A Clockwork Orange

A Clockwork Orange is a dark science fiction film adaptation of Anthony Burgess’s 1962 novel of the same title.

Alex (Malcolm Mcdowell)is the main character who appears very charming but in reality is a sinister phychopath. He pleasures himself with the music of Ludvig Van Beethoven, sexual deviation, and what he describes as 'ultra violence'. Alex associates with a group of thugs he calls his droogs. The film follows his life as he commits a string of crimes, which leads to his arrest. Alex is then incarcerated and forced to undergo controversial aversion therapy. Alex delivers the narration of the film in Nadsat, a fractured branch and combination of eastern european, English, Cockney dialect.

This film adaptation was produced, directed, and written by Stanley Kubrick. The scenes captured on film are very disturbing, showing extreme violence. This is meant to illustrate contemporary social behaviour, political views and economic stance
in an imaginary future Britain.

The soundtrack comprises of mainly classical music with selections of Moog synthesizer tracks by Wendy Carlos. An unusual addition is 'singing in the rain', chosen especially by Malcolm McDowell because he knew the lyrics. Bill Gold created the now renowned Poster of A Clockwork Orange which is recognised around the world. The film also holds a record for being the first film to use dolby sound and this can be seen in the Guinness Book of Records.

Masks

A mask is an adornment normally worn on the face, typically for protection, concealment, performance, or amusement.

In performance, masks are used in many different ceremonies such as pageants, rituals, and festivals. One instance of this is Halloween which most of us would have experienced at some point in our lives. We have probably all worn some sort of gruesome mask. Masks seem to be universal and maintain their power of mystery for both wearer and audience.
In present times masks are usually mass produced and often associated with popular films, TV programmes or cartoon characters. They remind us to this day of the enduring power of pretence and play.

Ritual masks occur throughout the world, and although they share many similarities they are usually all highly distinctive. The reason behind the mask might be magical or religious, and play a part in some sort of ceremony. Masks in theatre also play a key part in the traditions of many cultures. Masks also have practical functions that are usually of the protective nature, for example, in medicine, as a way of stopping the spread of germs or protection for the wearer to stop flying objects, whilst still allowing a clear view. A mask may also be used to protect the wearers identity, allowing a wearer to see, without being seen.

Modernism/Postmodernism

Modernism can be described as modern ideas, practical application, or character. The term itself describes broadly a set of cultural tendencies and number of associated cultural movements, this was due to large changes to western society at the time (1880s-1930s). The term encompasses traditional forms of art, architecture, literature, music, religion and social organisation, that were seen as becoming outdated in a modernising world.

Postmodernism like its predecessor also encompasses art, architecture, music and other cultural traits. Postmodernism is seen as an international departure from the modernist approaches that had been previously dominated. Postmodernism is percieved to be a new facet on contemporary culture, rejecting the objective truth and cultural tendencies. It finds the use of sharp classifications to be unacceptable, for instant, white versus black or straight versus gay. Postmodernism is a rejection of the modern, opposing scientific mentality of being objective and progress associated with enlightenment.

Modernism and postmodernism are both seen as either cultural projects or a set of ways to view the world. Postmodernism can be seen as an academic movement, which was a reaction to modernism in the humanities. Modernism alternatively is often associated with identity, unit, authority, and certainty. Postmodernism is often associated with difference, plurality and scepticism.

Environment

Environment deals with the surroundings of an object. The subject I deal with in this blog is environmental art. This term is generally used to deal with art referring to ecological issues. Environmental art emerged in the 1960’s in response to the environmental movement. The basic theology behind it is to create a sustainable balance between human and non human nature through restoration and education.

Much environmental art is ephemeral, which means that it is made to disappear or even transform and is usually designed for a particular place and cannot be moved. It can be used to inform and interpret nature and its processes, or to educate us about environmental problems.

