Introduction to Microgenres

Microgenre - A very small and specialised genre

By the early 2010s, most microgenres would be linked and defined through various outlets on the Internet, usually as part of generating popularity and hype for a newly perceived trend. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microgenre

When first responding to the brief a variety of genres were explored and listened to on http://everynoise.com/engenremap.html

End of module evaluation

In accordance to 'Cell Phone Symphony' I learnt about breaking boundaries of typical poster designs and not doing the obvious. This was discovered and learnt via research into Edward Debono who studied the theory of lateral thinking. In relation to creating the publications I also feel different techniques and processes were learnt due to workshops especially the Steve Hockett workshop. I learnt that mistakes can often work in your favour and that experimenting is key. Throughout the project a range of new processes were learnt such as different book binding techniques, laser cutting, embossing, the effect of different paper stocks,  how to use vinyl as a stencil, different layouts and expanded my knowledge on indesign. The module also helped and taught me to explore a range of approaches to different topic matters such as serious and light hearted topics. The module helped me to signify what was well suited/ appropriate to subject matters and what was not. 

I think the success of this module was that new techniques for me were explored and discovered pushing me out of my comfort zones. In order to improve this module has taught me to not be afraid to get stuck in straight away with challenging projects. In order to improve even more further research could have been explored into contemporary graphic designers along with further relevant theories and opinions in connection to my studies. 

Overall, I have learnt how to adapt to different subject matters, explore a range of processes, challenge my organisation skills along with time management, learnt about the different resources within the university and have explored designers in the industry.  I have also learnt that design is not all about the final production and that key processes are just as important I order to gain a strong, valid, unique final outcome. 

Final outcome - DO YOU LIKE THE WAY I LOOK?

The final publication explores a range of different processes such as scanning, laser cutting, and embossing. The images featured within the final publication explore the desire/ love of makeup with a touch of humour. The publication represents the process people who wear makeup go through when taking their makeup off making the publication relatable. 

The previous front cover for this publication was boring, dull and plain. Therefore, an image was placed on the front of the publication with embossed text down the side.This represents the textured makeup used to created the images within the publication. The publication has been binded with hair to suit the aesthetic of the publication being 'beauty' related and also to relate to the abstract images. Negative space has been used throughout the publication so the images have the potential to be the main focal point. 

Group Crit - Deciding which publication to take forward

Comments given... 

- 26 characters has the strongest concept
- Try drawing with makeup more in order to make your publications more fun and interesting
- You could try balancing all your makeup products and photographing them
- Try using a makeup wipe on 26 different faces who use makeup in order to gain abstract images
- Like the title 'DO YOU LIKE THE WAY I LOOK?' as it is catchy and funny

From this group crit it was decided to develop the 26 characters brief.

Initial ideas - Uncomfortable images

Initial idea 1 - 

The first idea aimed to be a short but impactful message. Therefore, a flip flop publication was created with strips giving the information to the audience straight away once the publication was opened. This publication also broke and challenged typical publication boundaries, therefore, this made it engaging and appealing. However, the outcome of this initial idea was too playful for such a serious and horrifying topic. The images used within this publication were also not uncomfortable enough to go with the storyline which came from a Youtube ‘draw my life’ video of a cow. The Helvetica type used within this publication is enlarged and put in bold when personal pronouns are used to make it a very direct publication to the reader.

Inital Idea 2 - 

The second initial idea puts the uncomfortable images at a more larger scale, in comparison to the first initial idea and uses more horrific images. The idea behind this is that the images are more in the viewers face and so that the only focus for the reader is on the images. Hence why there is only one image at a large scale per page so the reader can digest and feel sympathy. The following publication is all in black and white due to it being a dark subject and the cows living a dark life. The pages of the publication have then be scrunched to symbolise the fact that a cows life is rubbish and that a cow goes through torture in order for us to get our produce. The front page of this publication is set out like a numbered instructions guide so it seems like the reader is being commanded and directly addressed. 

 

Initial Idea 3 - 

For the third initial idea threshold images were put into an outline of a milk bottle. The photos are made to look legible but slightly unclear. This is due to the truth behind a cow’s life being hidden within the advertising industry, when products such as dairy and meat are sold. Instead cow’s lives are made out to be luxury, clean and free when this is far from the truth. The block colours used within this publication represent a black and white cow. The title for this publication is ‘MILK?’ as it aims to make the reader question their perspective on how milk is produced.

Research for uncomfortable images - Animal Cruelty

The following 'Vegan' Youtube video was watched as part of my research process in order to find out the sadden truth behind a cows life. This also enabled me to gain a horrific, personal, real life story line for my publication in order to make the viewer feel uncomfortable.

SUSAN SONTAG

Susan sontag explored sympathy and suspicion...

QUOTES BY SONTAG

- "As objects of contemplation, images of the atrocious can answer to several different needs. To steel oneself against weakness. To make oneself more numb. To acknowledge the existence of the incorrigible."

When questioning if sympathy is a valid response Sontag claimed.. 

- " To that extent, it can be (for all our good intentions) an impertinent - if not an inappropriate - response."

Is suspicion a valid response? 

- "Flooded with images of the sort that once used to shock and arouse indignation, we are loosing our capacity to react."

- 'We cynically assume images have little effect through over saturation. We are cynical of the images ability to record reality as it really is. We are cynical of their actual purpose and intensions."

Working in groups to discuss our uncomfortable images

As a group a variety of 'uncomfortable images' were collected and put in a variety of ranked orders. This made us generation questions to take forward and considered within our future 'uncomfortable images' publications. This was due to the fact it made us think and question other purposes of the images rather than the literal meaning of them. For instance one of our images was a rabbit having an injection put into its eye. Our immediate reaction was that the rabbit was being tested on for beauty products. However, the other meaning behind the image could be that the rabbit was at the vets for it's own health. 

Most comfortable to uncomfortable

Ethical - unethical 

Ethical- unethical 

Important - Trivial

 Cathartic - Vulgar

Uncomfortable images - Creating a gif

The word in relation to the following gif is 'freedom'. This is due to one side of the images being 'last images before death' and these people not having the option to die. Whilst the other images are animal/ meat related and resemble the choice of whether or not we eat them or not. The images that represent having no choice are shown using a small view finder. Whereas the images which represent choice are shown using a large view finder in order to represent peoples free choice in eating these particular meats.

26 Characters - Initial Ideas

26 Characters 

Initial idea 1

The following 5 objects all have the link of 'beauty' and create a change to my appearance. Therefore, the following zine has been created by the same image scanned in repeatedly 26 times. However, each image is different due to the images having different filters experimenting with different colours and textures. This reflects back on the idea that makeup is a filter for the face and can create different looks on the same face. Therefore, different looks have been created from the same image using different filters. 

Initial idea 2

The second initial idea carried on with the theme of 'beauty' using the favoured objects such as hair, earrings, eyeshadow, lipstick and nail varnish. The following publication was created in order to have an interactive purpose. The idea behind the following publication is that sheets of acetate would be used to place over the original image changing the way the girl looks. Hence the title of the following publication 'DO YOU LIKE THE WAY I LOOK? '

Initial idea 3 

The following idea was created in connection to the game Exquisite Corpse. The aim of the game is to draw parts of a person without seeing what the previous person has drawn. Therefore, makeup products such as foundation, eyeliner, lipstick and nail varnish were used to draw people. This enabled abstract people to be formed and gave off character and humour.