Modernism vs Postmodernism Graphic Design

Modernism vs Postmodernism Graphic Design Throughout the 19th century artists and painters had a very conservative mindset when it came to the presentation of art. The images and art forms that were made during this time were composed of a certain artistic mold which reflected conservative moral values, virtuosity, righteousness, nobility, sacrifice, and Christianity  [1]. Most artists during this time period conformed to the common artistic mold, which is clearly seen in the works of that century. The 20th century however, saw a new period of design known as modernism, which would eventually lead to postmodernism after World War II. Unlike the artworks of the 19th century, the modernist and postmodernist periods were composed of very revolutionary and transformed images. The ideas and opinions behind the images became more open-minded and hence the images themselves were more flexible and avant-garde  [2]. The period of modernism saw the partial abandonment of conservative traditions. Modern artists looked ahead to the future and not to the past, they supported freedom of expression and equality. The years between World War I and World War II allowed modernism to expand dramatically. Propaganda and war posters are perfect examples of modernism  [3]. Not only did modern artists provide social awareness; they also actively supported political revolutions, such as the Russian Revolution. The Russian revolution provided and excellent opportunity for modern artists to experiment with new expression methods. The posters and propaganda of this revolution in particular were very abstract and futuristic, almost industrial; all of which fitted the Soviet ideology  [4]. A very important historical piece of modernism is its emergence in Germany. Typography in German graphic design was very important, Bauhaus for example used very specific typography and rules but more importantly analyzed the specific roles of items to transmit information. It is interesting that modernism was also seen in German graphic design as some critics believe that World War II effectively drew an end to the true spirit of modernism  [5]. Keeping in mind the social and political background of modernism, the actual graphical aspects of modernist design make sense. Modernist images were generally very symmetrical and alignment was very important. Images were structured and simplified; fonts were arranged in very specific manners to complement the images themselves. Fonts were generally simple such as sans serif or sometimes looked almost hand drawn. Also popular in modernist graphic designs were the use of rules and empty space as components of the works structure. The famous Uncle Sam and Britons recruitment poster of World War I are simplified images, with very basic font. In both posters the images and fonts are arranged according to a grid, and as such they are very leveled and aligned. An interesting point in both posters is the font is different for the word you, it is bolded and outlined providing more emphasis on the importance of the person reading it. These are only brief descriptions of many similar works of the modernist time period  [6]. Following World War II and what some consider the end of modernism a new form of graphic design materialized this is known as postmodernism. This period time started sometime in the 1950s and continues today. Some consider postmodernism to be a movement against modernism. While modernism was more pure, rational and truthful postmodernism was more chaotic and stylized, it no longer had such deep meaning behind the designs. Postmodernism uses symbols, images, and typography as simple stylistic devices. Unlike the structural and simple modernist designs, postmodernist design is obsessed with style and creativity, basically looks. Graphic design was now being presented in popular media in the same methods as fashion; it was up-to-date, advanced, and tasteful  [7]. This time period included the Cuban Revolution and of course the Vietnam War, both of which allowed artist to create interesting works of graphic design. The technical aspects of postmodernist graphic designs were very different from those of modernist design despite having some similarities. Postmodernist design included collages, photography, some hand-drawn images, and in general more chaotic and improvised arrangements. The postmodernism period also witnessed the dawn of a new age. The development of the computer and continuing ingenuity in technology presented new opportunities and new methods for graphic design. Technological developments, particularly in communications also brought forth the possibilities of mass media and culture. Graphic designers were now able to apply their craft to Television, Radio, Print, Mass Marketing, Advertising, and eventually the Internet. A particular aspect of mass media and culture where the differences and similarities between modernist and postmodernist graphic design can be seen is Music, more specifically the artwork of the album covers. The following examples are fine illustrations of the different design types. The modernist designed album cover is Elvis Presleys self-titled debut album Elvis Presley, while the postmodernist designed album cover is the Rolling Stones Exile on Main St. Elvis Presley, Elvis Presley 1956 Elvis Presleys self-titled debut album was released in March on 1956; to this day it remains one of the greatest and most iconic album covers of all time according to Rolling Stone magazine  [8]. Several artists have borrowed and mimicked the album cover, including The Clash which used it for their 1979 album London Calling which coincidently is also on Rolling Stones greatest album cover list. It is amazing how iconic the album cover is despite its shear simplicity, a simple photograph with the title Elvis Presley in very basic font and colors. Following the modernist guidelines the title is arranged in a right angle, and the font is completely legible. The artists intent was clear simplicity, legibility, and yet enough color and contrast to peak interest. Having the font in color and the background photo in black in white directs the viewers immediately to reading the title and then the image. The artwork also has a more personal and playful aura due to the particular choice of the colorful and humorous font. This may have been aimed to give the public a feeling of trust and personal acquaintance with Elvis. Another album cover that seems to be very similar to this is the Thelonius Monk 1965 album cover, it shares the simplicity of font and the photo as the background. The qualities of this album cover are clearly modernistic, extremely different when compared to the following sample of postmodern graphic design. Rolling Stones, Exile on Main St 1972 Similar to Elvis Presleys debut album, Exile on Main St, is #5 on Rolling Stones 100 Greatest Album Covers  [9]. Released in 1972 the designer of the cover John Van Hamersveld  [10], best described the attitudes of the time The general tone of the time was one of anarchy drug dealers and freaks and crazy people left over from the Sixties, all defiant and distorted. This album cover perfectly captured that feeling, the unique background and the title looking like it was a last minute thought perfectly capture the whole basis of postmodernism. The background itself has an interesting story, though it may look like a collage of photos it is actually a single photo of a poster that Hamersveld found in a tattoo parlor off route 66. Unlike the Elvis Presley album cover this one plainly shows little or no structure, it is more chaotic. An analysis of Elvis Presleys debut album cover and the Rolling Stones Exile on Main St album cover, presents dramatic differences not only in the graphic design but also the historical tone of the time. The modernist design of Elvis album cover is simple, clear, and direct; the postmodernist design of the Rolling Stones album cover is chaotic, stylish, eye-catching, and rebellious. Yet both albums are designed for one thing to attract the viewers, listeners, and fans alike. In the end it is obvious that both modernism and postmodernism are still important to this day. Thought they may be very different at times, the ultimately share a goal, to be artistic and creative.

