Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe character created by using Illustrator 

20th November 2014

In one of our workshop lesson we used Adobe Illustrator, this software lets you create different characters and animated images intriguingly. As we were still getting use to the software I uploaded a picture of Marilyn Monroe and traced around the face using the pen tool. Thereafter traced round the hair, eyes, lips etc as different parts of the image. I used the fill tool to make those parts of the character into the right colour. For the eyelashes and the eyebrows the simplify tool was used as it would smoothen the shape. Finally the rest of the details of the face was added. I could change the colour and size of the stroke to make it look more effective. 

Storyboard

Storyboard was created for the newspaper story i wrote for one of our Process and Production modules.

Newspaper Moodboard

City In Flux Essay

City in Flux Essay

Introduction

How can modernism and ideas of unified visual language help us think about the city in flux? We start from seeing how the city has developed form the past as to it is now. From research I have seen that the cities have vastly improved how it was in the 19^th century as to it is now. In the early 19^th century there buildings that had no colour to it and made out of old decaying bricks, as on the other hand in the 21^st century we are developing cities everyday with new materials and in a concept way. City in Flux examines new modes of informal urban inventions in public spaces that has emerged to it is now. So I will be talking about how the art movement modernism has influenced the city in flux, as well as the visual language aspects of the cities. Also I will research how unified visual language was shown in the 19^th century compared to the modern days. This will show a good research understanding on how the people lived in the city from the past to now.

Modernism 1900-1930

Modernist architects and designers rejected the old style of designing based on natural forms and materials. They believed in new technology, merchandised industry and modern materials that symbolised the 21^st century. Modernist principles spread with one of architecture were the Bauhuas(house for building) located in Germany. This resulted in high rise block, flats and buildings. The central teaching at the Bauhaus was a range of productive workshops where students were encouraged to be multi disciplined and trained to work with industry.

The style for modernism is that form follows function which means the principle is that the shape of a building or object should be primarily based upon its intended function or purpose.

Modernism is a movement modifying traditional beliefs in accordance to modern ideas starting in the 19^th century to now. Modernism was the development of modern industrial societies and the rapid growth of cities, followed then by the horror of World War I. Modernism continued to evolve during the 1930s and still developing in the 21^st century to a more futuristic and concept design.

Visual Language

Visual Language is a type of communication using visual elements and by looking at an image or sign it gives you messages of what that image or sign is about. The visual arts have their own visual language and artists think this by using feelings. As for musicians they see visual language by hearing sounds and rhythm in the city. Visual language includes lines, shapes, colour, light and dark. By combining these elements the artist says it has a style.

Early modernist created new techniques which unified text and form by combining visual elements. Futurism had a breakthrough in these techniques, which made it into a single message (Nagati & Stryker, 2013). The city has many ways of visual language as time went by the people had a deeper and more understanding of the city due to the modernistic designs and architecture of city in flux. This can be done by looking at the typography views of the city, as well as the rich and poor point of sides of how they portray visual language in their views. Furthermore I would be writing about the ways how the city is mapped out for people due to signage in the city, for easy navigation, this type is way finding. On the other hand how people navigate using map plan and how I could compare these two ways of navigating round the city.

Main Body

Modernism has had a massive impact on cities in flux as now the whole cities are turning into a modern design and art. As everything like advertisements, architecture, people and the whole style is changing a modernistic view, which we turn to visual language, as in the modern days the message from the city is much more vastly than it was in the past. People who travel around the city they see signs and messages around to guide them. Also sound is a type of visual language as it would give you messages of e.g. when to stop if a car is going past and when to go if there is crossing. As modernistic designs have been provided for today it is easier to get around the city by using the term visual language.

My main idea for the city is to look at the typography in the city and how it would portray to people. There are many ways that typography has been distributed and displayed in the city, some evidence has been shown images around the city, as well as posters, flyers, billboards, signage and much more. This is all typographic evidence of the city for the viewers to see and get information of what can be seen in the modernistic ways of the city and how it has been designed for eye catching purposes.

There is also the pathology of the rich and poor in the city, how it’s modernistic and new on the rich side, as it is old and decaying on the poor side. The visual language of both of these sides is differentiated vastly, as it is clearer and more understanding in the rich parts of the city. It portrays a clearer image and what the message is saying. A for the poor side the typography gives a deeper message than the rich but more unclear, as you need to look deeper into the image. There is more hand drawn graffiti and painted by humanity on the poor side than the rich side, which is most done by technology and high resolution cameras.

Way finding and navigation are two different types of how people find their way and navigate around the city using different types of ways. Way finding is getting around the city using signs and routes, like the city has been mapped out for you on where to go in order to reach your destination. The city has been designed in order for your help to get you around the city, this was done by using typography which is, easy to read font for the people travelling and the tourists. The idea of norms provides an understanding social influence in general and agreement in particular. Social norms are the accepted standards of behaviour of social groups. So in the city people have different behaviours on what they see, as not all people would react to the same as others. For e.g. a light and bright image would stand out to people as, some would appeal to the image as some would not due to the fact of being too bright or dislike bright images. So this way a person would react differently on what the sign is saying to them, also by using this way it is like taking risks as u don’t plan beforehand. As you would be going out without actually knowing where to go before you set off.

