Rolling Stone Cover Designs

 Rolling Stone is a bi-weekly magazine, based and founded in San Francisco which has been in publication since 1967. It is highly respected due to it's continuing quality and that level of quality is apparent in the often simple but always appealing designs of its covers. The magazine is mainly music based although also features political reporting as well as stories on other forms of media such as movies and television and the covers reflect this with the celebrity on them usually being a music star with the occasional tv or movie star taking their place.
The image to the left is the standard example of a Rolling Stone cover, a full body shot of a  pop star, in this case Taylor Swift, against a white background, surrounded by text, in front of the magazine title with their head obscuring part of it. This formula is changed up slightly every so often. Sometimes the celebrity photo may just be a shot of their head or from the waist up, sometimes the background might be more grey then white but it is always close enough to the tried and true formula that the brand is instantly recognizable to potential customers while on the shelf. Older issues had the title sat in front of the celebrity and it was often presented in different colours. Over the years however they have established a brand witch includes red typography for the title. This has now became so iconic that they are able to obscure it with the celebrity photo so that the subject of the magazine takes priority as that is the reason the casual buyer will spend money on it. They are able to do this however, safe in the knowledge that as long as some of their logo is on show, people will recognize the magazine. Because of this the loyal buyer and the casual shopper will be drawn to the magazine immediately. Very occasionally, usually upon the death of a very influential celebrity (such as Steve Jobs, Johnny Cash and Lou Reed) all conventions will be thrown out and instead an image witch is an appropriate tribute will be used. In all three examples the cover featured a head shot of the celebrity in question looking directly into the camera against a dark background. In the case of Lou Reed it was a photo of his younger self which had been given colour to signify his personality and music as that of a wild rebellious and colourful nature. Johnny Cash's tribute issue used an old grainy black and white photo of him looking particularly haggard, which again, reflects his music and personality. It is the Steve Jobs issue however which is of most interest as it is one of the only instances in the magazines history in which no photograph at all is used and instead a digital painting is employed which is fitting given the mans career as a the CEO of Apple Inc.


Images Taken From:
http://cbsnewyork.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/rolling-stone_taylor-cover-r1168cover.jpeg
http://www.scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/980w/public/2013/07/19/jim_morrison.jpg?itok=Pimi6nY1
http://img004.lazyboys.info/people/kurt_cobain/kurt_cobain_kurt_cobain_rolling_stone_cover_jpg_jpeg_image_406_500_pixels__VIXvDXec.sized.jpg
http://returntofleet.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/rolling-stone-cover-steve-jobs-by-richard-davies-turksworks-art-graphic-design-digital-illustration-painting.jpg
http://www.laweekly.com/imager/are-rihannas-booty-shorts-photoshopped-on/b/big/2461262/159b/Rihanna_Rolling_Stone_Magazine_Cover_540x747.jpg
http://grandcentralblog.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/aguilera1.jpg

Innapropriate and Banned Use of Graphic Design

The image to the left is a french poster from Amnesty International designed to spread awareness of torture and its deep flaws. It shows a bloody and battered Iggy Pop and below him is a quote saying that Justin Bieber is the future of Rock n roll. The idea being that these are sentiments that someone like Iggy Pop would never share or believe under normal circumstances but people will say whatever their captor wants to hear to avoid more torture. Therefore as a method of obtaining information, torture is unreliable. The gruesome nature of this image is arguably justifiable as it is trying to illicit change for the better and the shock of this image is more likely to make people act than a more mundane poster that people would quickly forget about. This image is still inappropriate however because Amnesty did not get permission to use Iggy Pops image and simply Photoshopped an unflattering image of him with a caption designed to put forward a view which is the opposite of what he believes on a poster delivering a political message that they have no way of knowing whether or not he agrees with.


This image shows Lauren Phoenix, a well known porn star. It shows her sitting naked on a couch wearing a pair of tube socks. The implication is that she is just about to film or has just finished filming an adult film and kept the socks on during as she likes them so much. This on its own would make for a very inappropriate advert however in the bottom corner of the image it also encourages its clientele to Google Lauren so that you can view her films, making this not only an advert for American Apparel socks but also for pornographic films. 


The image below is a billboard expressing a distaste for religious people trying to force their views on others. It does not have an anti-religious sentiment and expresses the view that religious people are of course entitled to their beliefs however where this billboard is inappropriate is not in its message but rather in the imagery it evokes. It compares religion to a penis with the final line being "PLEASE don't try to shove it down mt children's throats." This of course conjures up the idea of children in sexual situations for no good reason and has the power to make people very uncomfortable and offended with no justification.