Life of a Slave in the Caribbean Essay -- Slavery Caribbean History Cu

Life of a Slave in the Caribbean The experience of Caribbean slavery is vital in understanding the contemporary social structure of the region. It was the introduction of an estimated four million Africans to the Caribbean which made these islands melting pots of culture and society. Since Africans had such a tremendous impact on the region, it is important that we recognize the nature of slavery and how it transformed their lives. Although most agree that the institution was dehumanizing, the social relations of slavery help to explain the development of the Caribbean’s identity. In order to understand slavery it is imperative to recognize that it’s introduction to the Caribbean was driven by colonizers need for economic expansion and development. The growth of the sugar industry throughout the region during the seventeenth century was intimately connected with the enslavement of Africans. The slaves were the means for extracting agricultural resources which could then be sold at a profit in Europe. The leaders in colonization during this period were the French, Dutch, English, and Spanish and initially slaves were simply an input for their final product. Thus slaves were not seen as human but part of a larger machine that was being profited by colonizers. As slavery developed an complex social hierarchy emerged on plantations. At the bottom of the social order, but at the backbone of the plantation economy, were the field slaves. The field slaves were divided into "gangs" depending on the strength of their bodies. For example, "the first gang on any estate comprised the most able-bodied males and females, with subsequent gangs organized according to a descending order of physical strength and ability" (Knight 130). The ... ...show their resistance for slavery. Again, when involved in maroon communities they had tactics for defending their runaway slaves. Although this occurred throughout the exploitation colonies the maroon communities were vital for the success of the Haitian revolution. Ultimately there is no single way of defining the slave experience in the Caribbean. It was a complex institution which developed in a variety of ways on the different colonies. It was the diversity in plantation system which can be attributed to the variance in the development of what the racial and cultural mosaic of the Caribbean today. Works Cited Beckles, Dr. Hillary, Verene Shepherd. Caribbean Slave Society and Economy. The New Press, New York. New York, N.Y. 1991. Knight, Franklin W. The Caribbean, The Genesis Of a Fragmented Nationalism. Oxford University Press, New York, N.Y. 1990.

