Visual Research: Sketchbook

Studio Brief 2: Visual Research: Sketchbook

I began my sketchbook from the quotation "The history we read [...] though based on facts, is, strictly
speaking, not factual at all, but a series of accepted judgements". Initially it shows visuals of the foundations of propaganda- this being explaining the difference between covert and white propaganda, which helped contextualise the effect of propaganda on history. I explored propaganda posters for topics from soap to WWI and WWII posters which led to looking at the reasons why one would be absorbed by the national patriotism and how propagagandists focused on the concept of honour, emotions, sexual atrraction and liberality.
Then looking into how animations may approach the topic  I referred to the Disney animation 'Der Fuehrer's Face', which was also the topic for my second essay. I really enjoyed looking at how political animations attempt to visualise war imagery with a witty rhetoric.This led me to find further political animations such as Disney's 'All together' (1942), 'Donald gets Drafted' (1942), The Hand by Jiri Trnka (1965), Tom and Jerry's Yankee Doodle Mouse (1943) and The Lonesome Mouse (1943). This developed into mixing cartoons with war imagery to create collages that I really liked the visual aesthetics of. From researching into this sketchbook I learnt a lot about the extent that Disney participated in the war efforts: over 90% of Disney employment was Government propaganda, 400,000 ft educational war which equals to 68 hours of viewing time and in 1943 only, 204 ft was produced. I also didn't realise how influential comics, such as Superman could be at times of war and how they were employed to educate and help with war efforts. It really reminds you that if you persevere with art, it can have a real power.
I touched on how propaganda for the exact same topic (Saddam Hussein) can be skewed to be more positively and negatively depending on th geography of where it is sourced from. Researching into male and female portrayals in propaganda was unsurpising for me, as infuriating as ever, but unsurprising stereotypes. Specifically the objectification of Jane at War, with the excuse that a naked body would make men better fighters at war. *rolls eyes* Following this, I delved into how racial sterotypes are portrayed within Chinese/Japanese and Black culture through the years. The premise behind the research is that the media are prone to portraying certain cultures in often negative ways. I was also prompted to look at the idea of national security possibly invading people's privacy which is what led me to the collages of street art insinuating that authorities with hold the truth from us, but that we can't hide anything from them.

Selected scans from my sketchbook

Colour Theory

Week 18
30 January - 5 December

The lecture was informative in reaffirming our knowledge of basic colour theory science and it's tendancies but to write this all out would be a list of facts that could be found on the internet rather than any kind of personal response and discussion. Colour theory is Colour Theory. Inherent to artistic/ creative practice nonetheless.

How do we know an apple is red? It seems we will never truly know, we all see colour differently. To quote Fred:

"You can't go up and grab the sky to show it's blue."

Consumerism

Persuasion, Society, Brand, Culture

Week 15 
9 January - 15 January

I have found this to be the lecture that I have engaged most with so far. Writing this with Valentines Day in a week or so, with my friends asking me what to get their significant other for the upcoming consumerist driven holiday of the month.

Freud said that we are oppressed by our own desires for civilisation, rather than satiating desires. And that human instinct is essentially incompatible with the well being of the community.

Instead methods are used to suppress and distract from any real social change, creating a curtain between the people and their opportunity to be critical and question more than the trivial. Many stay safely behind the curtain. Companies can use quick and easy tag lines to magnetise customers to their products by selling the product or concept of:
Emotional security
Reassurance of worth
Ego Gratification
Creative Outlets
Love Objects
Sense of Power
Sense of Roots
Immortality

We are bombarded with images and cultural propaganda which set us in a certain routine of purchasing and obsessing and purchasing. We are sure it will make our lives richer, when it just make us poorer...
e.g. Valentines Day- selling ego gratification and emotional security- chocolate, flowers and cologne for your significant other- emotional security that your relationship is strong, balanced and following the right path, and that you have someone to buy for so you are not alone (always portrayed as a negative thing around this holiday).
Aunt Jemima's Pancake Mix- selling a creative outlet- when this product was originally released people did not take to it because they didn't want to appear as if they could not cook, it was a source of embarrassment. So the team behind it simply removed the dehydrated egg so that people would need to add in milk and eggs themselves. This implication of creativity made it sell.

Simply put, we give into consumerism with ease, and we love it. We are creatures of comfort and habit.