History of Image Lecture

A 20,000 year non-linear theory of the image

This lecture was a small snapshot journey into image and its history, it was philosophical and theoretical understand to who images has changed over the year and how its been use to influence the audience. It talked about the power of visual communication and different approaches too it through out the ages. For Cavemen to Stalin the way we see images are they effects have been studied to see how it relates to our current work.

It touched on how cavemen drawing aren't just the simple markings to show they days advents but a human spiritual drawing, these mystically drawings may have been a way to contact the gods, humans and animals while showing their power. Art has been a way of expressing feelings, emotions and basic human nature, it the more natural thing to do and we've been doing it as far back as we can see.

This lecture helped me decide that i will picking the study question for my essay relating to politics and graphic designs influences. It brought up the effects on graphic design and the effects of graphic design on the world at different during time phrases. The way Russia and Stalin banned art because it thought the expressive painting wasn't understandable for the everyday man, so to reinforces his view he banned all arts of this type so it wasn't just the high societies that could just appreciate art. He wanted art to be simple and easily readable, this meant more traditional painting so that everyone could see the meaning and understand the images. The country reversed its views on art, from being a leading country in modern art in the 1920 then suddenly banning all new art style and just keeping to simple socialist realism. In americas eyes Russia then became a repressed culturally, all the work was mostly propaganda based. After being informed on all this in the lecture this morning i would like to research it in more detail for my essay.

Propaganda shows how artist can almost change the perception of history by showing fake positive images rather than the truth. Especially in a time before media and tv, posters were created to show and communicate the message they wanted without anyone knowing the truth, they could manipulate the general opinions through art work and posters, this is seen a lot in Chinese posters and imagery. They show red flags to reflect the blood of the dead, the martyrs that died for their cause  while being a bold strong colour to reinforce power . The red flag is used to tell people to stand up for their dead and used to inspire them to stand behind the fighting and hold up their flag.

Socialist Realism, Roses for Stalin

It talked about how Napoleon stated that the illustration artist Gilroy did more damage to his cause than all the armies together, this shows how the little illustrations insulting the campaign made Napoleon so upset and angry that people laugh at him. No one wanted to fight for a man seen as stupid, little and silly, this what the artists made he out to be, he belittle the general until his defeat.

The lecture informed me on when and how different art styles effected the world, it will allow me to see how propaganda was used in different political issues which relates to my question and i will use the information i collected before.