Prior to beginning the Illustration project, you will gather and sketch out ideas for your poster art design. Before we do that, let's explore concepts surrounding the subjects presented.
Task #1: Visual Culture
First, let's ask ourselves, "What is Visual Culture?" Visual culture communicates parts of our larger culture through images, and are visuals we interact with on a daily basis! For example, iconic consumerist symbols such as McDonald's and Pepsi ads would be considered a part of visual culture. Popular toys like Barbie and Lego, via physical play, sold in large stores, and seen through advertisements on t.v, billboards, newspapers and magazines are all a part of visual culture. Videogames, smartphones, and the many sources of technology; apps, emoticons, memes, and other technological icons are all aspects of visual culture.
Now, Let's view a few examples of Visual Culture being used in art.
Before moving on to Task #2 below, use the internet to find an example of Visual Culture, and post the image to the photo pool in our class Flickr page. Title the image: Visual Culture WebQuest and provide a link to where you found it.
This is a painting by American artist Tom Wesselmann. He uses iconic images, such as the portrait of Abraham LIncoln, alongside visual cultural images like the television set and bottles of beer sitting on a kitchen table.
This is Pop Artist Andy Warhol's most famous artwork: Campbell's Soup Can. It is an iconic image from American culture, a symbol for mass produced goods and advertising. Click on MoMA to learn more.
This is a collage by British artist, Richard Hamilton, titled, Just what is it that makes today's homes so different, so appealing? This was made in 1956, a time after WWII when American popular culture and advertising infiltrated Great Britian. The Tootsie Roll pop, canned ham, and film posters are all examples of Visual Culture.
Task #3: Poster Art
For the Illustration project you will create poster art which communicates a specific idea to the viewer. The following examples and links to poster art are provided to help generate visual ideas and elements of poster design, which you will explore further in the next section of this WebQuest.
Go to Cuban Poster Art to view more images similiar to the ones below.
To view a variety of posters, go to history of posters. You will need to scroll down the page to see the content. Click on the various links throughout the text to explore more art than what is on the page.
Task #2: Social Culture Commentary
The Illustration project will involve creating a commentary on social culture and/or communicating visual culture. The following terms will be helpful in understanding how to build a concept for this project.
Juxtaposition:
Before moving on to Task #3, visit the following link: http://www.adbusters.org/spoofads/. Go to our class Flickr Discussion page, and briefly respond to the "ads" you looked at using critical reflection.
when two contrasting images and/or ideas are placed next to each other.
In this image by street artist Banksy, the constrasting ideas are portrayed through text (erasing the -ing to form the word PARK) and the image of the little girl on a swing (on the wall of a parking lot instead of a green park).
Remix:
taking popular images and adding different elements to create a new and revised work, often times communicating a critique of culture (social/visual).
In this artwork, an iconic image, the Mona Lisa, is remixed through pixelation, creating several possibities for commentary.
Culture Jamming:
a method for critiquing social culture, which focuses on anti-consumerism and corrupt policies of big corporations. Will often alter popular advertisements to use as a visual for commentary.
This image is an example of culture jamming because it has taken a popular logo from a large corporation and aligned it with a social issue.
