Sessions 7 and 8 catch up!

OKay guysI know this is a lot to get through but I got really into this piece of work and was so happy that I finally caught up on it! I am loving these lessons now and am finding it a lot easier to do the work now that I enjoy it :D I even have an idea about what my final essay is going to discuss! Anyway, I have some more writing to do for the other parts of the course but I think I might post a little stuff on here through the next week if I get a spare moment!

1.       The site(s) of the production of an object or image eg.

·         How was it made? Using a film camera.

·         Using what methods, materials, tools, what kind of technology?

·         The advert was made using HD video cameras I can imagine, post production software, Photoshop

·         How can you describe its composition?

·         Is it identifiable as a particular genre? It’s not easy to discern what genre this advert is.

·         Who made it, where and when? Maybelline commissioned the advert to be made but it’s not clear where it was made although I would assume in a studio mostly and it would have been made a few months in advance of Christmas as it’s a festive advert.

·         Why did they make it? Who was it made for? It was made to entice potential customers to buy up matte perfection for their faces for the party season. They have created false need; telling the customer that it is the right thing to have matte skin that is flawless. It’s made for people who think they have spotty skin or uneven skin tone (although this foundation, I know from experience, actually increases clogged pores, spotty skin and naturally uneven skin tone).

·         What else was being made at the same time? Perfect match foundation by Rimmel which promises much the same thing but in a non-clogging liquid form.

·         What was the social, cultural and technological context of its production?

2. The site of the image:

What visual effects are produced by the materials and techniques used? The skin of the models is completely matte and ‘flawless’. Most likely they are wearing a LOT of stage quality make-up and have been airbrushed in post-production. The background used and the outfits they wear in this make it seem high class, business like but natural and toned down. It conveys the idea that powerful, independent beautiful women all have matte skin so they use Maybelline. The bright stage lighting used makes everything bright and youthful looking.

What are its formal qualities, for example:

• The composition or design of the image;

Everything is very minimal, there are few models, a simple backdrop and barely  any effects.

• Its spatial organisation;

A lot of close ups to show how flawless the skin is even up close.

• Its content or function;

The function of the simple back drop, wardrobe and natural looking make-up is to show how ‘normal’ skin should look and how the women in this advert are naturally beautiful without over embellishment. The function is to promote this make-up as being unrecognisable as make-up to everyone around you and that it can make you look like you are naturally ‘beautiful’ and ‘flawless’.

• The use of colour, tone, texture;

All the colours in the advert are very minimal but they have women of all skin tones and colours. Everything is very bright, youthful, matte and smooth.

• The style of the image

How does the image relate to its social context? I don’t think that the advert really is about the product. Just like perfume or car adverts never talk about the benefits of the product anymore. They are all trying to sell you a way of life rather than the product itself. The women in the advert are supposed to make the audience buy the product because people want to be like those women; strong, independent and beautiful. Basically, the women who will be using it most likely won’t be partying all night or working in a high powered position so socially, it’s not very relevant or even relatable to the customer.

3. The site of the audience:

How has it been displayed and where? The advert was on TV but it is also available on YouTube and shown on the homepage of the Maybelline site. Also the advert would have been in sidebars of websites and would have been made into a paper format for editorial such as Vogue and Elle.

How has it been circulated eg. Are there multiple copies or just one? This would have been mass published as this is a very well known brand.

What viewpoint or values does it offer to its audience or consumers?  As mentioned before,  this advert offers the value that perfect skin is skin that is covered up, that is one colour all over, one that is not shiny or pink or spotty. It conveys ideas of what perfection is and what true beauty is. It says you shouldn’t have skin that looks any other way, especially in the party season. It creates this false need to have it for the party season because you don’t want to have shiny skin at Christmas.

How does it relate to other visual texts? A lot of adverts for beauty products, clothing brands etc. all create this need to have what’s in rather than what you want or need. It’s entirely postmodern; having stuff for stuffs sake not because you need it.