One of the most important works of environmental art was in the late 20th century and was called 7000 Oaks. This was an ecological action by Joseph Beuys who highlighted the local environment by planting 7000 oak trees throughout the city of Kassel. Other artists who have worked to improve the environment or reuse waste are Rosalie Gascoigne, and Patrice Stellest. Both of these artists re-used rubbish to create anything from serene sculptures to large installations. Erwin Timmers is another artist who incorporates building materials like window glass into his glass sculptures, helping manufacture an environmentally friendly piece of art.

Semiotics

Semiotics is the study of sign processes and the laws governing them. The study itself is usually broken into three separate areas. These are are semantics, syntactics, and pragmatics.

• semantics: the relationship of signs to what they stand for;
• syntactics (or syntax): the formal or structural relations between signs;
• pragmatics: the relation of signs to interpreters (Morris 1938).


Fedinand de Saussure (1857-1913) is know as the forbearer of modern linguistics and semiotics. Other key figures in the early development of semiotics were Charles Sanders Peirce, Charles William Morris, Roland bathes, Algirdas Greimas, Yuri Lotman, Christian Metz, Umberto Eco and Julia Kristeva.

Barthes declared that 'semiology aims to take in any system of signs, whatever their substance and limits; images, gestures, musical sounds, objects, and the complex associations of all of these, which form the content of ritual convention or public entertainment: these constitute, if not languages, at least systems of signification' (Barthes 1967).

The reasoning behind semiotics is that it assists us not to take reality for granted. We learn that reality is a system of signs. Learning about semiotics can help us become more aware of reality as a construction and the roles we ourselves have in constructing it.

Metal Hurlant

Metal Hurlant is a French comic, who deals in science fiction and horror stories. The comics name translated means 'screaming metal', which first appeared on the shelves in December 1974. The comic was a collaboration between four associates, Jean Giraud, Philippe Druillet, Jean-Pierre Dionnet and Bernard Farkas. Jean Giraud and Philippe Druillet were artists while Jean-Pierre Dionnet was a journalist-writer and Bernard Farkas was a finacial director.

These associates were know collectively as “Les Humanoides Associes” which meant united humanoids. This became the name of the publishing house. Metal Hurlant was also published in the United States but under the name Heavy Metal.


At first the magazine was released quarterly but by issue 7 it became semi monthly and monthly with issue 9. The comic consisted of 68 pages but only 18 of them were in colour. Contributions were made by many different people, including Richard Corben, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Caza, Enki Bilal, Serge Clerc, Alain Voss, Berni Wrightson, Milo Manara and many others.

The comic contents were expansive, including information on science fiction books and movies, as well as music and video game reviews. The Comic drew upon a complex graphics system using detailed imagery with surreal storylines to immerse the reader. This made the comic highly influential and was seen as one of the first mature comic books.

Alan Fletcher

Alan Fletcher was born on 27 September 1931 and died on the 21 September 2006. He was regarded as one of the most creative and highly respected graphic designers of his generation. Fletcher lived most of his early life in England, apart from his birth which was in Nairobi, Kenya. His education included the Hammersmith school of art, the Royal college of art, and Yale university.

In 1962 he created a design company with two other graphic designers, Colin Forbes and Bob Gill naming the design firm Fletcher/Forbes/Gill. The client list for this firm included names like Cunard, Pirelli, Penguin Books and Olivetti. The trio was short lived as Gill left in 1965 and was replaced with Theo Crosby changing the name of the company to Crosby/Fletcher/Forbes. Two new members joined and the company eventually formed into Pentagram.

Much of Fletchers work is still in use today. His logos for the Victoria and Albert museum and the Institute of Directors. He retired from pentagram in 1992, working from home where he was assisted by his daughter. His philosophy was “design is not a thing you do. It’s a way of life.”

He has wrote several books on graphic design, with titles like Beware Wet Paint and The Art of Looking Sideways.

Takashi Murakami

Takashi Murakami was born on the first of February 1962 in Tokyo, Japan. He is known for his work in fine arts as well as digital media, creating a mix of paintings and commercial artwork. Reknowned for breaking the boundaries between high and low art, bringing together popular themes that come from the mass media and pop culture.

