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