Images Taken From:
http://cdn4.pitchfork.com/news/55689/56991da6.jpg
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/03/29/article-2301242-18FA5293000005DC-879_964x927.jpg
http://k08.kn3.net/0B3102447.jpg
http://therongolianstar.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/banned_ads_1_20110826_1299141510.jpg
http://wa1.www.therock.net.nz/portals/0/content/funnyshit/religion-penis-11.jpg
http://cdn.trendhunterstatic.com/thumbs/new-zealand-police-recruitment.jpeg

Semiotics

Signifier and signified

A signifier can be a word image or object that represents something whereas a signified is what it represents. They can have a number of relationships between each other but 2 that stand out are that you can have 1 signifier with numerous signifieds and that you can have different signifiers with 1 signified.  For example the sign to the right is the signifier and elderly people is what is signified, however it can also mean that drivers must be cautious. Similarly a signifier for elderly people can be the sign but can also be the sound of their voice.

Icon

An icon is an image which represents something else. It has some degree of resemblance to what it is representing however this can vary from a small simple shape to a very detailed portrait or photograph. The image on the left represents an icon used often to represent the red hot chili peppers whereas the photo on the right of the band can also be considered an icon.

Index

When there is a causal link between the signifier and the signified the relationship is said to be indexical. For example smoke is a signifier and is caused by fire, ticking is representative of , and is caused by, a clock and when a recorded voice is the signifier a person speaking is the signified. For example this trail of destruction to the right was caused by and therefore signifies a hurricane.

Intention

The intention behind an image causes us to see it in a different light. the more or less we know about the artist and the creation of an image colours our view of it. Knowing the political or religious beliefs of the artist may cause us to see meaning in an image which is not there for example. The image to the left for example shows a man dressed peculiarly  stood in front of a line of policemen. At first and with no other information to go on this seems fairly nonsensical  and abstract however after the popularity of the movie V for Vendetta, these clothes and that mask have come to represent revolution and protest of the government and so suddenly the man as well as the police take on a new more sinister meaning.

Noise

Noise in this context is the distortion or alteration of the meaning of a message.  As language, both written and spoken changes the meanings of symbols are often lost in the passage of time due to misinterpretation.

Destination

The destination of a message is essentially when it is received and decoded. However due to the quality of the message, the ambiguity of a message, or the failure of the transmission of a message, what arrives at it's destination is not always the same message that was sent.  To the right is the cross of saint Peter which , due to the noise which affects its message, has in modern times stopped representing the saint and has reached its destination as a satanist symbol effectively meaning the opposite of what it is supposed to stand for.


Images taken from:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxV2eQFFKG27qF5gLmUpf8QjVRfnRsS7JEbx3pNPvlGrO3SkuVFeHr_ohM-5a2OUs6TDJ8oZEBtetO1iwEHTNxE5FskjMKRFOmIFFvrJDuJn6UJD6XTqV_y1cqDI674ne6bBkZGpYoQQ/s1600/6495_1095251824340_1317900159_30282197_7166039_n.jpg
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/63909000/jpg/_63909392_lemlattimernyc.jpg
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQdV6JnAyDNEYeS27g6qczIHxwq6DrxvepPJ-WYQ29xO3gW-l0EWA:img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110505214812/redhotchilipeppers/images/9/96/Icon.png
http://www.justpushstart.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/rock-band-cutting-list.jpg
http://i.guim.co.uk/static/w-700/h--/q-95/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/4/1/1238597223398/G20-Protests-G20-Protest--003.jpg
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5uct5DWZJ1ry5688o1_500.png

Representations of Gender

The Action Hero

When sorting human beings into categories gender tends to be the first thing we jump to. In that sense it is seen as a bigger distinguisher of society than ethnicity, religious beliefs, political beliefs or any other faction that people could fall into. Everyone to a degree defines themselves on their gender and assumes the characteristics and identities of other people based on their gender and we are taught by the media in what ways men and women should differ. "Sex" refers to the biological difference between men and women whereas "gender" refers to the socially acceptable way different sexes are expected to behave. As such sex is a constant but gender changes with society.

How the media represents men


The Jock

The Metrosexual

Traditionally men where seen as overtly macho, showing little emotion and proficient in stereotypical "masculine" activities such as sport and DIY. This view of men has fluctuated wildly over the years. Sometimes short hair has been the most manly way to look, evoking a look reminiscent of a soldier, sometimes long hair has been more masculine as it is symbolic of rebellion. None the less many traits are constant such as rugged features, stubble or facial hair, action, violence and general toughness.


