Study Task 4

A PARAGRAPH THAT SHOWS TRIANGULATION

The design industry has become a factory for corporation. Some people believe that the design world has begun to have solely corporate motives. We can see these views in the manifestos by Ken Garland (1964), Tibor Kalman (1998) and Adbusters (2000). These manifestos focus on trying to develop design into something more than just a corporate machine. In Garland's manifesto First Things First, he is gently pushing practitioners towards making art relevant, 'Nor do we want to take any of the fun out of life...We hope that our society will tire of gimmick merchants'. Whereas in Adbuster's recreation of Garland's manifesto in 2000, their tone of voice is much more urgent 'There are pursuits more worthy of our problem-solving skills.' Both of these manifestos talk about designers using their skills for menial tasks. In Kalman's manifesto Fuck Committees (1998) he goes into more detail, 'Magazine editors have lost their editorial independence, and work for committees of publishers (who work for committees of advertisers)'. Here, Kalman is saying that there are no more independent designers, just people who work for other people. These themes of independence come through in all manifestos, with the manifestos striving to push towards a more independent design future.

A PARAGRAPH THAT SHOWS ANALYSIS



This image is an advert for the company Heinz for tomato ketchup. It features a ketchup bottle shaped from real tomatoes, obviously insinuating that their product is made from real produce. The line 'No one grows Ketchup like Heinz' is supposed to be a play on the fact that they're growing tomatoes, not ketchup. Some may say that this advert wrongly insinuates that Heinz is just made from real tomatoes, it forgets to put in all the sugar and additives that they also include in their products. This image is representative of what the manifestos from Garland (1964), Kalman (1998) and Adbusters (2000) are saying. Designers use their skills to sell mundane products. Although the advert is clever, it doesn't show anything of the graphic designer who was behind it; it doesn't show their personality or their opinion. It's just a tomato ketchup bottle. As Adbusters said in their 2000 manifesto First Things First, 'Commercial work has always paid the bills, but many graphic designers have now let it become, in large measure, what graphic designers do'. 

A PARAGRAPH THAT SHOWS EVALUATION

Kalman's manifesto Fuck Committees (1998) is an outline of the issues that many designers face in the modern world. He focuses on the loss of identity that we see in modern design and the commercialization of a practice that once flourished. Kalman doesn't just focus on one area of design but goes on to compare even the likes of magazine editors and tv scripts. He mentions the loss of individualization 'All cars look the same. Architectural decisions are made by accountants. Ads are stupid. Theatre is dead' His seemingly aggressive tone insinuates his passion in this issue, forcing the reader to believe that things must change. He states 'culture and design are not about fatter wallets, but about creating a future'. Whilst the things that Kalman says are passionate and well focused, society can not ignore the need for commercial design. Kalman is very passionate about abolishing this trade that has become so crucial to the financial stability of many designers. In Garland's manifesto First Things First he says 'We do not advocate the abolition of high pressure consumer advertising.' Garland is more focused on people, whilst also making enough money to live, to design with freedom of choice. This is a more feasible goal for modern designers, use commercial design as a means of living, and use your talent for independence. 

A PARAGRAPH THAT SHOWS YOUR ABILITY TO PARAPHRASE, SUMMARISE OR PRODUCE A 'PRECIS' OF ONE OF THE TEXTS

In Garland's manifesto First Things First (1964), Garland is pushing forward the notion for designers to prioritise independent design rather than relying on commercial design for means of living. He is suggesting that for many, commercial design has become a way of life and the only design that many focus on, which he names 'trivial purposes'. Garland does not want to abolish high pressure consumer advertising, but instead for designers to change their priorities to something more worthwhile. Use commercial design to pay the bills, and also use your skill to produce things more worthwhile. He is hoping that as society progresses, the need for graphic design will become more worthwhile and not just for menial advertising. For Garland saying that he doesn't want to abolish consumer advertising for designers, it makes his manifesto more feasible. He understands that for many, this is a way for them to keep bread on the table. But he still pushes that thought into people's mind that there are more worthwhile purposes for them to be using their skills on.

Adbusters. 2000. FIRST THINGS FIRST 2000. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.manifestoproject.it/adbusters/. [Accessed 30 December 15].

Ken Garland. 1964. FIRST THINGS FIRST. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.manifestoproject.it/ken-garland/. [Accessed 30 December 15].

Tibor Kalman. 1998. FUCK COMMITTEES. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.manifestoproject.it/fuck-committees/. [Accessed 30 December 15].

rage the flower thrower

I am going to write my analysis of the Banksy image so that I can add it into my essay later.

