Lecture 5 Response

De Stijl

Bauhaus

Jan Tschichold

Kandinsky

Neue Typography

The bauhaus was truly a unique place and one that

I wish I had been a part of unfortunately it as all

good things must, came to an end. I was upset to hear

that it went in the direction of complete functionality

towards the end. I feel that once that happened it

was pretty much over anyway. The integration of all

forms of art I feel is essential but many designers were

never artists so naturally they do not feel this way.

I was impressed by Jan Tschichold's decision to recant

his beliefs about the Neue Typography it takes a true

man to admit incorrectness. I feel as if the best is behind

us at times and that saddens me but hopefully newer

and greater minds will fill their roles. I look forward to

learning more about graphic design and using it to help

propel this world into a more accepting and understanding

chapter. Though I will probably die without success.

Lecture 4 Response

Suprematism

Constructivism

Malevich

Constructivism

Utopian Society

Rodchenko

El Lessitzky

I found this to be the most interesting section so far primarily due to the political and social responses that the artist were able to achieve. I also found it fascinating that they were able to achieve it with such a limited visual pallete as far as form was concerned aside from the photographic elements of coarse. The photomontages of Rodchenko and the techniques used to transfer imagery to such a large scale were genius. However I wish that young designers would not use them as much because they don't need to. We have the capability to print out at very large sizes now so I feel that there is really no need for a similar idea of tracing to be used at this point. I wish they would just draw their imagery; at least some of the time. I am astonished at the effectiveness of the Constructivist design but more so by the involvement of the people/viewers and there ability to change things as a response the way they did. El Lissitzky is one of my favorite designers and I was happy to hear him referred to as the messiah of graphic design/ Constructivism. His ability to communicate an image as powerful as "beat the whites with the red wedge" using only circles rectangles and 3 colors is definitely revolutionary. Also the way he spread them all over is precisely something I have been searching for a way to do in this digital age. Unfortunately I feel the answer to that lies some where within the field of "hacking" and I do not know nor wish to embark upon such and endeavor.

LECTURE 3 RESPONSE

Plakastil

Luciaen Bernhard

Futurism

DADA

Cubism

Surrealism

While their were many significant advances in philosophies during the periods which we studied during this lecture there was one in particular that has harbored my attention and resentment for some time now and that is the movement DADA. I completely understood the reason behind their rejection and attack on the social and political climate of the time and I agree with 80% of it. but unfortunately they also spurred a side movement of performance art and installation. Since their ideas were founded upon nonsense that idea unfortunately carried through into the present day brandished by a wave of ignorant artists with no background or a warped understanding of the reasons behind these types of ideas. Fine arts now is thought of as nonsense as a consequence. Ignorance in this case is not bliss fore it was ignorance that spawned crappy installations with no regard for craft or careful composition. These pieces somehow entered the lime line and contaminated it leaving behind a trail of nothing short of shit.