Research and Epistemology - Context of Practice 2

How do we learn?

Research and learning doesn't have a linear. 

Just focusing on the result - wont step out of comfort zone wont enforce change.

Failure

In the process of finding out there will be failure

Fail quicker guess you more time to get it right

Ideas

Ideas are the currency of our practice.

Research and knowledge and understanding 

Approaches 

                      

Stimulated Approach

Conscious or subconscious search for inspiration from an external repertoire: In the surroundings media and discussions etc.

Systematic approach 

This is based on the systematic collection and modification of components. 

Intuitive Approach 

This is the development of thought process, which is primarily based on internalized perception and knowledge. 


What is research? 

Look how research is contextualized  

Context of Practice 2 - Studio Brief 01 - Research - The Punk Ethos - Kate Moross

Kate Moross
                                              

Kate Moross is what some might call a modern punk. In one of her talks of this subject as she addresses that one of her biggest influences is from riot girl which use the core element of punk and are prominent within many different and uses the DIY methods 

At the core of her talk in retrospect she addresses the impact of themes and influences that work has. 

Ethos
                                              

"Modern day hacking - hacking your career"

"hacking whatever you can"

These ethos were found to be within her naturally.

First fanzine she created 
reaction to the discovery of this ethos
Found a photocopier and started to photocopy everything.

                                              

Discovering myspace, terrible software but allowed her to do so much. 

Since it was so horrible looking gave people the motivation to make something nice off the back of this Moross learnt coding for her own website much later in the future.

Its in these discoveries that we all make that future generations will also go down this path and these things come together to create what Moross beliveves to be "the most amazing DIY utopia that we have at our fingertips right now" All the answers to questions are there. 

illusion of the wall between there and here, between designer and yourself but there is no barrier "no differentce between anybody" a lot of people coming through the art education system can see a wall. From what theyve taught 

If you cant f**cking do it then LEARN how.

because its our only choice. You have to go out there and get it. If you cant do something finding the motivating 

Instead of saying bullshit we...

When thinking about herself she recognizes that improvising is a huge part of her work, there a lot of ease that her work creates with the handmade nature in which she presents thing as, personality and volume are very apparent. 

Also acknowleding the limitation of budget and finding ways around those limitations which many punks in the past were also presented with limitations and their design was informed by this rather than suffering for it. One specific example being that she couldn't afford the royalties for Damien Hurst diamond skull so they just dipped a skull in glitter and it worked well. 

                                              

"Simple is cool"

Adressing the idea that simplicity in an idea can go a long way. Also being able to work  quickly. In Moross' process of design she  talks about how she thinks the best  way of coming up with ideas is going it quickly. 

Study Task 04 - Triangulation

Organize research and identify key points from collected research:

(Aesthetics) The question:

"Is and how is the punk aesthetic still relevant to graphic design?"

Triangulation Exercise:

Harvard referencing: 

• Teal Triggs (Scissors and glue: Punk Fanzines and creation of a DIY aesthetic) 2006, (accessed November 7 2016)
• Dylan Clark (The life and death of punk, the last subculture) 2003, (accessed November 7 2016)
• Maya Leckah (All Ripped Up: Punk Influences on graphic design) 2014 (accessed November 7 2016)
• Neil Bennett (How punk changed graphic design & music art) 2016 (accessed November 7 2016 

Study Task 05 - Studio Brief 2 - Research

• x 3 separate design sheets
• Looking at specific forms of research 
• Visual research 
• Target audience research 

Task 1 - 

1x design sheet outlining relevant contextual research 

Must have at least 4 relevant areas of research/information that will inform your design strategy (At least one of these should be related to chosen cop theme) 

• Looking at examples of editorial design in terms of the zine format both past and current and see how they differ, and are zines dead?

•  How is the punk style being represented today within editorial design?

• Commercial use, modern context (influence of punk how its seen and the morals of the subculture)

• Different mediums in which punk has been used and represented other than editorial and is it reaching the masses?

How can punk be put into new cultural context

think about content to be fashion - modern punk fashion

modern music 

Useful research references

Modern punk editorial design: http://www.coolhunting.com/food-drink/mouthfeel-a-punk-foodie-zine

Punks not dead, an editorial shot: 

https://milk.xyz/feature/punk-is-not-dead-an-editorial-shot-by-byron-spencer/

the punk attitude within a modern zine:

https://www.behance.net/gallery/10345517/REBEL-Typeface-Magazine-Masthead

Task 2 

Target audience research :

Who will be engaging with this work?

Punk, design enthusiasts, music enthusiasts, 

Include  geographic (country religion) demographic (age, job, income, socio economic status the psychological values, beliefs)

To better understand this compose 3x "personas" (represent the cross section of target audience)

Task 3 -

1x design sheet

identifying relevant and related visual examples. 

This design sheet must include 4 examples of graphic design that's relevant, can be quite diverse.