Outsiders; ‘Norm and Ahmed’, “Happy Feet” and “The Arrival”

An Outsider is a person who is excluded from, or is not a member of a group. They can be seen to be merely out of place. Other factors, however, can make a person in the ‘right place’ feel like they do not belong. This is evident when exploring Alex Buzo’s script â€Å"Norm and Ahmed†, George Miller’s animation film â€Å"Happy Feet† and the Shaun Tan’s graphic novel â€Å"The Arrival†. Through utilising a range of language features and techniques, composers are able to emphasise the idea of ‘the outsider’ in these three texts. Alex Buzo’s script â€Å"Norm and Ahmed† depicts a late-night encounter between a typical old Australian working class man and a young Pakistani undergraduate. The concept of outsiders is explored in great detail throughout the script. At first, Ahmed appears to be the clear outsider in the script, as the stage directions and choice of costume are used to convey his sense of alienation and discomfort with the situation; a dark skinned person wearing a â€Å"Nehru-styled suit† acting â€Å"edges away warily†, â€Å"taking them cautiously† suggesting Ahmed’s agitation and fear when interacting with Norm. Register is also used to demonstrate that Ahmed does not belong, for even though he speaks English fluently, his extremely formal language and perfect grammar such as â€Å"I crave your forgiveness†, reveal him to be the outsider. This contrasts with Norm’s very Australian colloquialisms and slang, â€Å"bash you†, â€Å"old piss-pots†, â€Å"poofter† showing his ease with the Australian dialect. These factors all combine to make Ahmed seem to be feeling as if he is in the wrong place. Another character who seems to be in the wrong place is the protagonist in the graphic novel â€Å"The Arrival†. Shaun Tan uses a sequence of photos showing the protagonist going through customs in a new country. The character’s gestures, such as outstretched palms and scratching his head signify confusion as well as his frustrated facial expressions all show him to be misunderstood. Finally, the picture showing his bent over with his head in his hands shows his helplessness and feeling of defeat. This character feels out of place; an outsider. This feeling is also evident in the film â€Å"Happy Feet†. Mumble’s sense of exclusion is accentuated in the graduation party scene, where the camera pans from group of penguin singing and dancing in unison to a single tap dancing penguin, Mumble, who is facing the wrong way. There is some empty space between him and the group, which also physically shows his outsider status. The following scene shows him exiled to a small dark iceberg looking up at the party in the distance. It is a low angle wide shot making him look small and lonely in comparison. This all contributes to the idea that he is an outsider, although technically he is in the right place. Mumble’s outsider status shows that being in the wrong place is only one element contributing to the notion of an outsider. Many other reasons for being an outsider have been explored through these three texts. The animated film â€Å"Happy Feet† is about a young penguin, Mumble who is expelled from his penguin community because he dances his feelings, rather than singing them. The animators highlight Mumble’s lack of belonging by making him physically different from the other penguins, he has blue eyes and keeps his baby feathers when his peers are fully developed. Mumble is initially considered part of the penguin community but his differences in appearance and ability act as barriers which prevent him from being an insider. Even though technically he is in the ‘right place’, he is still an outsider. Another character who appears to be in the ‘right place’ but reveals himself to be an outsider, is Norm. Initially Norm engineers the conversation with Ahmed by pretending not to have a lighter. Later he admits, â€Å"I get a little lonely (†¦) I like to have a nice chat with a bloke (†¦) A bloke like you, for instance†. Norm’s obvious loneliness adds to his outsider status. He doesn’t belong to a close family or social group and is compelled to talk to strangers. Norm’s age, education and social class all contribute to make him part of a dying breed, the â€Å"old school Australian†. He does not necessarily belong in the emerging multicultural Australia that Ahmed embodies. By saying â€Å"I was only thinking that if you didn’t have a dark skin you’d be alright. I mean, it’d be all right for you to stay here, like, get a job and stay in this country. †, he reveals his racism and rejection of multiculturalism. His subsequent senseless beating of Ahmed also demonstrates Norm’s instability and violence and this further reinforces his outsider status. By breaking the laws of society, he automatically becomes an outsider to the mainstream. Norm and Mumble are not the only characters who are becoming outsiders in their own place. In â€Å"The Arrival†, Tan draws with great detail, a bleak city with huge, ominous, black shadows resembling dragon’s tails suggesting evil all over the buildings and roads. A high angle long shot shows how insignificant his family is in this big, empty city. This reveals a growing sense of insecurity and uncertainty of the family’s future in their own country. They no longer feel as though they belong there. Therefore after studying the three texts, it is apparent that the sentence â€Å"An outsider is merely just a person in the wrong place† is only partially correct. Ahmed, Mumble and the persona in the Arrival are all outsiders by virtue of being in the wrong place; Ahmed with his extremely formal language, brown skin and his foreign attire, the persona in â€Å"The Arrival† with his language barrier and Mumble for his inability to sing. However, although Mumble can’t sing, he is a penguin and is therefore technically in the’right place’. He is an outsider because he looks and acts differently to the other penguins. The persona â€Å"The Arrival† leaves his homeland because he is starting to feel like an outsider in his own place, as does Norm with his racism, loneliness and violence. In conclusion; anyone, in any place can be an outsider.

