"Postmodernist and ‘remix’ techniques "

Post-modernism is the remixing of previous cultural contents and forms within a given media or cultural form. Using work from previous artists and styles, postmodernists reinvent the artwork. Using the idea “less is a bore” Dick Frizzell has taken the well-known character Mickey Mouse and portrayed his own ideas and upbringing into the art work

Recognized New Zealand artist, Dick Frizzell is said to be a "renegade pop artist". ‘He can be compared to artists such as Roy Lichtenstein, Paul Hartigan, Ian Scott, and Andy Warhol’.  This piece of work, 'Mickey to tiki tu meke, 1997’ now a New Zealand icon, expresses the postmodernist Remix culture in our design culture today. Mixing the Maori culture to the old American icon television culture Mickey Mouse, gives an almost humorous take onto this pop art work print. Using the history of both cultures and such symbols that represent them, the highly commercial Mickey Mouse face slowly morphs into the Tiki, almost comparing the commercial ideology to our culture. 

Bibliography

Word Press. (2006, March 14). Humu kon tiki. Retrieved October 7, 2011, from Humuhumu: http://blog.humuhumu.com/2006/03/14/dick-frizzells-mickey-to-tiki-tu-meke

Wikimedia Foundation inc. (2011, September 14). Wikipedia Dick Frizzell. Retrieved October 7, 2011, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Frizzell

Word Press. (2006, March 14). Humu kon tiki. Retrieved October 7, 2011, from Humuhumu: http://blog.humuhumu.com/2006/03/14/dick-frizzells-mickey-to-tiki-tu-meke

"What kinds of political or ideological messages inform design or the branding of design today? "

In 1948, the “Marshall plan” was introduced by George Marshall, an American, after the cold war to assist Europe through economic downfall. This plan was placed in all advertising, to contain communism through consumerism.  How it worked was by funding certain compliant businesses in Europe and using their advertisement to encourage Ideology + design=”the good life”.  Consumerism: fashion, wealth and mobility equals freedom, happiness.

In design/brands today this type of marketing, which holds ideological messages in their advertisements, are limited as the number one priority is the sales and competition between other companies/brands.

As we are in the twentieth century, with no world wars present there is no need to publically fund other countries for communism. Therefore the type of advertising today is marketed at the consumer, us, instead. Here they use such things like 2^nd person narrative to aim the advertising directly to the consumer, and using famous actors and sports players to catch our eye and compare ourselves and lives to theirs. ‘Having this product gets us that much closer to them.’

Here is an example of a famous actor/musician Jared Leto, promoting a well-known brand ‘Hugo Boss’. This is marketed towards men of all ages and professions. He is seen as the ideal superior towards the ordinary consumer. The punch line, which is to sell the brand quotes, “It’s your turn” aims itself at the consumer by using pronouns plus providing the consumer an almost utopia effect of how we need this product to become superior like Leto.

Bibliography

Wikimedia foundation. (2011, September29 29). Wikipedia the free encyclopedia. Retrieved september 29, 2011, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Plan

Do you agree or disagree with the position that design is a result of “function x economy”? Do you think design today an ‘art’ or a ‘science’? should it be one or the other, or can it be both?

Marcel Breuer, B32 for Thonet, Dessau, 1928

I believe that design is a blend of both science and art. Without one or the other, the design becomes more on the principles of science, where it is more form and user interactions. Whereas on the principles of design, is based on the interface of the object not the overall use and user purpose. “A balance between the universal and the individual”¹

I also disagree with Meyer and his argument of design being a product of ‘function x economy’ aligning design with scientific model driven by new technologies and manufacturing potential. My thoughts about this subject is that they may include these factors but don’t rely the basis of these alone, or at all. To neglect one from the other could end in drastic designs which have failed throughout these centuries. For example I believe design today is a large part

 usage of science and technologies, this is portrayed through the development and modern designs of chairs in the industrial industry over the centuries.

Chairs have a function and a use for user interaction, which needs scientific reasoning, such as physical strength for the weight, and orthopaedic physicality’s. Also is the construction of the chairs design itself.

