ESSAY..

Books I have taken out:


M. Bierut, J. Helfand, S. Heller and R. Poynor, (1999), Looking Closer 3, New York, Allworth Press


M. Bierut, W. Drenttel and S. Heller, (2006), Looking Closer 5, New York, Allworth Press


G. Ambrose and P. Harris, (2009), The Fundamentals of Graphic Design, Switzerland, AVA Publishing


D. Strinati, (1995),  An Introduction to Theories of Popular Culture, London,  Routledge


J. Storey, (2009), Cultural theory and Popular Culture, an Introduction, Harlow, Pearson Education Limited

ADORNO- ON POPULAR MUSIC

Quickly read Adorno's (1941) article 'On Popular Music' (links below). In no more than a few paragraphs, summarise his ideas on pop music, concentrating on key points such as 'standardisation', 'psuedo-individualisation' etc.


Adorno says that "The whole structure of popular music is standardized, even when where the attempt is made to circumvent standarization." 


Adorno talks about different types of music, popular and serious music.
"Serious music, for comparative purposes, may be thus characterized: Every detail derives its musical sense from the concrete totality of the piece which, in turn, consists of the life relationship of the details and never of a mere enforcement of a musical scheme." (Adorno On Popular Music, 'A Critical and Cultural Theory Reader', Open University Press, Buckingham, p.212) He uses Beethoven as an example of serious music, where if you listen to all the song, you get it's 'lyrical and expressive quality' and true meaning in context.
In comparison to popular music, if any detail was taken out of context, the listener would still be able to know the song, "it would not affect the musical sense if any detail were taken out of the context; the listener can supply the 'framework' automatically, since it is a mere musical automatism itself.' (P.213) He explains that the beginning chorus to the majority of popular music are all the same, or very similar, due to the standardisation.
"The composition hears for the listener. This is how popular music divests the listener of his spontaniety and promotes conditioned reflexes."(P.215) Adorno explains that when the listener listens to the popular music, they don't think about it, they behave in a 'conditioned' way. Popular music must meet two demands, one is to get the listeners attention, the other "is for the material to fall within the category of what the musically untrained ear listener would call 'natural' music."(P.215) What ever type of music the listener is most comfortable listening to.
"Popular music is 'Pre digested' in a way strongly resembling the fad of 'digests' of printed material.' (P.215) 


Pseudo-individualisation


"..endowing cultural mass production with the halo of free choice or open market on the basis of standardization itself. Standardization of song hits keeps the customers in line by doing their listening for them." (P.217) It makes the listeners forget that the music has already been listened to for them (pre-digested).

PANOPTICON

Choose an example of one aspect of contemporary culture that is, in your opinion, panoptic. Write an explanation of this, in approximately 200-300 words, employing key Foucauldian language, such as 'Docile Bodies' or 'self-regulation, and using not less than 5 quotes from the text 'Panopticism' in Thomas, J. (2000) 'Reading Images', NY, Palgrave McMillan.


The hospital could be seen as a modern day equivalent to Michel Foucault's theory on Panopticism. "Each individual, in his place, is securely confined to a cell from which he is seen from the front by the supervisor; but the side walls prevent him from coming into contact with his companions. He is seen, but he does not see; he is the object of information, never a subject in communication."(P.85). The patient maybe in his/her room, and can see outside, but other patients can't see in, except the nurse/surgeon. In some circumstances the patient maybe in a coma or unconscious, in which case somebody else makes the decision to operate and seen as the 'object'.
They are set out in this way, so that they do not infect other people with their illnesses, "if they are patients, there is no danger of contagion..". (P.85)


The patient doesn't know when they are being watched, even when leaving the room, the camera's around the hospital are still 'watching'. This makes people in the hospital behave in a certain way, they are obedient to the hospital rules. Even when there is no one supervising, patients would still be obedient, and become a docile body.
"Hence the major effect of the Panopticon: to induce in the inmate a state of conscious and permanent visibility that assures the automatic functioning of power.' (P.85)


The surveillance in the hospital relates to Foucault's panopticon theory, where the patients are registered in the hospital, and all their personal information (name, age, sex, health) is at the reception, or documents on the computer. "Surveillance is based on a system of permanent registration: reports from the syndics to the intendants, from the intendants to the magistrates or mayor." (A, Easthope & K, McGowan, 'A Critical and Cultural Theory Reader', Open University Press, Buckingham, p.82) The hierachy of people that the information gets passed on to can also be seen in the hospital.. from nurse to surgeon, for example.