One piece of Banksy’s works that I am going to be talking about in this essay, is Rage the flower thrower. The image is representing how we as humans should wage peace and not war. It is a powerful image, one that I think people should look at properly instead of looking at the price stamps. Banksy is trying to say that instead of throwing bombs, instead of making wars and fights and rage, we should be throwing flowers. We should be trying to make peace in the world. I think this image is a powerful way to bring important messages to people through the use of graffiti. I think the way that Banksy’s artwork is quite simple is also affective, as it gets to the point right away. His bold use of black and white makes his visual signature stand out, which some might say makes you stop right away, as Banksy is a well-known artist. In some articles, Banksy has commented on how he started using stencil art as it was a quicker way for him to do his artwork after having some close calls in his early career with the police nearly catching him. Even though I do think that Banksy’s art has become more commercialised in some ways, I still think that the artwork that he does is powerful and does send the right messages. He uses political and social situations to inspire his artwork and always wants the public to know what is happening, as some things might pass over the general public. So Banksy uses these situations to not only make himself known and get his artwork out there, but to educate the public about the happenings that are going on around the world. 

banksy

I wanted to look at Banksy because I believe he often tackles quite heavy subjects and draws society to a lot of the political and social issues that are happening in the world.
I looked at his website and these were some of the images that I am influenced by. They show how the art world has also been effected by the contemporary society.



QUOTES FOR BANKSY

‘In many places, painting graffiti is illegal. We don't advocate breaking the law, but we think art belongs in public spaces and that more legal walls should be made available for this fascinating art form.’ - Art Crimes Website

"I mean, they say you die twice. One time when you stop breathing and a second time, a bit later on, when somebody says your name for the last time." - Banksy

'After claims that his success meant that he had sold out, Banksy said: "I love the way capitalism finds a place – even for its enemies. It’s boom time in the discontent industry."' - BBC Website

‘Banksy will never knowingly be accused of subtlety, using imagery that is familiar to the masses’ - Leither Magazine

'But such attitude-based aggregators distinguish themselves from the kitschy Internet by embracing the premise that cultural production can improve an unjust society, whereas Banksy’s premise seems to be that cultural production can point out how awful everything is.' - NY Times

 
I decided to look at Rage the Flower Thrower in my essay. I decided to do this piece of art because I think it is one of Banksy's most popular and most political pieces. I think it says a lot about society and Banky's opinion on what is happening in the world. 

O'Shaughnessy

I was recommended to look at Nicholas O'Shaughnessy by one of my tutors. O'Shaughnessy wrote a book called Politics and Propaganda: Weapons of Mass Seduction. 

Notable Quotes:

• 'Propaganda in the social environment is often 'naturalised' and we are unaware of it.' Pg. 2
• 'It is inevitable that there will be no collective agreement about the definition of propaganda' Pg. 11
• 'to attempt to define Propaganda is to tread lightly upon a conceptual minefield.' Pg. 14

Study Task 3

Study Task 2

First Things First Manifesto (1964 & 2000)

Tone Of Voice

The 1964 manifesto and the 2000 revisited manifesto both have very different tones of voice. The 1964 encourages designers to turn their talent to something more worthwhile, while still saying advertisements are important

Key Points - 

• Today, we live and breathe design. Few of the experiences we value at home, at leisure, in the city or the mall are free of its alchemical touch.
• Graphic design in the advertising industry is 'wasted on these trivial purposes'
• Proposing a better use of talents within the graphic design industry.
• The world perceives design as unimportant commercial work.
• 1964 do not wish to abolish high pressure consumer advertising, but are proposing designers to favour different approaches.

Key Quotes -

• By far the greatest effort of those working in the advertising industry are wasted on these trivial purposes, which contribute little or nothing to our national prosperity.
• We do not advocate the abolition of high pressure consumer advertising: this is not feasible. Nor do we want to take any of the fun out of life. But we are proposing a reversal of priorities in favour of the more useful and more lasting forms of communication
•  Commercial work has always paid the bills, but many graphic designers have now let it become, in large measure, what graphic designers do
• There are pursuits more worthy of our problem-solving skills.
• In 1964, 22 visual communicators signed the original call for our skills to be put to worthwhile use. With the explosive growth of global commercial culture, their message has only grown more urgent. Today, we renew their manifesto in expectation that no more decades will pass before it is taken to heart.

Summary

In 1964, the manifesto complacently states how they believe that graphic designers are "wasted on these trivial purposes", talking about advertising for things such as "cat food" and "fizzy water". The tone of this message from these designers is that they urge others to use their skills in a more moralizing way. They, however, do not shame those who do these things as they state they do not want to "advocate the abolition of high pressure consumer advertising", as they believe it is not feasible. This meaning, that consumer advertising is something to pay the bills but to not waste too much of your talents on. 

The tone of voice of the 1964 First things First manifesto is not angry, but more urging. Some may perceive it as they just want graphic designers to be able to use their skills for something that will get them more recognition. 

However, in the re-worked manifesto that was brought out in 2000 the tone of voice feels completely different. Instead of the gentle urging they seem more angry that people still haven't changed from wasting their talents. For example, "Many of us have grown increasingly uncomfortable with this view of design", meaning that people from the public think that design is just something that sells tinned food. They seem more angry of this, and want it to change more suddenly "Today, we renew their manifesto in expectation that no more decades will pass before it is taken to heart." Seemingly annoyed that this has gone on for too long and nothing has happened.

