OUGD401- Postmodernism

Postmodernism, Postmodernity.

Postmodernism tends to be known as the point in time which is directly after Modernism. 

Postmodernism reacts to the rules within Modernism and breaks them. Essentially there aren't any particular rules within postmodern artwork. 

Postmodernism is known aesthetically for having multiple styles and approaches. There is also a theme of quoting/borrowing previous historical styles and reusing them. Postmodernism also questions the limitations of Modernism and allows for others to create art such as women, multicultural people and sexual diversity within society. 

Las Vegas and parts of America form as part of Postmodernism, this photograph shows how different parts represent different areas of the world within one area.

This shows how an audience want an immediate thrill and by combining different elements they allow for consumerism. 

This building is an example of Postmodern architecture as it contains different elements of other cultures. 

This is another example within Paris which is a form of Postmodern design, the elements which would take up space such as the elevator are put onto the outside of the building, this allows for larger exhibition spaces to be created inside. Therefore this building challenges what a building must be.

This building shows how Postmodernism isn't as serious in comparison to Modernism. One of the photographs in particular shows the building to made of cheaper versions of what looks like stone (traditional). Old buildings tend to fall apart and therefore they have shown the building to do this also, which shows that the building isn't just for its purpose, it can be quite humorous and fun.

This example of Andy Warhol's work shows how Postmodernism challenges what art is and what it can be, he makes art out of the ordinary. 

Tracey Emin also challenges art, she also challenges how women are viewed. Her work often contains situations based on herself. Such as this piece above on the whole people tend to think "slept" tends to mean sexual relations, however it doesn't the piece genuinely displays all the names of people she has shared a bed with including friends and family.

David Carson in terms of type and layout is incredibly famous due to how he breaks all known rules of Graphic Design. His work forms a piece of artwork and questions the overall rules that Modernism portrayed such as form follows function. 

Make Your Own Luck- Kate Moross

When I was simply looking through blogs I came across this post on itsnicethat. 

"Full of typography, illustration and photographs of her work and studio, here’s hoping Make Your Own Luck is just the first in a series of book to help designers and creatives overcome self-imposed boundaries."

This quote in particular I felt was incredibly inspirational and knowledgable in helping me progress and  develop through the course. The idea that the concept and the tone of voice is more important than a piece's overall style and aesthetics is definitely most important. As she stated here having an opinion makes you stand out and that is something which does give me some form of confidence and a want to create work which is quite different in terms of concepts. 

http://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/kat-moross

OUGD406: Origami research

'Origami is the Japanese word for paper folding. ORI means to fold and KAMI means paper. Together, they form the word, "origami." It is an art form that has been handed down from parent to child through many generations. Origami involves the creation of paper forms usually entirely by folding. Animals, birds, fish, geometric shapes, puppets, toys and masks are among the models that even very young children can learn to make in just one sitting.'

http://www.origamiwithrachelkatz.com/origami/origami.asp

http://www.origami-instructions.com/index.html

There are many different shapes which can be made and decorated with the most famous/popular being the crane. They can be highly intricate or incredibly simply.

Paper is the basis for the majority of print work in Graphic Design but is also present in other art and design work.

Su Blackwell: Through visiting an exhibition (Paper cut) in Manchester I had the pleasure to view her work and in particular her interpretation of Wuthering Heights. 

Her work ranges from sculptures from books which tell a story to installation design which works incredibly closely with light and therefore creates shadows which is something as a group we could consider with projections/ light. 

http://www.sublackwell.co.uk/profile/#

Instructions to a range of different shapes:    http://en.origami-club.com

http://www.artsandartists.org/exhibitions-foldingpaper.php

Reasoning behind the creation of crane's was for children to gain hope, it is believed that 1000 cranes can bring good luck.

http://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/daniel-britt-a-thousand-reasons

I found this animation made which informs people of the dangers in nuclear weapons linked the devastating affects of previous attacks and how cranes created hope.

The animation portrays the idea of community and how the cranes initially brought hope to children and Japanese society as a whole. It is said that 1000 cranes can bring a miracle which is what they created post affects of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. The sense of community works incredibly well when they are displayed together which is something as a group we could really work on in terms of an exhibition or website. 

OUGD406: Brief 2- Viral Communication

Viral definition: (of an image, video, piece of information, etc.) circulated rapidly and widely 

from one Internet user to another.

