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Editor's Notes

• #2: Warm Up: Reflect on this question – What is wrong with the world? In your sketchbook, list some of the issues facing our world today. Now, make it personal – What is wrong with you? That is – what, in your life, is going wrong right now? What is just not right? What are you struggling with? What is hurting you? What makes you angry, frustrated, worried, stressed out? Write down some of these things.
• #3: When people are not satisfied with things the way they are, they sometimes protest, give attention to or try to persuade others to change the way they think, act, and/or deliberate. They work to change things by deconstructing, criticizing, protesting and exposing the elements and issues that affect the human condition. Ultimately, throughout the course of history, humans have reacted in diverse forms to affect social change. Consider the idea of a revolution. In political revolutions the old powers are overthrown and new people take over the government. In social revolutions the relationships between social classes change, or the population experiences the rise of new social classes or the expansion of existing classes. In economic revolutions wealth changes hands. There are also scientific, industrial, agricultural, artistic, and religious revolutions when old ideas are replaced or transformed into new ideas. In many cultures and throughout time, artists have used their artworks to protest, bring attention to, and/or expose their ideas. Sometimes a painting, sculpture, or building can persuade just as well or better, than words can. The power of the visual is extraordinary! In 2011, Time magazine named the “Protester” as the person of the year. 2011 was a year full protests all over the world. The so-called “Arab Spring” brought revolution to countries such as Tunis, Egypt, Lybia and Yemen when common people demanded their government become more democratic. The United States saw the “Occupy” movement grow to nearly every major city – bringing awareness to the effects of the slow economy, joblessness, and even global warming. The artist Shephard Farey, also creator of the Obey brand, created this poster-style cover for the magazine using an image of a protester from the Occupy Wall Street movement. He uses an analogous color scheme to connote the violence and change that was brought about by some of the protests. He includes images from protests around the world in the background while using contrast to put emphasis on the protestor. Farey chose an image of a “faceless” protestor to communicate how anyone can stand up and protest the wrongs they see in the world. This powerful image helped motivate many more protest movements including Kony2012.
• #4: But using art as a form of protest is not new. Artists are often a powerful voice in revolutions. Pablo Picasso created this painting in response to the bombing of a small Spanish town called Guernica, by German and Italian warplanes at the behest of the Spanish Nationalist forces, on 26 April 1937, during the Spanish Civil War. At about 4:30 on Monday, 26 April 1937, German warplanes bombed Guernica for about two hours. Germany, at this time led by Hitler, had lent material support to the Spanish Nationalists and were using the war as an opportunity to test out new weapons and tactics. Later, intense aerial bombardment became a crucial preliminary step in the Blitzkrieg tactic Guernica, the most ancient town of the Basques region in Spain and the centre of their cultural tradition, was completely destroyed. The bombardment of this open town far behind the lines occupied precisely three hours and a quarter, during which a powerful fleet of aeroplanes consisting of three types of German types, Junkers and Heinkel bombers, did not cease unloading on the town bombs weighing from 1,000 lbs. downwards and, it is calculated, more than 3,000 two-pounder aluminium incendiary projectiles. The fighters, meanwhile, plunged low from above the centre of the town to machinegun those of the civilian population who had taken refuge in the fields. Guernica was a quiet village. The nearest military target of any consequence was a factory on the outskirts of the town, which manufactured various war products. The factory went through the attack unscathed. Thus, the motivation of the bombing was clearly one of intimidation. Furthermore, a majority of the town's men were away as they were fighting on behalf of the Republicans. Thus, the town at the time of the bombing was populated mostly by women and children. Picasso’s painting communicates the violence and terror of that day and expresses the anguish of the villagers. He exhibited the painting in Paris to bring awareness to the atrocities of war that were occurring in Spain and perhaps move others to get involved.
• #5: As graphic artworks, posters also can communicate powerful messages about issues affecting society. This World War II poster combines images of young, innocent-looking children and an ominous shadow in the shape of a swatchtika to evoke fear in American parents. The text brings home the propaganda message – Don’t Let that Shadow Touch your children. Protect them by buying war bonds. During World War II, Nazis were actively conquering and occupying countries such as Poland, Austria, Holland and France. England was under constant attack and bombs were dropped daily on London. The American naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was bombed the year before this poster was made. The poster evoked the fear and defensiveness people felt about defending their country and gave them something that they could do about it.
• #6: Edward Munch, painter of the famous painting The Scream, wrote, “I don’t believe in an art that is not born out of a man’s need to open his heart.” Munch believed that art should express the artist’s heartfelt convictions and connect with others emotionally as well as visually. Art should move you, and as a graphic artist, your art should move others. When art teaches us something about the world, it changes us and that change can affect others. This well-known quote from Hans Hoffmann is often used to encourage teachers, but it can apply to artists as well. Artists can influence others for centuries through their work.
• #7: Even student artists can weald the social power of art. Heidi Winner from San Jose, CA chose to create a series of artworks addressing the Holocaust for her AP Studio Art portfolio. She was inspired by the experiences of her grandfather, who is shown in this photo. The number tattooed on his arm is a powerful reminder of the reality of that horrible event.
• #8: Heidi explored many aspects of the Holocaust through her portfolio. She took photos of her grandfather that communicate the importance of telling the stories of Holocaust survivors. She painted images of the victims of the Holocaust and created collage compositions exploring Hitler’s powerful messages and even how images of Nazi youth were used to promote Hitler’s agenda. Heidi clearly expressed her deep convictions about this issue.
• #9: For the Poster Project, you will choose an issue that has affected YOU personally. Something that you would like others to know about and maybe even change. This issue should be something that is also affects others - a general issue or concern in society somewhere in your community or even in the world. Be sure you are picking real problem, not simply one of your pet peeves! Some ideas of things you might be interested in depicting/standing up for or against: pollution/environmental concerns, abortion rights, racism, terrorism, homelessness, Aids, technology, religious wars, the war in Afghanistan, poverty, corporations, the global economy, verbal abuse, bullying, depression, teen suicide, discrimination, drug abuse, drinking and driving, immigration, medical research, the media, family issues, etc… Have any of these things affected you? If not, what is something in your world that seems not right? How would you change it? This is an opportunity to let your voice be heard! What do you CARE about? Talk to people- have you, one of your friends, or anyone in your family or community been affected by any of these? How? Why? How did it affect them? Consider who your audience may or may not be. Let your voice be heard!
• #10: Your assignment for this project is to use original images and text to create an artwork that addresses a social issue. You will install, display or wear your piece for at least 12 hours in a location that people can view and react to your artwork.
• #11: You may use any visual style that inspires you. You may consider appropriating the style or approach of an artist that you have researched – like Shepherd Fairey’s posterized. However, you must create your own imagery by taking photographs, drawing or using Photoshop. You will also create your own text that communicates about the issue. Just as you would research for a report, you will prepare your artwork by looking at professional artists, reading about your social issue and creating sketches to plan your design.
• #14: Take a few minutes to reflect on these questions. You may wish to jot down a list of issues or even experiences that you have had. You may wish to search the internet for social issues. Once you have your idea, get to work on your first assignment!