Murakami’s style has been labelled as superflat. This can be seen in his use of flat planes of colour and images that are styled on anime and manga artwork. Following themes from the Andy Warhol book, Takashi Murakami delves into low culture then reinvents it, selling it to the highest bidder in a high-end market place. Takashi Murakami not only sells to high-end market, he also sells his works to all other markets in the form of videos, paintings, sculptures, t-shirts, key chains, mouse pads and even expensive limited edition handbags.

His company Kaikai Kiki, holds a regular festival called Geisai in Japan. It is aimed at young emerging talent to help, support, and manage a group of young artists, additionally preparing them for future endeavours.
“To become a living example of the potential of art.” This is the burning force behind Takashi Murakami’s work.

Alex Trochut

Alex Trochut was born in Barcelona, Spain in 1981. The grandson of Joan Trochut, a printer/typographer — who had helped to develop a typographic system in 1942 called Super-Veloz. Alex decided to pursue a career in graphic design for which he studied at Elisava. He finally started work as a freelance designer and illustrator in 2007.

Alex has been seen to take minimalism and flip it on its side through his drawings, designs and typography. His philosophy is “I believe "More is More". I don't believe in choosing a particular style for my work, but rather I focus on expressing myself and communicating my craft through the needs and moment of each project”. What is unique about Alex Trochut is his ability to use existing typefaces and turn them into something that is fresh and new, giving them another identity.

Alex Trochut's work is constantly evolving and can be seen in his assorted collection. His work has a certain elegance about it as well as being exquisitely detailed, but most of all is the control used. His work adorns magazine covers all around the world, with advertising agencies fighting over each other to get a piece of his unique mix of illustration and typography. Top of his art, Alex Trochut at age 28 has accomplished more then most can dream of in a lifetime.

Alex Trochut's client's include Nike, The Rolling Stones, Nixon, British Airways,Coca-Cola, The Guardian, Non Format, Wieden + Kennedy, Saatchi and Saatchi, BBH, Fallon, and Beautiful Decay.

Grapus

Grapus is the title given to a group of graphic artists who worked together between 1970 and 1991 and was founded by Pierre Bernard. The collective comprised of Francois Miehe, Gérard Paris-Clave, Pierre Bernard, Alex Jordan and Jean-Paul Bachollet, but the group did not find its equilibrium until Miehe’s departure in 1978.

Each were members of the French Communist Party (PCF). Early efforts concentrated on creating a view of the left, and the group created Posters for theatre groups, and councils as well as political campaigns. This was the main function of the group who refused to undertake work in the commercial field.

Across the world, for the past 20 years students have been inspired by the graphic design work of Grapus. This has been due to the very distinctive style of picture making, from an individual scrawl with the use of bright colours to visual pranks which shows the unpredictable nature of this work.

During the period of 20 years, Grapus remained Communists and idealists and continued to operate as one group: any work the studio produced was signed ‘Grapus’ even when their members had grown to around 20. The group at that time was separated into three collectives. Grapus finally disbanded in January 1991, although it was the end of Grapus the remaining members formed into three independent design groups who still work today.

Ed Fella

Ed Fella born 1938 in Detroit Michigan

Ed Fella is an artist, educator and graphic designer. What he has been truly noted for is his important influence on contemporary typography due to his compelling and unique work. By the mashing of fonts while engaging in visual puns that violate all the rules of good design. His typography work was elastic and did not follow the grid that can be seen in all other typography. He had been working as a professional commercial artist in the Detroit area for the last 30 years, when he received an MFA in design from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1987. Other awards he has received has been the Chrysler Award in 1997, an honorary doctorate from CCS in 1999 and in 2007 he became an AIGA Medallist.


Ed Fella has amassed a huge amount of work all done by hand using everything from crayons, colouring pencils and ball point pen. His inspiration comes from common signs that can be seen when walking a street, using that material and personalising it with his own twist by hacking, swirling, and stretching. He has continually worked against typographic comformity, deconstructing the primary principles that designers are taught, showing a new way to see type.