Who is the audience? Is there more than one (eg. Lapper herself, critics and art historians –

What have they written about it, tourists, and art lovers)? Mostly, the audience is meant to be women who are terrified of getting old or not looking as beautiful as they should do (which could be anything from 18 – 85!) Teenagers I think are especially affected by these adverts I think because they strive to be perfect and liked by their peers. To be popular at any cost.

What meanings do audiences construct and how? I can only talk personally but I think that the audience would watch this ad then turn to themselves in the mirror and start to point out their flaws and they create this need, which they didn’t have prior to the ad, for the product because it can fix all these problems they have (even though it was the ad itself that caused these problems in the first place).

Are these the meanings intended or preferred by the person who made it? How do we know? We don’t know, we can only assume. I assume that the thought running through the head of the advertiser who create the advert was that they wanted sexy, powerful looking women to make their product look important and make people want it. Bar that I wouldn’t have thought they would think that deeply on it.

Is its meaning challenged/contested by different social groups? I would have thought that the guy or gal who designed the advert would fight for the meanings that they started off with and people who were avidly against the advert because it conveyed images of ideals of ‘perfection’ would probably appose that. With anything that is in the public domain, there will always be someone to oppose it.

Oh dear!

So I haven't posted in a while but that is going to stop RIGHT NOW! The last session was sooo interesting. I have started to really enjoy the sessions and was truely gutted about missing two of the sessions over the last two weeks.
In the last session we talked about modernism and post modernism and in true Hati fashion I decided to relate that to fashion. In particular, Lolita fashion. Now I was having an interesting conversation about this in the car with my mum on our way to Bath for some retail therapy.
She was asking me about why I dress Lolita and I was trying to think about it and all I could come up with was that it was pretty. Then she was saying how she thought it was sort of post-modernist feminism. And to be honest I think I agree.
Basically this simple question my mum asked me helped me understand this. Modernism was basically a movement  by designers to use only what was necessary to create something. For instance, in the war, it was illegal to use excess fabric or embellishments. This however was overrun eventually by post-modernism which valued art for the sake of art; things that didn't have a functional purpose or restriction.

Now I have a task to do :D So see you in the next post!!!

Judas

So I took a look, semiotically, at the music video for Lady Gaga's 'Judas'. I think that there is a lot in this video that is symbolic because it refers back to the story of Judas, one of Jesus' Disciples who betrayed him. I don't think I know anyone around me who doesn't know that story. I don't the story as well as I would have when I was younger but I do vaguely remember it.

In the video, all the bikers have the names of the disciples on their leather jackets and you wouldn't know that unless you knew the bible. Jesus also has a crown of thorns on his head Judas is always by his side. In the film, Gaga is wearing a blue hooded outfit and also in the video she washes Jesus's feet. These things are indexical because it refers back to Mary Magdalene who washed Jesus' feet and also wore blue, much like Jesus' mother Mary who is often depicted in a blue gown. You wouldn't know this if it wasn't your culture to know.

Stupid Girls

I love this video but not because I support being something you're not. Now I thought that looking at this video semiotically would be easy but actually, it's kinda hard!!

I guess for the most part this video has a lot of indexical imagery. I don't think many people in like Papa New Guinea know what a Beverly Hills or 90210 girl is so WE get the reference to purging, tanning and tiny dogs etc because we are exposed to it so much in the UK and America.

I think thats why you get fashion like Gyaru because I don't think the Japanese really understand the reference like we do.

The devil and angel on the little girls shoulder I think could be symbolic but also indexical because I think it might be a very western reference to your bad and good conscience. So you would only understand it if you understood the reference.

Also you know that when she is standing in front of the American flag that she is a politician (the president of the united states). This would only be understood by people who have been exposed to pictures of the american presidents. 

Like I said at the beginning, this is hard, but I think, for the most part, this video is indexical because this wouldn't mean anything if you weren't privy to the knowledge needed.

