VA: Week 6 Readings

He Might Be the Giant

hmm...I wasn't aware of Black Market Inc.

I was originally going to state that Fairey does own up to being somewhat of a hypocrite and that I find these contradictions a bit unsettling. In my head I was thinking, why would Fairey work with big companies if he just mentioned how he doesn't like how advertising manipulates people!  I was also thinking that he probably has a say in what types of clients he chooses so then I decided to do a bit of research on Black Market Inc and it changed my mind.


Fairey believes his approach is effective because he keeps his illustrations bold and simple to contrast all the visuals in the world:

"There is more visual stuff then ever out there, more billboards, more ads, more everything. It's gnarlier then ever, and there isn't as much room for time consuming illustration."

It seems like a lot of larger companies are using guerrilla marketing techniques that I would like to say that we've society has become somewhat adept to it and therefore loses some of its previous impact. If Fairey uses his particular approach for both his client work and personal work and if people are familiar with it does it just blend in with the other visuals in the world and lose it's impact?

Questions
If Fairey uses his particular approach for both his client work and personal work and if people are familiar with it does it just blend in with the other visuals in the world and lose it's impact?

Guerilla Street Postering

First off, I really like Robbie Conal's enthusiasm in this article.

I think he makes a strong argument as to why guerrilla street postering is a necessity. It's definitely one of the oldest forms of communicating a message to a large amount of people in a somewhat permanent way. However, effective communication through this means requires some understanding of your audience and considering how you want to communicate to them.

Questions
Not so much a question, but don't think I'm understanding this statement below correctly. Could someone explain what he's saying here?

"Making art with the intention of changing people's minds about issues that are important to them is hubris. Personal catharsis works for me."

Adbusters

In a nutshell, Kalle Lasn suggests that as designers we have the responsibility to consider how our creations impact the world ecologically and mentally.

Question/Thought
This reading made me think about our meeting with Mr. Wetzel of Frank Rushton Elementary. He mentioned how he really liked what our visual advocacy class is doing and although he understands that the class focuses on proposing a solution, it's sometimes disappointing in how we don't necessarily execute the concept.

Should we approach this class with caution and consider the emotional/mental impact we're having on this community in regards to our proposed solution?