¹Raizman, D. (2004). The First Machine Age in Europe, in History of Modern Design (pp. 166-191) New Jersey: Prentice Hall Inc.

image: http://www.google.com/imgres?q=Marcel+Breuer,+B32+for+Thonet,+Dessau,+1928&hl=en&sa=X&gbv=2&tbs=isz:m&tbm=isch&tbnid=0DVrkaS_gjOcKM:&imgrefurl=http://www.historiasztuki.com.pl/HISTORIA-MEBLARSTWO-15-MODERNIZM.html&docid=BaVCCOejc0zSQM&w=479&h=550&ei=1u5-TtVNh4SZBdGs1aIF&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1116&vpy=104&dur=4&hovh=241&hovw=209&tx=152&ty=161&page=1&tbnh=138&tbnw=117&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0&biw=1366&bih=625

Can you identify the creation of any “symbolic universe” today (or in recent years)? How might media and design be implicated in the construction of these social universes today?

The ‘Symbolic Universe’ theory, described by Peter Berger and T. Luckman, was a term generated to label a perfect society, such to the paradise world of ‘Utopia’ based on the principle of perfection. Berger and Luckman were to say “the symbolic universe links men with their successors in a meaningful totality, serving to transcend the finitude of individual existence and bestowing meaning upon the individual’s death. All members of society can now conceive of themselves as belonging to a meaningful universe, which was there before they were born and will be there after they die.”¹

Through these realties we as a society form our own symbolic universe.

Throughout this new century there have been many catastrophic natural disasters spread out over the world including New Zealand.  Christchurch has been reported internationally for the recent tragedy which has destroyed the town, hopes and most of all lives.  Here the most important problem they are facing is to rebuild the township and its momentary buildings, such as the Cathedral, or to demolish the city and start over.

Using the architecture and landscape design this construction of which the people of New Zealand  are in an optimistic insight of the 'symbolic universe’ where they still have high hope of what will become of Christchurch and the town center.

With the economic depression this has caused, humanity has been struggling to find hope in this crisis. So therefore geographers, architectures of many range fro over the world have come and helped us through this disastrous time and become a more of a positive attitude throughout the city and country.

Bibliography

¹Seidman, S. (2007). Contested knowledge: social theory today. Wiley-Blackwell.

http://books.google.co.nz/books?id=Kd2bP4x3gScC&pg=PA84&dq=utopia+berger+luckmann&hl=en&ei=56d2TsfPOsnhmAW4m63fDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

chcheqjournal.com. (2011, April). Retrieved September 14, 2011, from Christchurch Earth Quake journal- Community Journal: http://www.chcheqjournal.com/2011/faster-demolition-rebuild-wanted-christchurch/

“To an ever greater degree the work of art reproduced becomes the work of art designed for reproducibility. From a photographic negative, for example, one can make any number of prints; to ask for the authentic print makes no sense.”

This, quoted by Walter Benjamin, argues the fact of authenticity of such designs which are made to be reproduced throughout the world continuously 

I would have to disagree with Benjamin's thoughts towards this subject, as my belief of this such 'art' that is reproduced is not art anymore, but a common piece of artefact which is but a 'visual noise'., beautiful but worthless and insignificant.

 Art works, which have a limited number of original copies, is seen more as authentic as opposed to designs which are reproduced indefinite, making them of less value and it can be obtained by everyone.  Although these are my thoughts I still believe that digital design and manufacture still can have a place in authenticity role. Since the first sketch work was reproduced for have still been many handcrafted objects, including paintings and labour worked furniture, which have had an authentic quality and more greatly appreciated. For example the artwork of Scott Campbell, who created the series “Make it Rain” which has been made of American dollar bills using a laser printer to create this model it has been manufactured through a computer designed program yet still is of authenticity. This is art that is designed not to be reproduced.

Bibliography

Wikimedia Foundation, I. (last modified 2011, Septemeber 13). Wikipedia. Retrieved September 8, 2011, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noise#Visual_noise

101 Media Lab Limited. (2011). Hypebeast. Retrieved Septmeber 8, 2011, from Hypebeast.com: http://hypebeast.com/2009/04/scott-campbell-“make-it-rain”-exhibition-recap/

"Colours of the Mind”

For hundreds of years there have been many theories developed around the understanding of colour, such as in 1704 where Newton’s Optiks theory was published. Taking colour into his own methods, Newton’s theory was a way to explain the scientific showings of colour through the study of light using such devices like the spectrum. Artists like Newton have influenced the peoples understanding of colour and allowed the creation of a theory of ‘colour vision’.                                                              Goethe, in 1810 was the founder of ‘After Colour’, where we are to understand the perception of colour through a symbolic and physiological theory where his theories were more “a colour theory for artists”¹ These theories help us recognize, as people and artists, how we see colour and how it makes us feel. “Painting is truer for the eye than reality itself. It presents what a man would like to see, and should see but not what he habitually sees”²