Japanese Subculture and Fashion

As you're probably aware, I'm not new to Japanese subculture, streetstyle and fashion. However, it was interesting to hear a little of the backstory to why the Japanese like to adopt similar fashions to Europeans, with their own twist.
I was always a little bit curious about why they wanted to ignore their fashion traditions but then I realised that the occupation by the Americans in the second world war could have something to do with it. The excert soon confirmed it.
In our lesson we did discuss the ways in which fashion has changed our culture and this would be a perfect example of how a whole nation can be changed just because of the cultures of another or even just the dress.
For instance, women in Japan have always, tradtionally, been quite reserved because it wasn't acceptable to be flamboyant if you wanted to be respected. However, when American ('western') fashions were adopted, women became louder, more talkative and even rude. When I was in Japan about 3 years ago, I met a lovely Japanese man in a Yakitori joint in Tokyo and we were talking about how people used to say Gaijin girls (foreigner girls) were always so loud and unreserved compared to Japanese girls but now, all the girls in Harajuku and Shibuya are crazy loud and outgoing.

Anyway, needless to say there are a lot of different subcultures and fashion styles in Japan but for me to go through all the ones I know would take a LONG time.... so I will try as I can to spread them out over a couple blog posts. :D

Session 4

Didn't realise but there is a playlist on B.O.B. for CHI1! So I'm deffo gunna take a look at that when I have a spare moment.
In this session we discussed what graphic design is. The definition of a sign is "something which stands to somebody for something in some capacity".
Signs, images, etc are entirely relative to the culture, time etc, that they were produced in. Looked at some another view or culture. it can be interpreted in an entirely different way.
The arts and crafts movement saw a separation between hand made and machine manufactured. Machine made art was seen as soulless ad not a craft if it wasn't made using human talent or skill.
Thinking of graphic as not just an aesthetically pleasing but being able to communicate ideas.

We were asked to discuss how you can judge the quality of graphic design. In my opinion you can't. Even if something like a road sign in our culture is understandable, take it to a German person and they won't understand it because culturally, different signs mean different things. Even hand gestures mean different things in different culture so there is not way that we can assess whether that art is good or bad.
Even fine art has no way of calculating, as it were, whether it was good or bad. In Japan, there are lots of ancient erotic paintings that are treasured for their quality but in Britain those sort of paintings would be considered inappropriate.

We were also asked to read two things but I could only find the piece on Vivienne Westwood. Here is a symbol that CAN be recognised over all cultures that have a knowledge of fashion or even just an appreciation. As with  Louis Vuitton's famous print, Vivienne's Orb can be recognised the world over, so is it possible, that through branding, Graphic design can become cross-continentally relevant?

Also, I watched Planet Word and how language, a form of graphic design, has become recognised across the globe and understood. English is a language that is spoken in a lot of different countries and can be expected to be  taught in schools as a second language. It was interesting to listen to the man who basically used the Roman alphabet to make mandarin Chinese, easier to learn as only 20% of Chinese people at that time could actually speak and/ or understand Chinese because it was so complicated.

Finally, a word about the 2012 logo. The only thing I heard about why there was such an outrage is because of the image, in some peoples eyes, looks sexual. Now, if you look a the image straight away, being told that it was just 2012 written in a strange font, then you wouldn't have cause to see it sexually, but because I have been told, I can see nothing else now. However in the lecture, I couldn't see it any more because I was told that it was 2012 in a strange font. The outrage is entirely based on who shows you the image first.

Watching TED talks with my dad!

If you have the time, watch this video about this guy who is trying to change the way we design things!
His car that doubles up as a streetlamp! He's a little creepy but very VERY inspirational!

How to look like a Ganguro!

Okay, so I haven't posted in a while....

Been super busy with the course and LOVING every moment of it now. Had a little bit of a crisis earlier in the week and suffering a little bit now but I thought to create a cheery atmosphere I would enlighten you all with another fashion style from the land of the rising sun!

This style is called Gyaru. Now like Lolita, there are LOTS of different types (also just so you know, Gyaru is just how the Japanese pronounce the word 'Gal').

Hime Gyaru

These types are most common among the communities and that, I guess, is mostly because of the accessibility to the fashion (being able to buy Hime Gyaru items in mainstream high-street shops). Also this is the least 'strange' version of the fashion and is great for those just starting out.