The Big Shot

The Strong Silent Type

In more recent times however men have been represented as more in touch with their feminine side, taking pride in their appearance and showing emotion. An extreme example of this is the metrosexual. This was first seen in society in the mid 90's. They are essentially straight men who share many of the same traits as the stereotypical homosexual as such they are often mistaken for them. The metrosexual is often seen by women in a sexual way and is more likely to be objectified.Boys to Men: Media Messages about Masculinity" was a report in 1999 that found that there were 6 common representations of men:


The Joker

1. The Action Hero - Strong, violent, rarely in control of his emotions, the action hero is extremely aggressive but also has a strong moral compass.
2. The Joker - The Joker is one of the most popular characters to other males and his masculinity comes from the fact that in his eyes nothing should be seen as serious of emotional.
3. The Metrosexual - Well groomed and dressed, the metrosexual is often sexualised and objectified by women which he in turn objectifies and sleeps with in order to gain his sense of masculinity.
4. The Big Shot - Defined by his professional status, the big shot is the epitome of success and uses that success to gain wealth and luxuries which put him above other men, making him an alpha male.
5. The Jock - Always willing to risk and compromise his long term health. Being aggressive and fighting is the way he maintains his masculinity as well as gain the approval of other men.
6. The Strong Silent Type - Focuses on being in charge and containing emotion. The strong silent type supports the belief that men should remain in control and that showing emotion is a sign of weakness.

How the media represents women

Damsel in Distress

The Housewife

Women have significantly less sets of representations in the media. There are essentially only 3 regularly seen depictions of women, The housewife/mother, the damsel in distress or the sex object. None of these depictions are particularly impressive however they all share a number of characteristics. They tend to be young, slim, overwhelmingly white and have perfect skin, hair etc.

The Sex Object

As such the 3 depictions of women often overlap and the story of a man rescuing an attractive woman from danger and eventually marrying her and having children with her is not only an uncommon one but merges all 3 depictions into one fictional woman.



The Strong Independent Woman

Recently, while still being represented as sexy, women's roles in media have begun to expand, showing them to be more independent, confident and stronger however with this new 4th depiction of women, also comes a new set of characteristics most of which are not as complimentary these include, the dumb blonde, the bitch, the whore, the femme fatale and the cougar.







Info taken from:
http://www.mediaknowall.com/as_alevel/alevkeyconcepts/alevelkeycon.php?pageID=gender
http://www.slideshare.net/smcmediastudies/the-representation-of-men-in-the-media
http://www.slideshare.net/smcmediastudies/the-representation-of-women-in-the-media
Images taken from:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLEvNAPXgjlBiHmOg7ZAo-g0SFUBdIFX-u3CDDYDA7lvw5EkQEXpVNur6me7jhBxa73WUGZFBekKqH9lPQYI3X4LJdFynghrbyOyKGxK_fq7TM3ZkUL-eH6ASBBxZQgB0UHnK3ZOYCbGw/s1600/bruce+willis+A+GOOD+DAY+TO+DIE+HARD.jpg
http://www.phootoscelebrities.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/George-Clooney-pics.jpeg
http://www.hitthefloor.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Barney-Stinson-How-I-Met-Your-Mother.png
https://rkirkcaldie.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/cowboy-clint-eastwood.jpg
http://elitedaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Stone-cold.jpeg
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpI1_cJlWuBaHVBqj74XQa70wXVe2Bfr4xDSSpzI_LuP5Y8mFjuBafFic-fYqTFFOakHsKWOEcmtpkzirQQaTriYN0KV8py8kSOjVWMr7zi6v_r8pMUFk3bOtyYpHSPXcB6px2PYvAb-1/s1600/Ace-Ventura+(3).jpg
http://www.sanjose.com/images/ev/02/2130102a_orig.jpeg

Film Titles

For this post I am comparing the title sequences of the 1970's TV series "The Incredible Hulk" with the 2008 movie of the same name. These are particularly interesting as the show was so successful and popular that when the movie was made it made great efforts to be as reminiscent of the show as possible, particularly in the title sequence. As such many of the iconic images of the original title sequences are faithfully recreated down to almost the most minute detail such as the red flashing danger sign, the cross hairs from the machinery panning across the characters face and the black chin strap holding him in place. This has the effect of evoking nostalgia from fans of the show so that they will be enjoying the film before it even begins as well as assuring the audience that the film will be closer in tone than the poorly reviewed hulk movie that was released in 2003 and caused many to question the characters ability to carry an entire movie. 

The major differences in the sequences however lies in how the character is currently dealing with being the hulk and the subsequent government reaction. In the film he is deep in hiding whereas in the show he has taken it a step further and faked his own death. As such this is where the 2 narrative driven title sequences begin to differ as the movie shows a number of news reports and newspaper clippings and how they are effecting and influencing a military search for Banner particularly by General Ross, one of the main antagonists in the film. The sequence also shows a fair amount of Ross' motivation or at least explains his hatred for Banner as he and his daughter were very seriously injured during the initial experiments. All of this is missing from the shows sequence however as Ross is not featured in the show and there is no military search due to the character faking his death. Instead it shows some of the damage the hulk does when unleashed as well as him trying to hold back the monster and the great effort he put in to properly fake his death. General Ross is replaced in this version by a reporter who believes that he is onto a big story and as such follows Banner hoping to uncover his secret.