Page

political/social upheaval: initial image response

I did these as an initial image response to my question. I wasn't really sure what theme to go with so i decided to do three little drawings representing different themes before i decide on something. I think these drawings are okay, but they don't really represent what I want. I want to focus on something in my essay so i think this will come across in my Journal as i start to carry on working.

political/social upheaval: thursday session

political/social upheaval: initial image research

Study Task 1

the first image shows a vintage advertisement for an uncle sam cooking range. the second is a 1930 advertisement for new transport links in East Africa. 

the first thing i noticed when looking at the two images were the strong figurative themes. both of them show bias opinions to western values and racial attitudes towards black people, however the ‘uncle sam range’ advert displays the racism more subtly with the boy cooking in the corner. They both quite obviously have themes of cultural superiority and the slave trade.

In the ‘east-african old style’ image, you can clearly see the women and children helping to transport items whilst the men watch over. However in the ‘new style’ you can see that there is no women, which is almost as if the Empire Marketing Board is insinuating that women are weak and cannot help out with construction. You can also see themes of misogyny in the ‘uncle sam range’ advert. The woman can be seen serving uncle sam. however in terms of hierarchy in the images the white man in the ‘east African new’ is the highest point of the image, which makes him stand out more and almost like he is higher to suggest he is of a higher hierarchy. but back to the original point, in the ‘uncle sam range’ advert the woman is the highest point of the image however she is still serving the man, showing the status of women in the past.

Both fonts of the images are big and bold, so as to make them stand out to the viewer. The ‘uncle sam range’ advert has a very westernised font, almost like something you would see on a cowboy movie poster. This is as if the artist thought “what is the whitest font I can think of… bingo”. This relates to the domination of white people, as in western America, the white man very much controlled the native Indians.

In both of the adverts you can see the advertisement of the benefits of technology. The first image promotes the progress of technology and America, as we can see on the clock from the ‘1776-1876’ which is in reference to the fourth of july 1776, when the American declaration of independence was signed. As it shows the date now, it is noting the development of America in the past 100 years and how they have ‘helped to feed the world’. We can see this theme from the “bill” that the earth is holding, with stereotypical foods that America is billing the earth with. The second image shows the development of technology through how transport is apparently developing. You can see a bridge has been built with trucks moving along. This kind of technology was not developed yet in Africa.

The images both seem to be aimed at a middle class demographic. You can see this clearly see this in the ‘uncle sam range’ advert as it’s like the advert is suggesting that if they invest in these products then their life will be improved. The second one is almost like it’s telling western countries how great the work is that they’re doing in Africa and not to worry, as if it was one of the main worries of old time white men.

dictionary define: technological

technological

tɛknəˈlɒdʒɪk(ə)l/

adjective

1. relating to or using technology.

   "the quickening pace of technological change"

'look at the picture i took of the thing we're looking at' liam walsh

'technological trash' by chris carroll

dictionary define: political

political

pəˈlɪtɪk(ə)l/

adjective

1. 1.

   of or relating to the government or public affairs of a country.

   "a period of political and economic stability"

   synonyms:

   governmental, government, local government, ministerial,parliamentary, party political, diplomatic, legislative, policy-making,constitutional, public, civic, state, administrative, bureaucratic "the political affairs of the nation"

1. 

   dave gillanders

   

   charlie hebdo political drawings

   
   
   

dictionary define: historical

historical

hɪˈstɒrɪk(ə)l

adjective

1. of or concerning history or past events.

   "historical evidence"

   • belonging to the past.

     "famous historical figures"

     synonyms:

     past, bygone, ancient, old, former, prior, from the past;  literaryof yore "famous historical figures"
   • (especially of a novel or film) set in the past.

   

   'hark, a vagrant' kate beaton

   
   

eddie adams

dictionary define: cultural

cultural

ˈkʌltʃ(ə)r(ə)l/

adjective

1. 1.

   relating to the ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a society.

   "the cultural diversity of British society"

   synonyms:

   ethnic, racial, folk; More

2. 2.

   relating to the arts and to intellectual achievements.

   "a cultural festival"

   synonyms:

   aesthetic, artistic, intellectual; More

Dancers pause during the Sinulog Festival in Cebu City, the capital of the Philippine province of Cebu

'cultural dance' by wale adeoye

dictionary define: social

social |ˈsəʊʃ(ə)l | adjective

1. 1.

   relating to society or its organization.

   "alcoholism is recognized as a major social problem"

   synonyms:

   communal, community, community-based, collective, group, general,popular, civil, civic,  public, societal; More
2. 2.

   needing companionship and therefore best suited to living in communities.

   "we are social beings as well as individuals"

'social gathering' by Bob Salo

noun

1. 1.

   an informal social gathering, especially one organized by the members of a particular club or group.

   "a church social"

   synonyms

   party, gathering, social gathering, social occasion,  social event, social function, function, get-together, celebration, reunion, festivity,jamboree, reception, at-home, soirée; More

2. 2.

   BRITISHinformal

   short for social security.

   "not everyone's on the social and taking drugs"

 my friends and i at a gathering

first cop task