Feedback on initial Chapter Plan / Structure / Question:
'
Context
Of Practice Plan Of Action
Research
Project
To what extent has independent media
influenced contemporary Graphic Design?
A summative investigation of the discourse
between independent and contemporary publishing.
Stage
1 Independent Media
-
Investigate the incentive of
independent medias – primarily social, political and ethical agendas but also a
rejection of mainstream media and commercialism.
-
Investigate the use of
Independent Media by past subcultures, individuals and collectives in the past
to identify defining aspects of media outside of a commercial environment
-
Investigate the opposite of
independent media; commercial work and the effect commercially viability has
upon content / design / approach.
-
Investigate the context in
which independent media arises and the subsequent effect this has upon the form
and function of such media.
-
Investigate the manner in which
the distribution of this media has developed over time, most noticeably with
the great developments within technology and subsequent social medias and
online platforms and the resulting change in consumption.
-
Investigate the appropriation
of visual language, publishing methods and concepts created within independent
publishing by a commercial environment.
-
Investigate the limitations and
censoring applicable to commercial media and how independent publications have
embraced this.
Stage
2 Independent Media Theory Suggestions
Cultural significance of creation and
consumption.
Popular Culture
Consumerism / Marketing
Capitalism
Rebellion
Youth Culture and Subculture
Stage
2 Contemporary Graphic Design
-
Explore contemporary Graphic
Design and the social, political and ethical amongst other factors that dictate
the creation of content.
-
Explore and investigate the
industry from a business perspective, explore the ulterior motives that are
visible within the industry and the effect these have upon publishing such as
advertising and sponsorship.
-
Critically analyze contemporary
graphic design within publishing, the motives, the concept (If any) and the
technology amongst others that influence design decisions.
-
Explore and analyze existing
works and publications that have been dictated by the once independent media
created by past youth cultures and the relevance they hold today. Explore the
existence of past aesthetic, mentalities and production methods that were
signature of past youth cultures.
-
Consider the future of Contemporary
Graphic Design and the methods in which this can be published in regards to the
introduction of new technologies, the changing of attitudes to print compared
to digital while investigating the changing of interaction between publishing
platforms and the end user.
-
Investigate and note recent,
both positive and negative changes within the industry, the introduction of
racial diversity within magazine content and the embracing of movements
(feminism etc) that would have been once dismissed in mainstream media.
-
Investigate publishing
platforms as a method of positive social, political and ethical change. The
power and control modern day publishing has over contemporary youth culture.
-
Investigate the pressure of commercial
publishing and the responses in which have been spawned from this.
-
Investigate
the intellectual and economic climate and the subsequent effect upon Graphic
Design. Note the “self-conscious” educated graphic
designer – are graphic designers even designers anymore?
Stage
4 Contemporary Graphic Design theory
Designer as Author
Aueter
Post Modern practice
Rejection of the mainstream'
Response / Notes / Direction:
'Hi Kieran,
This is an extract from some of my research that notes that Pragmatic vs Romantic model that may be useful to you. Not my words being useful per se, but rather the references that I've touched on (this section is largely literature review). I'm sure some of these ideas could be expanded for your consideration of independent publishing. Stratton, Hesmondhalgh or Bennett, for example. But I think the Bourdieu quote (and some of the other stuff in his book, 'Distinction') might be useful in terms of presenting the alternative platform to the mainstream... Also, if you use Bennett's definition then maybe you can use 'subculture' to indicate the area that you are looking at. He's critical of it being 'a convenient catch-all term' but maybe you can make use of it for being just that rather than some specific category...'
 |
| Consider 'Underground' - Define it - Consider it's symbiotic relationship with overground. |
 |
| Consider 'Culture Capital' - Commercial = Overground? |
 |
| Subcultural Capital - derived from social, political, ethical contexts |
