DUE FRIDAY NOVEMBER 8
Objective: To demonstrate your ability to recognize how visual images presented in mass media can be selected and designed to present ideas in a way that promotes a certain point of view.
Procedure: Identify a series of images-- a comparative pair plus two additional images-- that are intended to persuade the viewer. These images will be intended to sell merchandise, to promote a political cause or policy issue, change consumer habits or attitudes, and/or affect personal values and self image. Please note that this is NOT about the actual qualities of any objects depicted, such as merchandise in an advertisement. It is about the way in which the content is presented-- the ways in which images are designed to entice, influence, impress or otherwise move the viewer. Do NOT select images that use sex to sell, or images that feature skinny models or athletic bodies; these very obvious and pervasive examples were covered in class, and are too prevalent and obvious to be very enlightening.
1. Select a pair of images that show the same prominent political leader; one in a favorable light, one not favorable. The image might be from articles or editorial pages in newspapers or magazines, but not from a paid ad. Online media (news articles, blogs) can be used. The purpose here is to look at the ways in which the media selects images to present its perspective on the news. The pair can be either two photographs or two political cartoons, but not one of each! Explain the following briefly (1/2 page maximum for each) What is the purpose of each image? What visual features make them work? In what way does each image "slant" the message about the political leader?
2. In addition select two more unrelated images that are also examples of visual persuasion other than in the political arena. as follows:
A. u>At least one of the two images must be a paid advertisement appearing in a publication that is intended to sell a product, a service, or a social/ policy issue to the consumer. The ad must use visual images selected to strengthen the ad's message. If this example is also a quotation from an art style (see below) that is fine. Publication must be no older than June 2011.
B. At least one of the two images should involve a "quotation" of visual ideas from one of the art styles or movements discussed in class, or from a specific work of art. By quotation I mean that there is a borrowing of visual ideas from the source you identify. By art style I mean the style of a particular artist or of a group of artists grouped as a movement such as impressionism, cubism, surrealism, etc; see text for the full list of movements covered in this course.
This image may also be taken from an ad if you prefer, but might be simply an illustration chosen by the editor for an article. The image must be from a recent publication no older than June 2010.
For both A. and B. Explain the following briefly (1/2 page maximum): What is the purpose of the image?
Who is the advertiser or editor trying to reach?
What are the elements that are designed to capture the viewer's interest?
What art style or artist does it quote (where relevant)?
Or are other iconic images used?
How does the image designer use the visual image to support and strengthen his persuasive purposes?
The images must be recent, not historical. Magazines or other news sources should have been published after June 2011. The examples may be clippings or photocopies from print newspapers or magazines, or printouts from a Web magazine or news source you have located- do not use an image found through the course textbook or shown in class! If the original image is in color, you should obtain a color photocopy if the original clipping cannot be used Mount the image on a sheet of unlined paper. On the back provide your explanation, in each case no more than half a page. A sentence or two may be plenty in most cases.
Staple the three sheets together. Points taken off for paper clips, which fall off and/or stick your paper to other people's work.
DUE FRIDAY NOVEMBER 8
Objectives:
*To demonstrate your ability to recognize and identify stylistic influences in design, based on the material presented in class on
the history of fine arts, dress and decorative arts.
*To demonstrate how designers can draw on the past history of design to create contemporary designs
Although you cannot know exactly what was in a particular designer's mind, there is no doubt that the repertoire of historical art and design is an important source for new design. This exercise is intended to help you understand how the historical repertoire of visual ideas can be used in the creation of new work.
General Instructions: For this exercise you will need to identify three contemporary functional designed objects in three separate clippings that exhibit featuresderived from the historic design or art styles discussed in class. The contemporary designed objects may be fashions, furnishings, or accessories. The historic sources of design ideas may be similar objects from an earlier era; or the source may even be from another medium; for example, a furniture design that quotes from themes of an established fashion designer or design style, or a dress that borrows ideas from architecture or interior design styles-- or furniture/ fashion that was inspired by a work of art.
Limit yourself for historic sources of influence to choices within the Euro-American design traditions discussed in class. This means that
Procedure:
1. To start with select six to eight contemporary examples of fashion, fashion accessories, or furnishings.
Look for examples that are presented as modern in style, but which nonetheless seem to borrow ideas from the past. Such examples will typically incorporate selected features from traditional models, but will not share all features with that source. Also avoid generic styles such as tailored suits or shirts, dresses with tight bodices and full skirts, or very simple pieces of furniture-- that is, styles that have been worn/used in almost every period (unless you find a match that is exceptionally close in detail).
2. Go to the library You can go to the stacks and look at costume history or furniture history books. A quick online search using the keywords "costume history," "furniture history", or "decorative arts history" will get you to the right sections of the library. Costume history books will be mostly found in Mann Library, but Furniture or decorative arts history may also be found in the Art Library in Sibley Hall. You can use online sources, providing the historic examples are clearly dated and are from a museum or university sponsored site, or a published book that has been placed online. Private historic costume and decorative arts sites are frequently unreliable in their identification of items. Reviewing the online textbook pages for images may be helpful in reviewing the possibilities before you head to the library, but you may not copy images from the FSAD 1250 online course textbook for inclusion in the assignment. You need to provide a dated image from a reliable source as defined above, and cite the source of the image.
4. Label all images with their source:
5. Write a BRIEF (few words or 1-2 sentences) statement on the same piece of paper with the image. Merely indicate what specific feature(s) you see as a historical or cross-media borrowing.
 |