• Looking closer - visual research - introduction to research methods

• looks at various approaches and technologies such as semiotics and semantics 

• Appropriate for own project, look at the language "rhetoric

• upgrade vocabulary 

• Structuralism and semiotics 

Outcome consideration 

• Whats the goal of this?

• What is the outcome I want to create?

Content?

Fashion? Design and the punk aesthetic 

Music? Punk bands and what they represent. 

Possibly looking into creating an editorial outcome showcasing either fashion or music involved in the punk style...

Study Task 02 - Parody and Pastiche

Jameson - Postmodernism - Pages 16-19

What is the text about?

The discussion of parody and pastiche. Parody is seen as an imitation exaggerating aspects of a point adding humour. Pastiche is a more sympathetic imitation. It isn't a negative thing, it can be an important tool, this can give us a contextual insight into what's being shown to us. 
                                                        

What is Jameson's definitions parody and pastiche? 

Jameson's definition of pastiche:

"Pastiche is, like parody, the imitation of a peculiar or unique, idiosyncratic style, the wearing of a linguistic mask, speech in a dead language. But it is a neutral practice of such mimicry, without any of parody's ulterior motives, amputated of the satiric impulse, devoid of laughter"

"Speech in a dead language" he uses 'dead' not an insult to the original as it might seem but saying it has its space in time.

"In such a world of pastiche, we lose our connection to history" which gets turned into a series of styles and take the place of genres or representation

Jameson's definition of parody 

Postmodern parody according to Jameson is "blank parody" without any sort of political bite. "Jameson sees this turn to "blank parody" as a falling off from modernism" and parody has been "replaced" by pastiche in the postmodern age.

Examples from extract - Nostalgia and the  pastiche of previous eras. 

What's the of voice within in the text?

There's a  tone of aggression within the language. Jameson is much more in favour of the socialist aspect, and in turn challenging the establishment with this aggression. 
                                                     

Linda Hutcheon Pages 179- 186

Whats the text saying?

Linda Hutcheon's focus in this extract is on postmodernism architecture. Argues that postmodernism is a fundamentally contradictory enterprise. 

Hutcheon's definition of parody -

"Parody is often considered central to postmodernism both by its fault finder and its defenders:"

"through a double process of installing and ionizing, parody signals how present representations come from past ones and what ideological consequences derive from both continuity and difference"

How does parody relate to pastiche?

Parody and pastiche have similar motives but differ in their delivery. Parody is an exaggeration of a topic that exudes humour bringing attention to a particular subject. Pastiche like parody takes a subject and celebrates, rather than mocks.

                                                        

Constructivism 

New and fresh but also with the use of characters. Representing the images doesn't look like it's been made on a computer, the same way a war poster 
                                                        

The Barn brook bible

Extracted from Gothic contexts, talking about style, visual codes, elements of designs of the past influence work. 

Found little quirks of type and embedding them in his new type design. Its useful to also use these processes in our own practice. 
                                                        


Analysis of images and theory 

Study Task

A summary of parody and pastiche according to Jameson and Hutcheon and the relevance this has to identified graphic design.  
                                                                                                                                           


Pastiche according to Fredric Jameson greatly differentiates to Linda Hutcheon's definition of postmodern parody. t's evident that Hutcheon sees great value in the postmodern in contrast with Jameson and the literature perspective of periodic self-reflection in seeing a constant political critique and historical awareness in periodic works. Jameson characterises postmodern parody as "blank parody" stating it has no political impact. "Pastiche is like parody is the imitation of a peculiar or unique, idiosyncratic style, the wearing of a linguistic mask, speech in a dead language" (Jameson, F 'postmodernism', page 17).

In consideration of postmodernism, pastiche has in a sense been 'replaced' according to Jameson stating that It's unbiased practice of imitation without any of parody's ambiguous intent, cut off of the mocking motive, devoid of laughter that Jameson sees this turn to "blank parody" as a separation from modernism, where individual authors were particularly characterised by their original and unique styles.

In terms of parody, Hutcheon sees that it "takes the form of self-conscious, self-contradictory, self-undermining statement" in that (Hutcheon, L. Politics pg.1) 
And the use of parody creates a "double or contradictory stance on a statement" Hutcheon, L. Politics pg.1)  in its usage, and that in referencing it there is an acknowledgement that is able to "make fun of it" Hutcheon, L. Politics pg.1) 

Hutcheon Further acknowledges that "Parody—often called ironic quotation, pastiche, appropriation, or intertextuality—is usually considered central to postmodernism, both by its detractors and its defenders" (Hutcheon, L. Politics pg.93) Jameson recognises that postmodern parody is relative to changing times, one  in that there has been a loss of connection to past material and  "effective political critique,"(Hutcheon, L. Politics pg.93) 

Source 

Felluga, Dino. "Modules on Hutcheon: On Parody." Introductory guide to Critical Theory. Perdue U. (Date accessed: 12/02/17) http://www.purdue.edu/guidetotheory/postmodernism/modules/hutcheonparody.html.