School Girl Gyaru

Not that I'm saying it's a type but these types of Gyaru are more like the popular or rebellious school girl types. In Japan, traditionally, girls weren't allowed to wear make-up or dye there hair for school. This style was the result of rebellion. I happen to think it's the cutest but the more interesting is yet to come!

Ganguro

These Gyaru are almost the most extreme type of gyaru and the more tanned you are, the higher your rank (or so I've heard!). These girls have used the more extreme nose contouring with a white cream make-up of liner pencil and, like most gyaru,have long blonde hair FILLED with extensions!

Manba and Banba

This is the ABSOLUTE extreme of the style and when I was in Shibuya, Tokyo I saw a lot of manba and banba floatig around! The tan here is almost black ad the nose contouring and eye make-up is taken to the limit! Also these girls use only white to highlight their lips cheeks and eyes instead of concealer.Also the eyes are larger and they tend to use a lot more colour and also stick on face decals.

All of these styles also partake in crazy nail art and extensions. Which the more extreme looks, the faker you look, the better! With the more sweet styles like Hime Gyaru, the more princess bling and glitter, the better!!!

Session 2 Notes

Firstly we discussed the ethical issues faced in our fields.

Fashion-

• Sweat shop/ forced labour
• In different countries the cut could be offensive
• Size zero culture
• Use of fur and leather

Photography-

• Photos edited in post production
• Models wearing lash inserts, hair extensions, wax coating on their hair etc
• Paparazzi culture
• Nude imagery

Graphics

• Offensive imagery

What is photography?

There is a shifting definition of what photography is or means to people. We were shown all types of images of all the types of photography.
There are so many ways you can utilise photography.

The first photograph was taken in 1838 by Daguerre. Back then it was nothing more than a scientific experiment and a way to catalogue things.
Until recently in photography, questions of ethics and truth weren't asked. Photography was used in the j

Controversies

So I was asked to read two things in my last session of Creative Histories and Industries; 'A Legal and Ethical History of Photography Press Release' and an Interview with Sally Mann.

A Legal And Ethical History of Photography

I have to admit, I'm not really a photography buff of any kind but I don't mind reading stuff that is interesting. This press release opened my eyes to all the thought that has to go into taking a photograph so that it won't get you sent to court! I am also glad that some people still are risk takers and don't take the law into consideration when they produce a body of work that is controversial.

I won't lie, this document was VERY difficult to read because, and not to sound stupid, there were a LOT of 'long words' in this press release and also it was in quite a constant chunk. I debated with myself whether to re-write this for myself so that I could understand it better because I did struggle reading this.

However, I managed to get the gist of it soon enough but it took me a couple of days of reading through it.

Needless to say, it is hard to say what I think of this piece because I don't know anything about photography passed point and click, however it was an interesting read about how something as simple as a picture can be read into so much that it causes such a scandal!

Sally Mann Interview

I did like the interview a lot more although I struggle a bit with the topic of death myself. The layout was a lot easier to cope with. It wasn't too long, the words made sense to me and it was laid out, like most interviews, like a conversation which made it flow a lot better.

It is always interesting to pick an artists brain about their inspiration but also about their experiences and about their work. I like how her images are very simple really but evoke extreme emotion and outrage. She seems to like nudity a lot too which I guess a lot of artists do because it's a good way to see someone just as they are, without them hiding behind clothes that change them.

So you've probably never heard of this....

... but I thought I would post about it anyway. So this is the part of the blog where I start to introduce you to things that interest me in my chosen field, which happens to be fashion. Now don't get me wrong, I'm all for haute couture but today I was feeling in a particularly Japanese mood!

GAH spit it out!!! I am a fan of all fashion but particular favourite fashion at the moment is Lolita fashion. This originated around the 80s and is a modern take on the extravagant fashions of the Rococo period. To really explain what this is, I will have to show you some pics.

 Believe it or not, but that

  is ME on the left with the blonde hair :D And the girly next to me is my friend Ziggi! There are hundreds upon thousands of lolitas in Britain and about half of them are in the South West (JOKE, nah but there are TONNES of us). This was taken at a meet-up at Bristol Zoo.

