Tuesday, August 24, 2010

VisAd: Good Citizenship response

I don't know that values are breaking down so much as they are changing and adapting to the times.

The article talks more about a lack of morals in the corporate world than the family-individual basis.

Loaded vocab- pushing us the same way the "minority single-issue groups" aggressively push their concerns.

"Most of our colleagues never exercise their right to communicate on public issues"- does that pay? Can we make a living off of that? Maybe that makes us sellouts, but why is supporting our families such a negative thing? Why is it wrong? Why is it our duty to comment on public interests if that's uninteresting to us?

" the graphic designer was to be the Neutral transmitter of the client's message" - as it should be- or as it can be.

Not everyone wants a message hidden in their advertisements, or business materials.

"Abstraction is safe," I fully agree, but it can be meaningful contrary to what Mccoy says. Imagery is more subjective. This is definitely true, it's hard to conform everyone's opinions on one thing with an image- sometimes majority has to rule.

"this is a decisive vote for economics over other potential concerns including social educational cultural spiritual and political needs" Agree that there are more advertisements out there based on consumerism rather than better schools or political choices, but this doesn't have to be a negative decision.

I think we should be more focused on how to get our art to everyone no matter what their personal view points are, rather than worrying about having a view point that we want everyone to conform to. People get bombarded with subjective opinions every second of every day. Sometimes it's nice to have a piece devoid of ulterior motives.

1 comment:

thenewprogramme said...

abby, great comments here. i don't recall hearing any of this during discussion. why not? is it because your opinion is in the minority? i would you encourage you to speak out more, particularly when you have dissenting opinions on these readings. you make some good points, but i think you are missing some of kathy's points. she is not advocating for "hidden messages" inside of advertisements, but for designers to be more discerning about what messages they choose to aid through using their skills, among other things.

no, doing personal, non-profit, or political work does not pay the bills, but it is important (in my opinion) because that kind of work counterbalances the absolute glut of corporate sponsored messages out there. it's not that liberals (or conservatives) are out to take over the world via propaganda, but that ordinary citizens, regardless of viewpoint, need to be able to express their viewpoints, and have just as much right (actually more right, if you ask me) to do so as corporations.

regardless of all that, i appreciate you sharing your opinions of the reading.