This is a development of word of mouth (traditional): spoken communication as a means of

transmitting information.

There is also viral marketing which uses to the idea of viral to promote businesses: a 

marketing technique whereby information about a company's goods or services is 

passed electronically from one Internet user to another.

I have found that online in terms of viral there tends to be two types of communication 

which ends up turning viral: advertisements and campaigns which are intended to become 

viral but also humorous video content or imagery which doesn't have a concept other than 

it is a trend. 

"Content should have an ethical appeal, an emotional appeal, or a logical appeal. A rhetorician strong on all three was likely to leave behind a persuaded audience. Replace rhetorician with online content creator, and Aristotle’s insights seem entirely modern. Ethics, emotion, logic—it’s credible and worthy, it appeals to me, it makes sense. If you look at the last few links you shared on your Facebook page or Twitter stream, or the last article you e-mailed or recommended to a friend, chances are good that they’ll fit into those categories."

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/elements/2014/01/the-six-things-that-make-stories-go-viral-will-amaze-and-maybe-infuriate-you.html

This quote was taken from an article in The New Yorker which states six things which states;

 'THE SIX THINGS THAT MAKE STORIES GO VIRAL WILL AMAZE, AND MAYBE INFURIATE, YOU'

I noticed that the main focus of communication becoming viral was that it must link to humans in some way whether than may that it evokes an emotion of some sort or in any way create a response. - ethical, emotional, logical appeal.

Examples:

Film promotions: 

Devils Due

The 'devil baby' stalks New York: Pranksters rig up remote control doll that springs from buggy and terrifies unsuspecting passersby

• The prank was the work of the makers of new horror film Devil's Due
• The results were filmed for a YouTube video called Devil Baby Attack
• 
  

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2539703/Remote-control-devil-baby-terrifies-New-Yorkers.html

This promo for the film devil's due became viral online due the experience around new york. Not only did it influence people through a physical experience it was then shared through youtube throughout the world. It proved to be definitely a huge success because of its humorous online appeal, the video contained very little speech and mainly that of screams and fright which is a similar reaction based on shock that the film gives. 

Another example of a film which used a physical presence as a promotional stunt was Carrie;

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/carrie-inspired-coffee-shop-prank-644555  

Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlOxlSOr3_M#t=121

The stunt not only affected those unsuspecting customers in the coffee shop but due to those speaking to others and also people who photographed or videoed the events like the woman captured above. These videos are shared on social networks and this form of word of mouth communication online is vital to make a video or event become viral. 

Dove Real Beauty Sketches: April 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpaOjMXyJGk

http://www.creamglobal.com/media/2110630/o-dove-real-beauty-sketches-facebook.jpg

Description:

"The moment that the Dove Real Beauty Sketches film was uploaded to the Dove YouTube page, it quickly started to gain traction around the world with men, women, media and even other brands sharing the film," said Fernando Machado, VP of Dove Skin, in a statement. "The campaign evoked an emotional reaction in millions of people that inspired them to share the positive message with others. Beyond just the millions of views and publicity impressions, it is the outpouring of testimonials from around the world that are exciting us."

The video shows a former forensic artist meeting a series of women who are asked to describe how they look. He was unable to see them behind a curtain and prompted them to detail everything: hair length, facial structure, their most prominent features. He then sketched each participant from their self-description.

Each woman was asked before the study to get to know one of the other participants. The forensic artist then asked each woman to describe the other's face. The differences are remarkable.

This campaign became so incredibly well known and ultimately viral because of its message. On the whole people do see themselves differently than others do, and the sketches somewhat prove this. This form of empowering women with confidence in an act of change is also shown within a recent Pantene advert:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOjNcZvwjxI

I think that this advert became viral because of its context, I came across it through blogging websites where someone forwarded it to me from youtube. Overall for an online presence youtube is an incredibly useful tool because it can be linked to Facebook/twitter and social networks. 

Dumb Ways To Die

http://dumbwaystodie.com

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJNR2EpS0jw

Initially this video was to create awareness of trains within Melbourne, Australia. 

http://www.mccann.com.au/project/dumb-ways-to-die/

This advert not only works as an online viral campaign but it was also transferred into a game. The ideas which can be transferred into other possibilities tend to be the best ideas. This advertisement became popular because it appeals to creatives as these tend to be the people who blog the most online. It achieves its goals in informing people of train safety in a fun an interesting way which is humorous and therefore appeals to a wide audience. 