PANOPTICISM- surveillance and society

SEMIOTIC ANALYSIS

'Punk' began around 1974, and with it came the 'punk' attitude.

The first image I have decided to look at is the 'Nevermind the Bollocks' album cover, as this represents the changing social behaviour of this time.

The sign is the word "Bollocks" and this acts as a signifier that conotes the 'punk' attitude; being rude and offensive, though it was meant as nonsense, it created controversy. Also "Nevermind" is another sign that conotes a careless attitude.

The colour of this album cover is bright pink and vibrant yellow, which signifies the change and rebellion against design. Two very contrasting colours, that aren't easy on the eye and stands out.

'Sex Pistols' is written in a ransom note format, which conotes crime, defiance and perhaps violence. This could symbolise the 'punk' era taking over society.

Jamie Reid: 'Nevermind the Bollocks'

In this second 'Sex Pistols' album cover there are similar signs as 'Nevermind the Bollocks' but more images that , to conote the 'careless' and 'rebellious' attitude of Punk.

In the top right corner, there is the british flag, symbolising patriotism and conotes loyalty to being british.

The cowboy poster on the far left is a sign which is a signifier of 'sexuality'. This signified 'taboo' and was frowned upon during that era.

Another symbol that connotes 'sexuality' is the main image of the woman winking. The denotation is that she is wearing a red, short, revealing dress which connotes provocative.

Below the cowboys is a newspaper headline, which denotes 'popularity' and being talked about, its the main headline. "Filth and the fury" is about the Sex Pistols and connotes 'anger' and 'dirt' which is describing Punk.

SUMMARISING

• New art - expression of 'self' that could stand alongside cultural traditions. 
• Artists of the avant-garde; able to express themselves and their view of their own industralised and urbanised society.
• Modernisation was becoming popular and avant-garde had become international
• Cubism, expressionism and futurism... changed tradition (surface, loosening colour and structure). Could not be measure of compared as it wasn't seen before. 
• Modernity is the social and cultural changes, experience and awareness of change but also affect on person. 
• Modern condition could not be experienced without a modern art to read the experience against. 
• Marinetti; Italian symbolist poet and seen as the vision of modern, his work is made plain.
• Modernisation is not a technicological. It is a social d=fact and marked by new social relation, particularly class of people (captalist modernisation)
• Cubism became became avant-garde art

Referencing:

• Phil Strongman, (2007) "Pretty Vacant, A History of Punk", London, Orion books
• Nils Stevenson & Ray Stevenson, (1999) "Vacant, A Diary of the Punk Years 1976-79", Hong Kong, H&Y Printing Limited
• Jon Savage, (2005) "England's Dreaming, the Sex Pistols and Punk Rock", England, Faber and Faber
• Bryan Ray Turcotte & Christopher T Miller, (1999) "Fucked up and Photocopied", Italy, Eurografica SpA
• Gerald Matt and Thomas Miessgang, (2008) "Punk. No one is Innocent. Art Revolt", Manchester, Cornerhouse Publications

LECTURE NOTES:

Wednesday 11th November:

Modernity and Modernism

Modern= to improve

- The new woman, ethnic address. Has progressed forward thinking from modern era.

- Paint in classical style= called the moderns not modernists.

- Highland shepard,not interested in sheep, more interested in the girl.

- First modern city, most advanced, compared to previous.

- 1889- pans showed off. Experditions

Buildings attempt to be new and modern- materials (eiffel)

Urbanisation- shift from country to town.

Rural work- Sunrise to sunset, factory work shifts.

Interact with people in different ways. Telephone, etc...

Inventions. Railways made. Caused time to be standardised.

Modern embrace technology etc... and reject other ways.

Don't look towards EPD- look to ourselves.

The city culture- City starts to become figure. A product of our culture

Paris on a rainy day- Impressionist. In love with the city.

- Subject= less about the people more about buildings.

Modernism emerges out of the subjective.

Responses of artists and designers to modernity.

Juxtaposition of building (photographer)

Ways of experiencing reality and different ways of representing the world.

- Paul Citroen: Metropolis 1923

Experience of being in the city.

Perspective modern in depiction.

- Grosz and John Heartfield

Bombarded by information, messages of what to buy. Media becomes important.

More of scientists experimental photos.

Experience of modern world. How we exist.

New technology, science and modern.

