Word and Image

WORD & IMAGE

Ananya / S1301115 Semester 2 / GD - PG 2013

Faculty - Immanuel Suresh

Objectives 1. This course provides basis of visual image and text fundamentals to achieve appropriate visual perception.

2. Students will learn to apply their understanding of image and text in individual manner as well as combined manner for creating visual meaning and appropriated intended visual perceptions.

3. Students apply their knowledge of typographic and visual forms to projects that encourage the introduction of word and image with visual hierarchies. The iterative process will be highly encouraged to achieve desired visual solutions.

4. Visual organizations and production issues along with project management are stressed.

Assignments 1. A study of interpretation of a symbol across cultures.

2. Integration of forms.

3. Simplification of forms.

1

Signs and symbols can be classified as iconic, indexical or symbolic. However their interpretation is heavily influenced by time and place.

The sign that I chose to study is the gesture made by extending the index and little fingers while holding the middle and ring fingers down with the thumb, also known as the ‘sign of the horns’. This sign primarily has symbolic connotations.

SIGN of the HORNS The sign of the horns is a hand gesture with a variety of meanings and uses in various cultures.

It is formed by extending the index and little fingers while holding the middle and ring fingers down with the thumb.

INTERPRETATION This hand gesture is considered as the symbol of the devil in many cultures. The two pointing fingers indicate the horns of the Devil. This symbol is used the University of Texas to symbolize 'the Longhorn', their university mascot. The corona is also widely used by rock stars in concerts as a positive hand gesture.

This is also one of the good hand gestures in different cultures like Buddhism and Hinduism.

This gestures means the Karana Mudra used to dispel the evil. In the Mediterranean, it an old symbol that means 'cuckold', that is, your wife is cheating on you.

OFFENSIVE GESTURE In Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Uruguay, when directed towards someone and swiveled back and forth, the sign implies cuckoldry.

SUPERSTITION In Italy and some Mediterranean cultures, when confronted with unfortunate events, or simply when these events are mentioned, the sign of the horns may be given to ward off bad luck. It is also used traditionally to counter or ward off the “evil eye” (malocchio).

HEAVY METAL SUBCULTURE Ronnie James Dio was known for popularizing the sign of the horns in heavy metal. He claimed his Italian grandmother used it to ward off the evil eye (which is known in Southern Italy as malocchio). Dio began using the sign soon after joining the metal band Black Sabbath in 1979. The previous singer in the band, Ozzy Osbourne, was rather well known at using the “peace” sign at concerts, raising the index and middle finger in the form of a V. Dio, in an attempt to connect with the fans, wanted to similarly use a hand gesture.

However, not wanting to copy Osbourne, he chose to use the sign his grandmother always made. The horns became famous in metal concerts very soon after Black Sabbath’s first tour with Dio.

2

Integration is the process of bringing together two or more forms, in such a way that they take on a new identity while still retaining elements of their original form.

For the purpose of the assignment I chose my initials and my date of birth.

There are many ways of integrating two forms, juxtaposition, superimposition, palying with scale, counterforms etc.

One of the major considerations is retaining meaningfulness and legibility.

ALPHA - ALPHA INTEGRATION

The letters “a” and “m” were taken for the integration from the typeface Univers.

The final integrated form was achieved by juxtaposing the two letters.

ALPHA - NUMERIC INTEGRATION

The letters “A”,“M” and the number “7” were taken for the integration from the typeface Caslon.

The final integrated form was achieved by superimposing the three forms.

3

Simplification is a process in which a form is reduced to its basic essential features so that the form communicates only what is necessary.

For the purpose of the assignment I chose a Rotring Ink Bottle.

Before starting simplification drawings, I mapped out the

selected object, its uses, basic tools it is usuallu used with etc. to understand the object in greater detail.

Thereafter the drawings were done to simplify the object by observing it at various angles and choosing one that best represented it.

1.

2.

3.

5.

6.

7.

The process folowed for achieving a simplified form was as follows 1. A detailed photo-realistic drawing was made of the chosen object with all details of light-shade, texture, material.

2. At this level, the texture was eliminated, only areas of light-shade were kept.

4.

3. Details of light-shade were omitted and the object was made flatter.

6. The object was reduced to basic lines, with just a suggestion of three dimensionality.

4. Labels were re,oved and the object was further simplified.

7.The object was reduced to a simple line drawing retaining only necessary details.

5. The object was made extremely simple by only keeping the flat surfaces.