Democratic leadership is the best leadership style for today essays

Democratic leadership is the best leadership style for today essays Democratic leadership style is the advisable leadership style which encourages participation in decision-making and it can be persuasive or consultative. However, there is no best leadership style because nothing can be absolute right and comprehensive. In this assignment, I will illustrate the successful case about GLANZ GROUP which adopted autocratic leadership style in the beginning of its foundation. Furthermore, I will also show the successful cases by adopting democratic leadership or combination the different leadership styles in their company in order to support to my opinion. The cases from the books and from internet will also be illustrated. Strong leadership, no matter how well intentioned and benevolent, can foster dependency and subvert democracy. Yet absence of any leadership will lead to confusion, drift, and tension. As many progressive activists have remarked, there can be a "tyranny of structurelessness" as well as of autocracy. Mr. Qinde leung, Chairman of the board of directors and CEO of GLANZ GROUP who built up his own factory using 300 thousand RMB in 1978: Guizhou Feather and Down Factory, the former one of GLANZ GROUP. Soon after, he quickly realized that it was more beneficial for these down stream enterprises which used their products for further dress business. He decides to do the same business without any techniques and any skillful persons at that time. It was a big risk so that a lot of employees were against this plan. But Mr. Leung insisted on his own schedule and finally he got complete success depending on his own experience and special views. It cant be denied that at the developing stage of the company, facing the complicated situation and unbalanced quality of employees, Mr. Leung had to mange his company in autarchy. With the revolution of modern enterprises system in 1990, Mr. Leung became the CEO of GLANZ GROUP, his decision was un-challenged, but luckily, he has the spe...

7 Proofreading Steps

7 Proofreading Steps 7 Proofreading Steps 7 Proofreading Steps By Mark Nichol Proofreading is the last line of defense for quality control in print and online publishing. Be sure to conduct a thorough proofread of all documents before they are printed for distribution and of all Web pages before they go live, using these guidelines. But before you proof, you must edit. (This post explains the difference between the two processes.) There’s no use expending time and effort to check for minor typographical errors until the editing stage is complete. Review for proper organization, appropriate tone, and grammar, syntax, usage, and style before the document is laid out. Stakeholders should read the edited version before layout and submit requests for revisions during the editing stage. If anyone other than the editorial staff must see the proof, remind him or her that only minor changes should be made at this point. 1. Use a Checklist Create a list of important things to check for, such as problem areas like agreement of nouns and verbs and of pronouns and antecedents, and number style. 2. Fact-Check Double-check facts, figures, and proper names. If information remains to be inserted at the last minute, highlight the omission prominently so that no one forgets to do so. 3. Spell-Check Before proofreading a printout, spell-check the electronic version to find misspellings, as well as errors you or a colleague make frequently, such as omitting a closing parenthesis or quotation mark. 4. Read Aloud Reading text during the proof stage improves your chances of noticing errors, especially missing (â€Å"a summary the report follows†) or repeated (â€Å"a summary of the the report follows†) words. 5. Focus on One Line at a Time When proofing print documents, use another piece of paper or a ruler to cover the text following the line you are proofreading, shifting the paper down as you go along. This technique helps you keep your place and discourages you from reading too quickly and missing subtle errors. 6. Attend to Format Proofreading isn’t just about reviewing the text. Make sure that the document design adheres to established specifications. Check page numbering, column alignment, relative fonts, sizes, and other features of standard elements such as headlines, subheadings, captions, and footnotes. Inspect each type of feature within categories, such as looking at every headline, then every caption, and so on. 7. Proof Again Once revisions have been made, proofread the document again with the same thoroughness, rather than simply spot-checking the changes. An insertion or deletion may have thrown off the line count, for example. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Direct and Indirect Objects41 Words That Are Better Than GoodIs "Number" Singular or Plural?