Felluga, Dino. "Modules on Jameson: On Pastiche." Introductory Guide to Critical Theory. Date. Purdue U. 12/02/17 http://www.purdue.edu/guidetotheory/postmodernism/modules/jamesonpastiche.html.

Examples in graphic design of Pastiche? 

Stranger & Stranger - Product Designers 

Their work is influenced by Victorian print advertising/ typography,
very decorative with the use of type. 

Their work has similarities but isn't the same as the inspirations they have taken inspiration from. A lot more decorative elements although there are similarities and a connection.

                                                     

Liberated - Wine label

Early modernist and an obvious wartime poster influence. 

Examples in graphic design of Parody 

These examples of graphic design are evidence of parody and the ability to provide commentary on social conventions and pop culture. 

The original message of these logos has been changed and as a result a new one has been created. Theres a lot of different ways in which parody can be used as well as commentary. In other ways in purely just aesthetics. 


                                                     

In relation to the topic of parody and pastiche. I recently came across an article on its nice that. 

An interview with Miriam Elia about new show - Pastiche Parody and Pastiche

Camilla Ellingsen Webster, satirical cartoonist Jeremy Banx and artist Miriam Elia. This exhibition was created by Elia as a reaction to her past exhibition within legal action coming with accusations from ladybird books. 

(Talking about the importance of pastiche)

"It’s important because the ability to cut, satirise or re-contextualise the modern world is crucial to making art"

Study Task 06 - Consumer identities

Discussion
                                                             

What ways do products/services relate to consumer identities?

When we understand who we are there are questions we're able to answer where we fit in and what roles we take on. 

Sharing ideal lifestyle - wanting attractiveness, wealth ect. 

"we consume in the hopes of reinforcing or establishing roles"

Understating who we are, expressing our individuality within consumer choices - becomes who you are

Group identity - when we have a clear sense of how our identities individually fit into society, this has importance in that it creates a feel of well being and belongingness. 


How do consumers use products/services within social interaction?

Theres also the idea that consumers judge others on their material possessions. Theres an obvious connection to the idea of consumption and identity and the maintenance of it. 

Social categorization, and how that allows consumers to categorize the world around them, accentuating their perception of others

Some personalities identify more strongly identify with products and are likely to make 

Who are a bit more likely to make consumer choices based on how they want to be perceived by others (narcissistic) wanting to be seen as superior. 


Using the theories discussed suggest what are some visual communication 
strategies that objectively promote a product to its target consumer? 

Categorizing an audience - such as gender and age, gives us a better understanding of like likes/dislikes, making it easier to market to. 

The ideal self - what you want to be and how it can be achieved by market strategies, showing an outcome that has been made to seem attainable. 

Are they ethical issues?

Social comparison instances where it can be detrimental to who we are. 

Possessions are simply used as extensions of self but they can be used by individuals to compensate for what is perceived as flaws in their self-concept. 

Men and women's negative perceptions of themselves and how the 'ideal image' impacts that. Companies have an acknowledge of this insecurity and are then are able to play into this idea and market products around this, which is profitable and ever ongoing.

Consider 
                                                             

Use this for practical outcome in terms of theme

How this can this idea inform a response?

Punk is the idea of going against societies social expectations and creating an alternative way of identifying. But in this, it has become its own group, which increase in popularity provides more exposure which eventually becomes part of the mainstream.

The attitude and general idea of punk are idea has been taken into many contexts and been exploited within consumerism as being 'rebellious' and 'standing out from the rest' becoming in itself a mainstream group, which contradicts the original ideals.
                                                             

In terms of a graphic outcome creating something that personifies punk in both type and image, stepping away from digital outcomes and looking at the aesthetics of what makes punk.

                                                             

300 word summary exploring the text "identity and consumption" 

This text explores the positives and negatives of consumerism in relation to identity. By identifying attitudes within consumerism there is the fact that there are other motivations in buying items other than solely their function. There is a sense of identity within certain products and can be representative of “somehow represent who they are” its also apparent that there is judgment within what we own and buy and that there is a clarity created in our identity by consumerist behaviour and how it is a a large part of how we perceive ourselves and how we “fit into society”.

The idea of identity is complicated in that there is no one idea or concept of what it is and how we view of our own identities which are formed by individual experiences and who we interact with. It is in knowing who we are there is then the allowance of finding our place. Social situations and experiences give us the ability to have more than one identity, these situations call for us to be certain people, in an education environment you’re perceived as the student while in other situations you’re seen as a friend or son/daughter depending on who we interact with.

How we identify others with their consumer choices may rely on stereotypes that we have from society in which we use to ‘accurately’ categorize individuals in our own perceptions.  There is a question of why we do this as individuals, we can conclude that there is a need in identifying people’s character in order to “increase our self-esteem” and how that is linked to our sense of where we belong in society.

The constant way to which we have exposed to certain images of consumerism effects the way in which we think and act both positively and negatively in how we behave and perceive others.