Research
This week:
Similarly to how I used Peaches as a jumping off point to explore how songwriting and catchy anthems can be a method of political action – I researched numerous different protests of varying sizes and intensity to look for “slogans” - especially ones that can still be recognised in language today.
I wanted to explore how these phrases were built. When considering how adding an illustrative element could elevate the original intent behind the phrases, I had to first understand the context surrounding them for ethical reasons, to ensure that imagery used was appropriate to the seriousness of the events. Additionally, the meaning of the language itself is vitally important. For example, is the language used in the phrase inherently negative or positive? Is a negative CTA more impactful than a positive one? Would a contrasting illustrative metaphor be more effective at highlighting the injustice being protested or would it be better to describe the issue clearly and concisely with my visual choices?
Nuclear Power? No Thanks
https://www.smilingsun.org/
While not inherently a necessarily high intensity or negative sentiment, I think the smiling sun motif by Danish Designer Anne Lund is a great example of cheery imagery and warm colours being used to juxtapose against the inherently negative dismissal of nuclear power. I think the “polite dissent” and kind visuals likely made this mage more palatable to mainstream media outlets, so contributed massively to its success.
Bairns NOT Bombs
https://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2023/02/17/bairns-not-bombs-a-legacy/
Bairns not Bombs is a slogan popularised by the CND and used by the Scottish National Party to this day. In modern graphic designs, this slogan is already attached to a red and green colour palette which may be something to consider if I was designing an illustration to go alongside it. Additionally, this phrase is already very visually striking. Would an companion illustration to this phrase be ineffective if it didn’t include a bairn and a bomb? I think I would miss an opportunity to improve my concepting skills if I chose to work with phrases that had “obvious” creative outputs.
Wir sind das Volk
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/15/anger-rightwing-german-trademark-1989-slogan
Wir sind das Volk (translated to “We are the people”) was a very prominent slogan used to protest the GDR in 1980s Germany. Demonstrations that used this slogan were held every Monday before the GDR collapsed and got integrated into West-Germany, so the phrase has massive cultural importance even now. Unfortunately, starting in 2014 many right-wing groups started to use this slogan and continue to this day, but the meaning has been warped. While in 1989 the people wanted to emphasize that they mistrust their government and want to enact a change - proclaiming the will of the people. In modern day right-wing groups use this to emphasize the ethnic aspect of the word "Volk", to differentiate yourself from foreigners. In 1989 the emphasis was on the WE; as in WE are the people and the people's will while today the emphasis is on the VOLK; so: We are the German nation, the German volk and YOU are the others.
I think this is a potential advantage of my project. Illustrating injustice directly alongside a message or slogan and creating a motif that may end up inseparable from it can help prevent the co-opting or commodification of important political messaging.