Analysing Written Text

The Design of Dissent.
Glaser, M and Ilic, M. 2005



'It is shocking, it is clever- even funny in a grim 
sort of way' 

The written is trying to show how mainly in propaganda and political illustrations there a focus on creating a shock and something not commonly seen. 

'It seems to be, samizsdat, dangerous, forbidden.' 

Again the emphasis on creating a out there and never seen before design. The tone is fairly informal and the language is quite simplistic compared to other texts.

'a violent, unjust, criminal order is overdue for abolishment.'

Speaking about how usually the social unjust effects so many people they start to question the people who are in control. The tone of voice is very to the point and fast paced. 

'a cry of rebellion carrying everywhere at once, a cry all the more powerful for being entirely silent'.

Talks of the way that when something is overcome as a community it is usually done at the same time the feeling of wrong doing and justice is felt by everyone.

'It is even more of a miracle that the act of forcing the impossible is, in the history of political revolution, often catalyzed by something as flimsy as a poster plastered on a well'.

I think this is a really important point the idea that something so easy to create and simple as a poster can have such an influence on the world. It really speaks of the power of the image and how it can change everything. 

Finding research sources

Analysing Sources

We were given a task to find two distinct research sources in our case form the library asking the question 'what is modernism?'.

 

Modernism Oct 11 2011
Micheal Levenson 
With this particular source I found it was much more about the influences of modernism of the past and future and a more analytical book. This source was useful but a little vague in its definition of modernism.

Introducing Modernism

by Chris Rodrigues & Chris Garratt 

This book showed the ideas of modernism through quotes form artists and in a less complex style. I found that if there are concepts that are unclear it was productive to use different type of book to show a more simplistic way of thinking about the idea of modernism.



As a group we looked over our sources and discussed modernism being a change of culture during the early 19th century where the focus of art and design was changing influenced by new technological advances and less figurative and more expressive art. I found this task helpful because it showed that it is imperative in graphic design that you look into as many research sources as possible and try to extent your knowledge further, this will better your understanding of the work creating more informed and thought out designs. Try to avoid just using the internet as research because tho it can be a useful tool it can be in some cases unreliable and it is better to use a wider range of sources like books magazines and galleries.

Anaylsing text

Visual Literacy











The Uncle Sam Range (1876)
Schumacher & Ettlinger, New York

East African Transport Old Style
East African Transport New Style
From the Colonial Progress Bring Home Prosperity series of posters displayed 1930- 1931 Waterlow and Sons Ltd



We were asked to compare and contrast these two images under the themes of Society, Culture, Technology, Politics and History and answering questions on font, style of illustration, meaning, target audience and historical context relevant to production of the image.

We began by discussing the use of very traditional typography on the 'The Uncle Sam Range' that reflected an old american posted and talked about the very patriotic and imposing feel to the typography and also the variations of typography throughout the image wether it being on the clock or on the scroll both are very calligraphy based.

 Then comparing it to the 'East african Transport Old' and 'New Style' we felt that the typography used had a much more modern feel to it and the use of San Serif lettering showed much more clear and readable feel to it.

The different types of the letting we felt showed the printing technology of the time the first being very traditional and possibly hand drawn or a wood cut and the second being made with a lithograph print or letter press.

We then went onto discussing the actual meaning of the images and there social and political purpose 'The Uncle Sam Range 'image showing a well dressed white man in the colours of the american flag talking to a large human globe ready to eat a large meal prepared by a black servant or slave. The image states 'feeding the world with the aid of The Uncle Sam Range' celebrating a hundred years of the Decollation Of Independence from 1776 to 1876 and the apparent support of food throughout the world from America. We felt the image's target audience was wealthy white Americans shown by the exaggeration on use of the American Flag.

With 'The Uncle Sam Range' we discussed the difference between the two images one portraying a group of black women and children carrying large sticks, animals and pots dressed in traditional African clothing walking through the african safari. The 'New Style image showing a group of black men paddling a boat on the river, sitting in a truck and carrying boxes all dressed in more typically western clothing. There is a tall well dressed white man standing above everyone else over seeing what is happening and trying to convoy and dominance and feel of power of the black people. The image is again trying to show a good image England in Africa and trying to show how they feel they have improved on the country by giving them cars bridges and roads.

We felt both images were really trying to show what good things they do for the world and trying to cover up any kind of wrong doing on there part. Both images have a propaganda feel to them and are trying to show there aid in other countries.