BA (Hons) Illustration Context of Practice 3 Proposal Form Make sure you print a copy off for your own records Name:
Astrid Weguelin
E-mail:
aw106045@students.leeds-art.ac.uk
SUBJECTS OF CONTEXTUAL RESEARCH ALREADY UNDERTAKEN
Level 4:
To what extent did the Russian Revolution affect the art and design of the time?
Level 5:
To what extent does architectural and environmental design manipulate our behaviour?
AIM AND/OR OBJECTIVE OF YOUR PROPOSED C.O.P.3 PROJECT My theme is political propaganda, I want to focus on the posters created out of totalitarian societies such as; Soviet Russia, Nazi Germany, Communist China. I want to explore how much the success of these dictatorships was down to the poster art, and the similar uses of pattern/shape/design to create meaning within the posters. Possibly look at how these methods have been used within modern posters – political party posters, advertising etc. I haven’t settled on a question yet.
1. What research needs to be undertaken into the general and specific contexts of your practice? Research into the historical background of Germany, Russia, china e.g. who the dictator in power was, what the reason for the propaganda was Research into common themes within the propaganda posters – subject matter, illustration style, colour, composition, shapes, type etc. Research into some psychology theories surrounding visual effects of posters – how much can we actually be manipulated, what aspects will attract attention most Research into other methods of propaganda e.g. during the Russian revolution propaganda also took the form of textiles Art movements – constructivism, Bauhaus? Review current posters with similar attributes with the aim of manipulating people in some way Current political propaganda – ISIS (their modern take on propaganda by using a variety of platforms), North Korean political posters
2. What approach(es) will you take and what processes, methods, materials and tools are to be involved in research into your practice? Exploring the design techniques within the poster art using my own materials
BA (Hons) Illustration Context of Practice 3 Proposal Form Make sure you print a copy off for your own records Collage work – experimenting with photography and paint/texture/colour etc. initially using imagery from the historical examples but then moving onto more current examples – local and worldwide, not necessarily big issues Respond to written research with sketchbook drawing Mono/screen printing – relevant process for examples I am looking at Try and create a narrative within the illustration – a lot of the propaganda posters appeal to emotion and real life situations – try and capture similar feeling within own exploration and drawings Maybe look at local surroundings for inspiration (leeds) lots of industrial buildings which featured a lot within soviet posters Photography; take camera to locations for primary research – can build up collages through own photographs Use photocopier – the propaganda posters were all about quick production with simple, bold designs – use photocopier as a tool for similar effect
3. What preparation or investigations do you need to undertake for your creative practice to take place? Lots of contextual reading surrounding the theme – artists/illustrators, theorists, history, analysis of art, art movements Watch any documentaries surrounding the theme Read relevant articles/academic analysis of posters See if there are any exhibitions at the moment which might relate Start sketching in response to the information I find out – play around with colour and shapes, abstract and simple versions of posters? Some books on the subject: ‘History of the poster’ ‘Revolutionary Tides: The art of the political poster’ th
‘Iron Fists: Branding the 20 century totalitarian states’
BA (Hons) Illustration Context of Practice 3 Proposal Form Make sure you print a copy off for your own records 4. What research do you need to undertake regarding who your creativity is for? ‘Intellect publishers of original thinking’ – this site has a journal dedicated to ‘the poster’, which are different issues with collections of academic essays analysing art posters. So my essay could possibly fit into this type of category. I’m not sure where my practical will fit in as I am not yet sure what it will consist of, I need to start producing experiments and sketches before I can visualise what it could turn into.
Primary Sources of Information 1. Description Location
Questionnaire Online
2. Description Location
My own visual responses to research Studio/on location
3. Description Location
Talk to curators at galleries Art/history galleries and exhibitions
Secondary Sources of Information 1.
Review my level 4 essay on art and the Russian revolution
2.
Books about propaganda, totalitarian states, graphic design within poster art
3.
Exhibitions relevant to the theme
4.
Online articles/reviews on the subject
5.
Documentaries on the subject
6.
BA (Hons) Illustration Context of Practice 3 Proposal Form Make sure you print a copy off for your own records Perceived problems or difficulties: Compared to my first proposal, this topic has more relevance and I am more interest however it is still quite broad as a topic. I am unsure whether to focus in on one example or to keep a comparison running between a couple of examples. th I am also struggling to think of current examples, as my interest lies more with political posters from the 20 century. Creating a practical project from this theme might cause some issues as it is mostly historical which is hard to come up with primary drawings/observations/ideas when it will all be from old photos etc. And I still need to come up with a question so that my essay, and project as a whole, has more direction.
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