The picture above is a piece by the artist Henri Matisse called ‘The Red Studio’ 1911, who was in the impressionist movement. Matisse was influenced by the phycology effect of colours of the mind, ‘Matisse was able to gain a greater understanding of how colour heightens and controls composition by adopting a range of techniques from various movements’³

^{1, 2}  Gage, J. (1993). Colours of the Mind in Colour and Culture: Practice and Meaning from Antiquity to Abstraction (pp.191-212). New York: Thames and Hudson

³Clarke, L. (n.d.). eview. Retrieved 8 14, 2011, from eview.adu PDF: http://eview.anu.edu.au/cross-sections/vol1/pdf/ch02.pdf

Ornament and Crime

“The evolution of culture is synonymous with the removal of ornament from objects of daily use” statement argued by Adolf Loos in 1908 was based on his view of ornamental development throughout the century and its necessity, published in the form of ‘Ornament and Crime’.

Ornament is a decoration used on construction for embellishment purposes; it is not there for use, but only for visual pleasure. Although Adolf tells us, in this theory, of how ““Ornament is wasted manpower and therefore wasted health” (Loos, 1910)¹ is true, his first basis on the book relating culture to the removal or ornament, I would have to deny is my belief. I believe that the usage of ornament applied by designers in modern society, is a way to show the freedom of expression that we can portray as a society, which then we can develop from in a cultural aspect.

As a designer we are told to use our culture and ideas to be put towards our models, we are also told to look at other cultures and see how they live to give us more research and more development we can take from these people and their religion to create.

Here is a modern living room taken by a designer, looking at the culture and religion of one’s country and not only changed the designs of objects, yet the form to create a Japan feel to the home.

This shows our constantly evolving culture through the industry of design: evolution of culture and society.

Works Cited:

 ¹ Loos, A. (1910) Ornament and Crime

Beauty and Utility.

“Construction should be decorated. Decoration should never be purposely constructed.” Words spoken by Owen Jones, architect in the 18^th century. Here Jones is clarifying the importance of construction, and that it is okay to decorate and add visual detail to the design as long as the overall is not too overwhelmed by the embellishment. Comparing this to the Rococo period, this quote is suggesting that it is okay to decorate an item although it does not interfere or help with the overall use of the classical design.

My personal thoughts over this idea are I agree with Jones and that constructions should be allowed to be decorated. I believe that if it is visually appealing, yet still serves the overall intended purpose of its design, therefore the design has not interfered with the construction.  It is more intriguing for the eye than the structure which the design is presented on.

The Pantheon, Rome 126AD, was a well-constructed piece of architecture which can be used as an example of ‘construction decorated’ as many historical pieces from the Ancient Greek period could. Here they have used Corinthian columns for the main structure, therefore the using unnecessary design at the top of the form yet not destroying the overall construction and purpose of the columns. The Column still holds the building together yet has appealing aesthetics to the viewer.

Sensuous Impulse.

As the Sensuous impulse style was a prominent part of the Art Nouveau period which was inspired by the Rococo movement, exploring the nature’s shapes found among plants, roots and leaves. The movement was very popular in the 18^th century, especially in its birth place France.

The piece, Lycée Italien Léonard-de-Vinci, was completed in 1899 in Paris, France by the architect Jules Joseph Aimé Lavirotte.

I believe the overall result of this product is in favour to the 'sensuous impulse' as this design also looks for the natures  's' curve for inspiration and decoration on the exterior shell of the building and balconies.

The style itself represents a symbol of wealth, and was highly pursued. The building displays the curved features of the rococo style combined with the simplistic attributes of natural fluid.

Important Designs.

The Mac Book Pro was designed in the Macintosh line of computers by Apple in 2006.
I believe this model of laptop is an important design towards computer users all over the world, as the exterior of the model is plated with aluminum allowing the product to be light weight and also harder to scratch and damage.
The size of a Mac book compared to many other PCs has many design positives, from the sizing of the laptop itself, yet still having a large hard drive, to the interior of which has given more room for the touch pad and keyboard.  The overall design for this model is for good purposes and appeal.