Monday 30 November 2009

A summary of Modernism.

Harison, G and Wood, P. (1997)
'Art In Theory: 1900-1990', Oxford, Balckwell pages 125-129

Monday 9 November 2009

Image Analysis Exercise

A 500 word essay to compare and contrast the two images in relation to the following:

-The choice of organisation of font and style of illustration
-The purpose and meaning of the image
-The target/ potential audience of the image
-The social and historical contexts relevant to the production of the image


The Uncle Sam Range 1876
Schumacher & Ettlinger, NY


The Great War
Savile Lumbley 1915


   The ‘Uncle Sam Range’ poster uses a Western font for the title of the product, it is strong and bold which shows the quality of the product and also carries suggestion of power and hierarchy. The Western font connects to the ‘Wild West’ and the idea of selling a new life through this product. In both posters the type is placed at the bottom the illustration but I think the type in the second image has a greater impact and a stronger meaning for the advertising. It is direct and personal connecting to the family idea, with use of italic, handwritten font and the use of ‘Daddy’ extremely personal and the emphasis on the YOU, questioning the audience.
   The ‘Uncle Sam Range’ poster was used to promote their new product, the agar. The lavish American, patriotically decorated room and the air of higher society. The way the agar is placed to the side of the image and ‘Uncle Sam’ in the middle shows the importance on the lifestyle created through the product. The black servant shows racial slavery and highlights the change in social views, the globe man sat at the table writing a food bill for all the countries is very stereotypical showing America to be more sophisticated and superior also implying that America can feed/ cater for the world. The American family consist of three children Dixie, West and New England, New England is positioned slightly aside and symbolized as a young girl shows weakness. The family appears to laugh at the globe, mocking the other countries. I think the ‘Great War’ poster takes on a more subtle, sophisticated style of promoting. Attempting to recruit people for the army in WW1 by playing on guilt tactics, the man looking straight at you making it very personal and putting you the reader in this position, would you have a story to tell your children? I think the blank expression on the fathers face allows you to make your own answer/ write the story to your life. The boy is playing with the soldiers implying your role to save the country and also the boys aspirations to join the army later in life. There are quite a few English patriotic symbols such as the queens soldiers and the Fleur De Lis connecting to the idea of supporting the country.

    The first image would definitely appeal to the middle class society; the Agar is sold through the idea of a luxurious lifestyle that will come with this product. Many middle class people strived to buy these items so that they appeared higher; they came with a label of wealth and idealism and the thought of the ‘American Dream’. The Agar is advertised as the ‘Uncle Sam Range’, which is a well-known figure representing America, by buying the product you were being patriotic. Where as I think the second image is to target young men showing how the army can benefit you and create a better life. They will want to join to impress and act as a role model to their children; this can be seen through the young boy playing with the soldiers and the girl posing this question to her father. Although the poster has a higher class style to it, looking at their dress and the Fleur De Lis furniture expressing royalty and wealth. I think it could target all classes as it could be to show how you will come out of the army with a better life, also how it is the role of higher class men too and how they will be looked up to.

    Both posters show higher social classes and patrioticy, this can be seen through their material possessions such as the furniture and dress and the symbolisms of their countries. The ‘Uncle Sam Range’ poster was published 100years on from America’s day of independence and we can see this detailed on the clock within the illustration. This is of most importance to the piece and connects the idea of patriotic and America being superior to others. The ‘Great War’ poster was published one year after the start of WW1 in desperate need of more people to join the army, these posters were not very successful at recruiting soldiers as we know soon after this it was law that all men fit and healthy must join.