Futurist

Attempts of picturing modernity.

new word=picturing nee world= onomatopoeic language

Type= Grid, Representation

Typo= Offset

Modernism in Design:

- Anti historicism = attempt to be new, not repeating

- Form follows function = aesthetic comes from how successfully design works

- Truth to materials = artists like materials to speak for themselves (eiffel)

- Technology = internationalism (neutral language), skyscraper- everyone understands these modern terms.

Bauhaus Cutlery Vs Antique (2 diff objects)

- No design - Complex and detailed

- Speak for itself

- No attempt to change

BOTH MADE IN THE SAME YEAR.

Bauhaus= most progressive Art School.

Interdisciplinary, Graphics, Photography, Fine art etc...

Modernity gives aesthetic.

Massive wall of windows, concrete building (new)

Function: need light in art schools.

New font: VENTURA- invented in Bauhaus.

Wednesday 25th November:

Advertising, Publicity and the media:

• Bombarded by images.

Early 1990's- 11000 new tv commercials made in Britain in a year (estimate)

25 million print advert a year (estimate)

POP UPS- Invades conciousness. They target you!

Karl Max 1818-1883- communist

Critiqu of consumer/ commodity culture:-

Bought and sold

Construct our identities through consumer products.

• The commodity self - Stewart Ewan
• Judith Williamson 'Instead of being Identified...'

Symbolic Associations:

Make people want to buy product

Make something seem more interesting - eg, sex appealing, youth...

How does commodity culture perpetuate false needs?

• Aesthetic Innovation: Looks 'sexier' or 'newer', makes us think we need it.
• Planned Obsolencense:
• Novelty: Something NOW. = iPod, iPhones etc..

Commodity Fetishism:-

Advertising creates background 'history' of products. Context which product is produced is kept hidden.

Reification:

Products are given human associations.

Products themselves are perceived as sexy, romantic, cool, stylish, sophisticated, fun etc...

-Frankfurt school- 1923, Herbert Marcuse

- Commodity culture manipulates us and makes us think one dimensionally- way of thinking about the world, prevents us living meaningful lives.

John Beiger ways of seeing:

Surrounded by sculptures + stuff- from travelling..

Sony Advert: person= identifying self through lifestyle

Economy

Subsiding the media quality

Sterotyping

Advertising= tricking people into consumption

Positive side to advertising= strengthens society.

Seeks to make people unhappy with existing possessions, potentially manipulates, encourages addictive/obsessive + acquisitive behaviour, distorsts the language and encourages bad usage and incorrect spelling, eg Xscape and iTunes

• Encourages children to want products and brands that they cannot afford, causing feelings of inadequacy and envy.
• Unhealthy- junk food and sweets etc..
• uneccessary production and consumption, spoiling the environment.

Wednesday 2nd December:

[Art] The mass media and society:

- Characteristics - new digital media

- Mass media

- Relationship between art and mass media

"Late age of print"- media theorist, Marshall Mclunan, 1450- began around- the age of print, Gutenberg's printing press.

E-book= takes over actual printed books. Reader is allowed more power

Hypermedia- sounds, pics etc.. more entertaining.

Wikipedia problems, surf through knowledege- can skip through things- but feel like you've read through it all. 'lost knowledge'

MASS MEDIA DEFINED:

modern systems of communication and distribution supplied by relitively small groups of cultural products but directed towards large numbers of cinsumers.

-Negative Criticisms of the mass media:

superficial, uncritical, trivial, viewing figures measures success, audience is dispersed, encourages the status quo, encourages apathy, power held by few motivated by profit or social control (propaganda), bland, escapist, encourages escapism, seen as a drug which anaesthetises us.

-Positive criticisms of the mass media

not all media is low quality, social problems and injustices are discussed by media, creativity can be a feature, transmission of high art material reaches a broader audience, democratic potential.

Wednesday 9th December:

The Document:

Documentary Practice:

- If photography is used correctly, could be antidote to war.

- Purpose

- Joseph Nicephore Niepce (1826) capture reality, grasp and record.

Previously was printed and paited, now a new way of doing it.

Photographers- invisible eye.

Photographers do influence what they see.

William Edward Kilburn

- No staging

- He's at a distance

Its dangerous (reasons)

Political, Social, I dea of Neutrality

Roger Fenton 1855, glory, triumph, memory, artistic element, added to the photograph.

The deceisive moment:-

• Photography achieves its highest distinctions
• Work aesthetics. Not influenced.

Jacob Riis- Teritory

Underclass, that kind of teritory. eg gangs of newyork.

They are aware of a photograph being taken- not authentic- a construction- middle class fantasy of what underclass is like.