Navigation is another way of how people get around the city; this is done by planning out where to go using equipment like a map, atlases or a navigation system. Everything is routed and a map-plan is made beforehand, so they are prepared and know where to go and which route to take. It’s like an adventure as you trying to find your destination using a map or other utensils (city of dreams and desires). The map, atlas or other equipment will have to be up to date and easy to read, as then it would be harder to plan and know where to go. However, a disadvantage is misusing maps and navigation system as it would be vital to have good knowledge of social geography.

Conclusion

From my research and referring back to the question I have seen that modernism has a major impact and has been encouraged due to modern technology to go further. Furthermore the visual language of modern cities have a wider and greater message, as it as more different styles and different views of how the message is portrayed. This point is backed up by published books, 1“the very limits of modernism have been shifting and expanding, including an ever greater variety of registers, stylistic, forms and genres”. Modernism is growing and developing every day, in new and futuristic ways. As time progresses the visual language would also get clearer and more effective as it would be easier to understand and have a wider view to people.

Newspaper Story

Nancy’s Oatcake on the Run

The oven was set at 200C, whilst I was prepared by the famous Nancy who added the most special oats into the ingredients, which is different to any other oatcakes made. I was spread out in a shape of a person with a round head, 2 arms and 2 legs, laid out on a lining baking tray. I was baked for 15 minutes and shook occasionally and I was ready when I was fully toasted. When I came out I was nicely tanned and perfectly crispy, so delicious and scrumptious to eat. I opened my eyes and so the world coming to a view.

Nancy wanted to serve this special oatcake to talented singer Robbie Williams, as he loved oatcakes. As she laid me on a wired baking tray, the TV was on, which I saw this beautiful foxy person named as, Selena Gomez. I was so mesmerized that I wanted to be eaten by her and only her. As I was a unique oatcake and so scrumptious to eat, know one would deny eating me.

As the day went by, I found out tomorrow Robbie Williams was coming to get me in the morning, so I had to do something to get out. So that night the window was left open, which I snuck out from, when Nancy was asleep. I ran away from Nancy’s house and on the journey to find amazing Selena.

I took rest at the side of a hotel, as I had a big day coming ahead. So that morning I woke up to a poster across the street which, in big writing spelt Selena. So I quickly ran across to find out what it was about. It said, “The Amazing Selena Performing Live at the Wembley Stadium”. I was excited on going down and following the signs to this place, so she could eat me.

That morning Nancy found out that the oatcake was not there, so she panicked and did not know what to do. Robbie Williams came down and Nancy told him the situation of what has happened. Robbie Williams got angry and sent out people to find the Oatcake and bring it to him. He sent the speedy Jenson Button and the Ugly Jessica Chaistan, to find me.

So I went on my journey down the road in the gloomy and windy weather, to find the person I want to get eaten by. I followed signs to where the Wembley Stadium is. On my way I came to some woods, which would is a shortcut to the stadium. It was dark, scary and a rusty place to be. I heard a noise whilst I was walking through, “creek, creek”. I started jogging as I got scared, which then I saw a tall ugly figure, who chased after me. I ran as quick as I could, which then Jessica could not catch me. Whilst I got away from her I sang, “Run, run as fast as you can! You can't catch me. I'm the oatcake man!"

As I gladly got away from Jessica and away from the forest, I got tired so I took a rest on the side of a building. After few hours of good rest I woke up to lovely weather shining bright and everything was in a happy mood. As I stretched out and looked across the road I saw big, beautiful building which spelt The Wembley Stadium in big writing.  

As I was going to this place I had to cross double sided long road which, had so much traffic and a lot of cars going past. So to get to the other side I had to dodge the traffic as fast as I could and not get crushed.

I ran across the first part as quickly as possible, by rolling and dodging all the cars coming my way. At the half way point I did the same, however near to the end there was speedy car that came flying at me which nearly crushed me into me pieces as I jumped out of the way. I looked who it was, as he came out the cool and extravagant car, it as the bad Jenson Button.

I ran as quick as I could and ran towards the stadium, he chased after me and kept up with me and getting closer and closer every second of the way. We entered the stadium and there was loads of people, I could get away as I was small and could go through peoples legs and round the easily. The big cue of people and the guards could stop Jenson from getting in, which gave me more time of finding Selena.

I finally came to the backstage of the stadium where I could find her, but she wasn’t there. I could hear her voice from a range and followed were it was coming from. As I went out I saw huge field, where I could see the amazing Selena. I saw Jenson coming from a distanced, which then I ran down the stairs. I ran s quick as I could, but tripped over a step and got hurt.  Had a crack on m right leg, but kept and going. Jenson was gaining on me as we entered the field. i got closer and closer to Selena and Jenson was getting closer and closer to me.

I was few seconds away from reaching to Selena, but Jenson got me into his hands and snatched me away. A tear came down my cheek which, I reached out for her. She saw me and looked straight at me. She came towards me and stopped Jenson. She took me away as she felt happy and warm inside. She held me in her hands and put me away in her purse, as Jenson walked away.