The shows sequence is very heavily narrated whereas the film tells the story using just imagery. Both are very effective and both seem to be much more suited to the time they were made. When the titles end and the real narrative begins the viewer fully understands the set up and needs no further explanation.

Video Games & Violence

For the topic of hoe video games relate to violence i created this info-graphic.

The internet sources used in the creation of this info-graphic are:
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/video-game-violence.htm
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/06/video-games-violence-guns-explainer
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/11/27/psychologists_study_shows_violent_video_games_can_make_kids_smarter/

The Golden Age of Illustration

The golden age of illustration was a period of unprecedented skill and evolution in the field of illustration between the 1880's and 1920's. Illustration had existed since the earliest civilisations but did not exist as a trade until the mid-nineteenth century. This was caused by a number of factors including the growth of satire, the increase of printing production, the increase of availability of publications (which was itself caused by a number of factors including the introduction of compulsory education and the introduction of new printing technology.) Although Illustration was now a recognised trade it would not be recognised as a profession until the mid-20th century at which time education and training was offered to aspiring illustrators.

Influences



'The Glittering Plain' by William Morris
http://thetextileblog.blogspot.com/2012/09
/william-morris-and-art-of-printing.html

Medieval
During the golden age of illustration society was fascinated with the medieval period. This influenced many fields including architecture, design and literature. This also led to the revival of many forgotten techniques such as medieval illumination and hand printing which was popularised by William Morris.

'Golden Head by Golden Head' - Rosetti
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/
speel/pici/rosset5.jpg

Pre-Raphaelites
The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was created in 1848 to develop a naturalistic style of art by abandoning the rules and conventions that were drilled into artists heads. They considered Raphael to the artist who came closest to perfection and students were encouraged to learn by mimicking his work rather than nature itself. The pre-Raphaelites raised the standard for illustration and gave inspiration to the generations that followed. This particular movement has been described by Dr. Paul  Goldman as "...an era when the art of illustration was recognised by a number of distinguished artists as being as valuable and serious an occupation as painting in oils."
 

 The Aesthetic Movement

In very stark contrast to the pre-Raphaelites was the Aesthetic movement which rejected many of the conventions which founded the pre-Raphaelite movement including the medieval influence. The Aesthetic movement was about creating something modern and looking for, relishing in and creating beauty whenever conceivable. Reading was central to their philosophy and so they wanted their books illustrations and over all designs to be as beautiful as possible and achieved this by sacrificing reality.



 

Women and Japan 



'May Day' -Kate Greenaway
http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Kate_Greenaway#mediaviewer/
File:Kate_Greenaway_-_May_day.jpg

The popularisation of children's books led to women being accepted into the arts which had been and exclusively male field up until this point. The success of Kate Greenaway in particular made publishers aware of the important role women could play in their industry. Not long later, by 1890, illustration had moved to the forefront of the creative landscape in both Europe and America. Because of this there was a need to evolve and move forward and so the west turned to Japan for inspiration. They eventually started trading woodblock prints which greatly interested our artists and their influence became instantly recognisable. The Japanese attitude towards sexuality in their art was also influential and led to an underground pornography scene in Britain. Because of Japan and Art Nouveau, art was experiencing a freedom which hadn't been available for a long time.

'The Great Wave of Kanagawa' - Katsushika Hokusai
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Wave_off_Kanagawa
#mediaviewer/File:Great_Wave_off_Kanagawa2.jpg

Art Nouveau
The origins of art nouveau lie in the arts and crafts movement popularised by William Morris. It  is an elegant decorative art style characterized by curving lines and intricate patterns. It became popular across Europe as well as the United States and lasted from the late 19th century until the time of world war 1 at which point it was phased out and replaced by art deco.

Vienna Secession
Founded in 1897 by Gustav Klimt among others. There was not one style that united secessionism. They concerned themselves with exploring art outside the confines of academic tradition. Experimentation was very important to the movement and as such it became influenced by Art Nouveau and Japanese art.

Christmas
The 1890's brought with it the introduction of many of the Christmas traditions we know today. Cards and Christmas stories provided an entirely new market for illustrators and the tradition of getting children gifts led to the vast increase in children's books. The market for which wanted fantastical lands and characters in their stories. Soon illustrators were finding work in books based on German fairy tales, Greek tragedies and Nordic and Viking sagas. As the world moved closer to WW1 movements based on creativity such as Art Nouveau and the Vienna secession died out and illustrators could only be truly free and imaginative in children's books. 

 

Information taken from - http://www.artcyclopedia.com/history/index.html