At the beginning of his documentary, ‘All In The Best Possible Taste’, Grayson Perry says that he is interested in finding out the different tastes of the working class people in Sunderland. He wanted to gather this information first hand, in order to create several artistic tapestries that represented the working class culture. He made the point that he wanted to find out 'why' people do what they do, wear what they wear, and design their houses like they do. He wanted to particularly uncover the meaning behind this, and how it reflects on the people themselves.
Firstly, Perry uses Primary Research when visiting a car garage in Sunderland. During the first half of this documentary, he was focussed on the men's culture. He decided to uncomfortably, yet strategically, quiz the men on why they do what they do to their cars and who they are doing for. After some of the men told Perry that by refurbishing their vehicles, they lose money, and gain nothing, it was clear that this was not the reason for their actions. After some personal discussion with some of the men, it became obvious that the reason behind what they do to their cars is to impress others, and ultimately, gather attention. This exercise was a form of Primary Research, as Perry did not focus on the common stereotypes, but spoke directly to the people that it affects. He included this research in one of his tapestries by showing one of the cars parked against a wall. This shows that although so much work is put into these cars, they are often not driven, or on display for people to appreciate and see.
Furthermore, Perry continued his Primary Research throughout the film when talking to various groups of people from different backgrounds. By talking to groups of people in this way, he was able to identify the similarities and differences of different situations. This would help him at the end of his research when deciding the key points to include. After speaking to various groups of men, for example, who were interested in cars, football, and tattoos, Perry changed his focus to groups of women in Sunderland. He decided that to get an accurate representation of a middle-class woman in Sunderland, he would need to dress as one, and experience it for himself. When speaking to a group of women, Perry was surprised to learn about the effort that goes into their appearances when having a night out. He was curious to learn about why women do this and came to the conclusion that many of them were aiming for a higher-class look. He used his tapestry at the end of the documentary to depict this and represent those women. This was another form of Primary Research.
In addition to using Primary Research, Perry also used some forms of Secondary Research, when visiting the Natural History Museum. Perry was keen to explore and examine Renaissance Paintings and question how he could use this style in his tapestries. He was particularly interested in how they had been used in the past to tell stories and represent people in history. This is what Perry wanted to convey in his own tapestries – to secure the culture of the working-class people and represent those that are keeping the culture alive. This was a form of Secondary Research, because even though Perry visited a museum, he studied some past work and thought about how he could incorporate the techniques used in his own work.
However, throughout the documentary, Grayson Perry also used Qualitative Research when interviewing people directly. He was invited into the homes of those with interesting and intriguing décor and was curious as to why this was the case. After speaking to a woman in her home, she explained to Perry the truths behind the objects that she possessed. Many of the 'materialistic' objects had a deeper meaning; perhaps were gifted to her, or represented someone special in her life. With Perry questioning the woman on why she keeps all of these belongings, she described it as keeping the memories of those that they represent alive and are a reminder of a life well lived. When creating his tapestry at the end of the documentary, Perry included some of these more in depth and personal details. He felt it important to include some personal memories, as well as group beliefs and opinions. When the lady who he had interviewed viewed his work after it had been created, she was surprised to see how Perry had included such realistic details in his artwork, as she expected a more metaphorical design.
Even after creating his tapestries, Perry continued to gather information from those around him using Quantitative Research. At his art gallery, where he showcased his finalised artwork, Perry was able to gather opinions and feelings directly from those who he depicted in his designs. He was able to understand what particularly stood out to them in his work, and why that was. Many of these people felt grateful that Perry had chosen to directly represent and symbolise them in his artwork, instead of as a metaphorical picture. Perry also used Quantitative Research when talking to large groups of people living in Sunderland and gathering collective and common ideas and thoughts. This further helped him to create a more inclusive, finalised tapestry.
Overall, in this documentary, all forms of research were the most important component in helping Perry gather information to create a meaningful piece of art. By using Primary, Secondary, Qualitative, and Quantitative Research, Perry was able to gain a broad knowledge and true depiction of the working class culture and society.
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