Analysis of Heraldic Shield Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Analysis of Heraldic Shield - Essay Example While designing, this heraldic shield I have thought on various dimensions of human personality. A heraldic shield usually represent, differ rent aspect of human personality like courage, honesty, beauty, grace and charisma. So, in order o reflect all these qualities, I chose couple of birds, animals, plant, tree, colors and a motto. I understand that every shield should represent rich message to people who view it. A heraldic shield is represents the vigor and pride of an organization, military unit or any other professional institution. Symbols and its interpretation First symbol on the shield is lion and it is an animal known as the king of the jungle and is popularly known for its royal status. Here the shield is held by lion because it is depicting the strength and royalty one needs to imbibe in their personality to build a good future. Lion is always bold in its attitude and every person must have the eagerness to learn from the lion to be bold in every facets of life. Lion als o portrays pride, protective nature and braveness. Seeing these qualities in Lion, one should learn to look up to lion and transform oneself into brave personality. In the same manner, other animal which is holding the shield is unicorn . First and foremost the white color of unicorn is a sign of chastity, purity and virginity. This gives a message to people that one need to be pure and virgin in thoughts . According to (Martin,2010)â€Å"To encounter a Unicorn, a person must find a place of true love in their heart. Unicorns have many traits and characteristics, and they mean many things to different people†. . In mythology, unicorn is a symbol of chivalry and it’s portrays the qualities of proud, untamable nature and unique status. Moreover the horn of unicorn resembles the weapon of Christ and one who has faith in Christianity. A unicorns also resembles a girls’ virginity and hence a girl should always maintain her purity Another beautiful symbol which is pro jected in the heraldic shield is Swan a heavenly bird. Swan is a bird which is said to be heavenly and popular for its beauty and elegance. This elegant nature of Swan conveys the message to the people to be elegant and gracious. The swan spread a symbolic message of love, grace and beauty to the people in total. A swan means appealing beauty, attractiveness and romance. Swan gives an idea to the people that one should always try to remain beautiful in and out and gracious like them. Swan has the strength of beautifying any environment it is in and this attribute of swan communicate to the people to remain calm and serene in any environment they are in. Another gracious bird which decorates the shield is peacock. It's a well-known fact that the peacock is the most beautiful bird on earth and it is known for its colorful and shiny feathers and dancing quality. When a peacock dances, everybody sways in the festive mood of the bird. As per (Augustine, 2012)â€Å"The characteristics of a peacock are extravagant, making it easy to differentiate between him, his female counterpart and other types of birds†. Here the peacock refers to the symbol of vanity and fanciness. It represents the core attribute of women, who is always craving for vanity and glamour. When it comes to the charm of my heraldic shield, it is enhanced by the inclusion of rose. Rose is one of the most beautiful plants in whole of earth because of its beauty and mesmerizing fragrance. Throughout the human history, very few flowers had the luck to be in the hearts of people forever. Rose is often connected to romance, heart, love and passion. A rose symbolizes the passion and desire a man have towards his love interest.  Ã‚  

Leadership development Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Leadership development - Case Study Example Both the drug company has the same mission as well as passion of improving health across the globe and has a commitment towards the customers in putting them first and being there in times of the need. Therefore the case aims to discuss some of the questions in relation to strategic leadership, cultural and transformational leadership along with the managerial roles and leadership traits with respect to Merck’s company. According to Lussier and Achua, â€Å"Strategic management is the set of decisions and actions used to formulate and implement specific strategies that will achieve a competitively superior fit between the organization and its environment, so as to achieve organizational goals† (Lussier & Achua, 2007, p. 444). Frazier who was appointed as the chief executive officer and president of Merck’s after the retirement of Richard T. Clark in 2011. Frazier has served as an executive vice president and president for Global Human health from the year 2007 to 2010. He is the first African-American who was appointed as the CEO of Merck. Strategic leadership refers to the ability to foresee, predict and maintain flexibility and empower the other members to create about a change as and when necessary for the organization (Hitt, Ireland & Hoskisson, 2010, p. 352). From the case study it can be stated that the CEO, Mr. Frazier has effectively carried out the primary responsibility of effective strategic leader as the responsibility primarily rest on the top level management mainly by the CEO and Mr. Frazier has proved to be effective strategic leader by helping the company to create the core values along with purpose and vision and secondly, the CEO was able to translate the purpose, vision and the core values into the decision of the business. Ken Frazier had the strategic vision, passion and experience to lead the company and has played a major role in shaping the business