1.
My question is
‘Was the success of the Russian revolution down to their use
of propaganda? - Focusing on their design techniques and how it infiltrated the
culture of the time’
Russia was under the rule of Nicholas II, a dictatorship
where the people were not considered – there was a shortage of money and food,
this lead to the rise of communism, lead by Lenin, who eventually overthrew the
royal family. Communism was a relatively new concept and appeared to be a
utopian idea, which was a government who were for the people. I am interesting in exploring the propaganda
created for the communists as it was very innovative design work at the time
and played a massive part in organising people together. I also want to look at
the art movement ‘Constructivism’ became the communist aesthetic, it
infiltrated all forms of culture, any design/art created was for the people and
to enhance society.
This is important to me because this period in Russia has
been of interest to me for a long time; I find the continuous influence of
art/design and politics fascinating. Also, the constructivist aesthetic is
something I am influenced and inspired by a lot by in my work.
This project will contribute to my development in the next
year because it will allow me to work a lot more with printing processes
(especially screen print) which I feel I haven’t made enough use of yet.
2.
I am going to go about researching it by reading around the
subject – books/articles/journals about Russian art, propaganda, design
techniques in propaganda, examples of propaganda today, the psychology behind
poster art/advertising/propaganda. Also I will research by making; doing
drawing and screen-prints, exploring different subject matter using a
constructivist approach.
I will accomplish my goal by creating a timetable, and stick
to it. I have to make sure I don’t leave the practical for too long as I want
my practical and essay to work together.
My practical outcome will be an exploration into the
constructivist aesthetic, and methods of the period (screen printing, quick
processes, photo montage). I am not certain of the subject matter but I will
start by exploring technical processes. I want to look at illustration/art as a
function, so possibly instruction manuals, info-graphics, or children’s books?
I am interested in looking at the educational side of illustration this year,
being able to condense ideas into simple images/shapes.
3.
Books:
‘Revolutionary Tides: the art of the political poster’
‘Iron Fists: branding the 20th century
totalitarian states’
‘Age of Propaganda: the everyday use and abuse of
persuasion’
‘Russian Revolutionary Posters’
‘Graphic Agitation’
‘Forbidden Art: the post-war Russian avant-garde’
‘1984’
‘Rodchenko’
Texts by Rodchenko, El Lissitzky, Karl Marx, Lenin
Films/videos
‘The art of Russia’ (documentary)
‘They Live’ (film)
‘Propaganda’ (documentary)
Tsar to Lenin’ (documentary)
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