Tutorial Questions : Week 2

Readings – Too Close to See: Notes on Friendship, A Conversation with Johan Frederik Hartle by Celine Condorelli and Support Structures: An interview with Mark Cousins by Celine Condorelli

1. How would you describe a “support structure”?
   
   – Something that bears, sustains, props and holds up. Can include physical or emotional support (seen or unseen)
   
2. What are some examples of “support structures”? Physical, political, conceptual, etc.
   
   – Beams, scaffolding, tomato or rose stakes, trellis, friends, family, voting in elections, charity
   
3. What are some conditions or requirements for a structure to be considered a support?
   
   – Something that helps with care, is helpful, assisting and something that doesn’t fall in or out, strong
   
4. What is the relationship between the supporter and the supported?
   
   – Integral to each other, one is not able to exist without the other. They’re close to each other but not consumed by each other. Autonomous (self-controlling entity).
   
5. How might we connect the format of the texts (as conversations) to her notions of support?
   
   – As conversations, the input of the other person is integral, it supports the discussion and builds the conversation. It’s only possible to converse if someone else is putting forward ideas and feeding into the conversation.
   
6. What is Condorelli’s creative practice?
   
   – Condorelli’s artistic practice consists of publications, and works across art and architecture
   
7. Can you identify the threads of connection between her writing and her making? What are they?
   
   – 2 process thinking and making. the two go hand in hand, we think while we make and we make while we think, the two processes support each other.
   
8. She identifies “friendship” as having a political dimension. What does she mean by this? How does she discuss this in the text?
   
   – In previous generations women and slaves were not included in “friendship” as they weren’t free people. The same goes for politics. men were the only ones who were considered “free” and could therefore partake in politics and then in friendships.
   
9. How would you define “friendship”? What about “solidarity”?
   
   – to show support, care and respect for someone.
   – Unity or agreement among those with common interests.