. Creating contacts, meeting people, learning the history and the tricks of the trade. Everything from the collection side of things, why people collect, for what reasons, why people design, for what reasons, how everything is made can also be included in the research and study. What kind of conditions are these vinyl products created in, from the major companies to the individual basement lab.

I feel like it would be very fun.

HaynMade · **Posted:** Wed Feb 08, 2012 3:22 am

I really like the points Paul brought up,

He's super correct about the mix of how this "genre" and "lifestyle" came to be, and the different "subcultures" that have been born from this movement.

The direction of where your research will go will really be dependent upon what your hypothesis is, and it'll help narrow how you're going to be approaching this project. I think once that's set, you'll be able to tap into a bunch of resources that I'm sure would be willing to assist you.

Best of luck!

JesseFromJersey · **Posted:** Wed Feb 08, 2012 3:32 am

Thanks hayn!
Yeah Paul did bring up great points. And me still being new into the culture itself has proven to me over and over again just how much I dont know about where it came from.

But yes the hypothesis will be the difficult park, well that and funding haha.

Thanks for the replies so far guys. I really needed some insight as to if this was something I could potentially pursue.

JesseFromJersey · **Posted:** Tue Feb 28, 2012 11:50 am

I would love to get some more opinions on this idea if people have them critiques, etc.

orlowone · **Posted:** Tue Feb 28, 2012 11:55 am

if you were to travel to a few comic-cons and take a trip to Tokyo, I'm sure you'd have all the first hand research you would need. It would be a very interesting subject to devote your time to. And I'm sure you can find grants to pay for it all!

personally, I would love to hear a detailed piece about how the toy craze fits into our evolution of collecting trophies, and how it is a modern manifestation of our hunter/gatherer roots.

grow · **Posted:** Tue Feb 28, 2012 12:38 pm

sounds like a great idea, while videos and books full of pictures of pieces are great i would love to read an in depth piece on everything from the roots to the reasons why people create and collect.
i love the idea orlowone brought up about the modern manifestation of hunter/gatherer, i never looked at it that way but its a good point. good luck

JesseFromJersey · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 12:04 am

orlowone wrote:

And I'm sure you can find grants to pay for it all!

This is my personal worry about the whole project of mine. If I will actually be able to get funding. If anyone has any links or ideas that they want to share, please by all means.

Thanks for your advice guys

HaynMade · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 12:20 am

Zenteeric wrote:

orlowone wrote:

And I'm sure you can find grants to pay for it all!

This is my personal worry about the whole project of mine. If I will actually be able to get funding. If anyone has any links or ideas that they want to share, please by all means.

Thanks for your advice guys

What university are you going to?,

Many campuses will provide funds for travel grants which includes attending conferences. I would also contact your department chair to see if there's any funds for what you're proposing.

JesseFromJersey · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 12:24 am

HaynMade wrote:

Zenteeric wrote:

orlowone wrote:

And I'm sure you can find grants to pay for it all!

This is my personal worry about the whole project of mine. If I will actually be able to get funding. If anyone has any links or ideas that they want to share, please by all means.

Thanks for your advice guys

What university are you going to?,

Many campuses will provide funds for travel grants which includes attending conferences. I would also contact your department chair to see if there's any funds for what you're proposing.

Montclair State University, NJ

Yeah I will have to maybe write a quick summery up for my department and see if they can point me in the right direction.

TashaLlama · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 12:45 am

It's an interesting and stimulating area to look at! I'd really enjoy speaking to you more in-depth about the academic basis of study and research into the ares.
What it sounds like you're interested in seems like it would directly translate into a career in curation. Gallery shows and Exhibitions in Contemporary and Fine Art require knowledgable people who have and understanding about where art came from, where it is now, and where it's going. Cultural Anthropology and Art & Culture theory meet here, where individuals passionate about art are celebrated for being current in the industries. Contemporary Art&Culture has a lot of relevancy to Social Studies in Anthropology, I'd posit.

It's not just curating gallery shows either- a Masters or Continuing your education in Curation is applicable to writing/contributing to/editing literature, working on & coordinating arts events or biennial, speaking and lectures/teaching.

I'm finishing my first degree in Visual Arts too, and for the most part it's heavily theoretical/historical/Contemporary and Fine Art. I've got personal interests in (Commercial/Industry) Art&Design too, which I've recently brought over into the academic sphere, and for the most part it's been really successful. Supplementing your interests in Designer Vinyl with insight into Contemporary Art would really jive with your interests in Anthropology.

JesseFromJersey · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 10:12 pm

I will pm you my email so we can talk more in depth if you like!

TashaLlama · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 10:41 pm

Sure thing!

orlowone · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 11:28 pm

do some research for grant availability. google offers up plenty of options. look for local, regional, national grants for a number of subjects; art, writing, culture, etc.

I had to write a grant application for school, and it wasn't too difficult. If you are really interested, pm me or add me on facebook and we can work on some details. I'd be happy to help you if you're serious!

johnnyvinyl · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2012 11:45 am

Zenteeric wrote:

orlowone wrote:

And I'm sure you can find grants to pay for it all!

This is my personal worry about the whole project of mine. If I will actually be able to get funding. If anyone has any links or ideas that they want to share, please by all means.

Thanks for your advice guys

This sounds like an idea which you might want to introduce on Kickstarter:

http://www.kickstarter.com/

JesseFromJersey · **Posted:** Sun Mar 04, 2012 7:19 pm

johnnyvinyl wrote:

Zenteeric wrote:

orlowone wrote:

And I'm sure you can find grants to pay for it all!

This is my personal worry about the whole project of mine. If I will actually be able to get funding. If anyone has any links or ideas that they want to share, please by all means.

Thanks for your advice guys

This sounds like an idea which you might want to introduce on Kickstarter:

http://www.kickstarter.com/

I have played around with idea of kickstarter. It's a fantastic opportunity for achievement among a wide range of products and ideas.

I am curious as to what I could offer people in return to their investments in my research and eventual book. Any ideas?

JesseFromJersey · **Posted:** Sun Mar 04, 2012 7:20 pm

orlowone wrote:

do some research for grant availability. google offers up plenty of options. look for local, regional, national grants for a number of subjects; art, writing, culture, etc.

I had to write a grant application for school, and it wasn't too difficult. If you are really interested, pm me or add me on facebook and we can work on some details. I'd be happy to help you if you're serious!

Thanks for the insight and I have PM'd you as well!

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