Three- The Pony #DancePonyDance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ekr05T9Iaio

"Moonwalking shetland pony"  4 Million youtube videos within a week.

This was one of the most watched advertisements on youtube and was also seen on television. The amount of people who watched it forwarded it to their friends as I also experienced this. This advert became viral because of its humorous factor and like-ability due to the animal being a small shetland pony. There also became a phase where people could do their own "mix" this therefore allows interactivity and this could form a highly influential part of this brief in terms of the campaign created- interactivity needs to be considered as it makes people feel part of the product and for a form of experience. 

Water Is Life

video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxyhfiCO_XQ

Charities also use the power of social media to fuel their campaigns and get their message to a wide audience. Water Is Life used/hijacked the hashtag #FirstWorldProblems which seemed quite popular within 2013 of people mocking their own lives. The video has over 2.5 views on twitter and resulted in over one million day's worth of clean water being donated. I personally find the video quite shocking and intelligent in how they have used something which is popular and changed the connotations of the hashtag.

OUGD401: Modernism

What is Modernism?

In design, it was agreed that designs should not be illusionary or create false impressions. Modernists embraced new technologies. Also, design initiative had to allow for the mass production of goods – thus, simple forms were preferred over complex ones. The idea that design was functional was of prime importance, a key idea being “Form Follows Function”.

 The shift away from ornate decoration was politically inspired as fancy decoration and ornamentation was equated with the bourgeoisie and decadent frippery. Modernist philosophies embraced the idea of change for the better which fell into place after World War 1 (1914-1918). 
 The feeling therefore in the 1920’s was one of optimism and that modernism would direct the way towards a progressive society. 

For the modernist, it was an appealing idea that a design/artwork would be instantly recognisable to an international audience. Part of this internationalist tendency derived from the post WW1 attitude towards the need to bring countries together. There was a belief held amongst modernists that design and art could change the way people think. 

Modernism was adopted almost as a religion. It constituted a set of beliefs, which sat within a context where people felt they were living in a ‘new age’. The term ‘Zeitgeist’ refers to this feeling of “the Spirit of the Age”.

How western parts of the world became "modern":

Before modernisation the western countries and the world overall was governed by the church, monarchy/aristocracy and a patriarchy. These dominated and meant that only certain things were allowed which influenced art and design too. 

Modernism began through a shift in the way of thinking, an interest in science and an overall progressive outlook encouraged change. Included within this was the industrial revolution:

The enlightenment questions the power of religion and traditional forms of power. Modernism allowed for a democratisation of power especially in terms of art and design, they were allowed to create what they wanted rather than following those in power and following those traditional ideologies. 

Even though this painting shows a progression in certain views based on power, it still shows than women are oppressed by patriarchy, the lady pictured in the centre isn't covered like the rest of the people in the painting.

The revolt of power and revolution (especially in France) was highly important in the change and ideas with Modernism. This means that what is happening socially and culturally affects how art and design also changes. 

The introduction to new technologies such as photography also influenced the change within art:

"Two ways of life" links to the idea of what is the dominant way of life (religion, working hard) and what seems to be a new way of life and challenging the ideals and the beginnings of an acceptance of the naked body. 

Even though Monet's paintings are incredibly well known now, at the time the abstraction of the painting confused artists and audiences highly and it wasn't well received. This is part of the idea of Modernism as the changes in ideals and views in society also mean that artists question what art and design is and what it could be. 

These painting which work as a set show the opposite sides of society, the working class and the upper class. Traditionally only the upper class would of been painted as the origins of art was formed through wealth and classes, it was created for the wealthy by the wealthy. So for art to contain working class would be highly shocking and different. It also seems to comment on the social and cultural changes within art as it seems to be commenting on the ordinary instead of just the upper classes. 

Picasso was highly influential within art in terms of cubism and abstraction, this style of art questions the traditional forms of painting and what actually is art and design. 

Another example of this would be within architecture: 

These building in particular were created to be mainly for their function rather than their form, which results in clean cut lines rather than the traditional styles of housing which were aesthetically pleasing through shape and decoration. However the size and price of these buildings were not functional for ordinary people which perhaps doesn't follow its initial purpose. 

The Bauhaus as mentioned before in previous lectures was highly influential within Graphic Design due to the idea of how form follows function, these rules are still applied to Graphic Design because the works function tends to be the most important.