This last picture is of the two designers from a lolita brand called Angelic Pretty (Maki on the left and Asuka on the right). 

I have hundreds more pictures to show you but for now I will settle with these three. All of them show pictures of 'Sweet' lolitas. There are many different types of lolita but to write them all down would be exhausting so here is a link to a site that explains all!

http://www.lolitafashion.org/

Feel free to browse around the site if you want to know more :D

Bit o' Graff

My brother, recently, has gotten REALLY into graffiti art and his enthusiasm has some what rubbed off on me. I love how it has stopped being a grubby mark on a dirty underpass and is now a beautiful piece of urban art to be admired. I think there are even classes based entirely on the practice of the graffiti at UWE and these are some of the pieces I found on the induction at UWE's Bower Ashton campus.

This last one is my absolute fave and I now have it as my desktop background! To think that someone can be that prolific and talented and accurate with something as fluid and unpredictable as a spray paint can.... makes me swell with admiration!

This is a link to my brothers Tumblr account where he has stored a lot of his own work but also a lot of other artists works and videos showing constructions of their artwork.

http://vibrantshapes.tumblr.com/

Communist Fabric Anyone??

So my dad is always sending me awsome links to things that he thinks I would find interesting and this CERTAINLY caught my eye! (and not just cause I would totally make a shirt out of some of the fabrics!!! >.<

It's this site which deals in anything retro and interesting and this post is about Soviet Fabric from the 1920s -1930s. Some of the prints are actually really inspiring and it's interesting to see how textiles and fashion was used in political propaganda.

I especially love this last one! But there are much more so take a look at the site and even have a nose beyond this post because the site is actually very interesting!

http://www.howtobearetronaut.com/2011/09/soviet-fabrics-1920s-1930s/

Thinking outside the box

So this is a blog that I have been asked to create to show what interests me within my chosen field of fashion design. This blog will not only encompass my weird and wonderful hobbies but also things that interest me in my degree in Creative Practices at UWE and Filton WISE Campus in Bristol.

So just a quick post about things that I found today that have used the creative practices of Fashion, Photography and Graphic Design. This is a just a couple of the photos that I took during my lesson this morning and I was trying to think out of my little fashion box but I will probably get a little more fashion obbsessive as the days go on!

This poster uses all 3 I think. THe fashion has been designed for these too to make them look sexy, hot, young and intimate to try and convey to the audience a feeling of what the mood of the film will be. The photographer has singled these two vcharacters out so you know they are the main characters and also that they have a strong, isolated connection. The text here too is written as a neon sign, much like a night club which sets the mood again as sexy, close, hot and you instantly are playing scenes out in your mind....... Still, won't be the same without Kevin Bacon!

 Okay, this picture is terrible but as you can see this car has some stencils on it. This graphic on the side of the car instantly makes you make assumptions about who it is who drives this car. Same as if the car had go faster stripes on it of flaming skulls!!

 Here logo (graphic) design plays a big part in distribution and recognition of the product. Everyone know that this is the sign for British Heart Foundation, regardless if they see the text. It evokes a certain, giving nature in people.

Someone has designed this for ease of use and made it plain and simple but still aesthetically pleasing. It's so difficult to think outside the box with regards to other creative practices!!!

Someone has designed this sign with easy understanding in mind but also has presented it in these, 'clinical' colours of black and white to look 'no nonsense' and severe, purely to dissuade anyone from committing a crime on site.

 This photograph also incorporates fashion and is giving the impression that no matter what your walk of life, there is a course for it. It's shows people of all abilities and shows an equality among students, an un-judging community rather than a strict establishment.

 A beautiful pic of Melody (and I know she is gunna hate me for this picture!!!) whose Fashion shows her personality but also gives people preconceptions about her hobbies and her aspirations. 

RIGHT! Hope that wasn't too tedious for you!!! I have a tendancy to ramble on about my thoughts and also this is to try and help ME understand better the ways in which Creative Practices can be applied!

Xxx