Rachelcapstone - Rachel's Capstone

“Anyone who’s ever put a stamp on an envelope or a note on their refrigerator knows what it’s like to make a collage. There’s no esoteric technique.” -  Elliott Hundley

I feel like I love and hate this quote because it’s true, and it’s one reason why I like collage - because it reflects life. But also I don’t like it for my capstone because I think it starts to get into “anyone could have done that” territory. Will think more about this...

Week 6: October 11

This week for creative research and inspiration I went with Jack to Poster House on 23rd street.

We saw an exhibit called “Masked Vigilantes On Silent Motorbikes”

Title wall 

AVW202 (Money Makers) on the left and MSSBUTTONS (Mighty Man of Valor) on the left by Nicholas Fraser 

I really liked how this piece played with light and shadow, and how the cutouts from the banners were left attached. It made the banner itself a bit harder to read (especially with the imagery already on it), and you had to read the shadow for clarity. 

These pieces (Dissonance #14 and Allusion) were collaged to make human faces (or parts of it), but with two different methods. The piece on the left was a more traditional collage, with different papers pieced together to make the human face. What is particularly interesting about the one on the right though, is that the shape of the eye actually is one piece of white paper that is overlaid over an image of a woman drawn comic style. What creates the image of the eye is small holes in the white paper that let more or less of the image underneath to show through and create shading. Our brain is able to connect the small dots together to piece them into the image of the eye. Just like how our brains create connections between things in juxtaposition, it can fill in the image of the eye from an arrangement of small holes in a piece of paper. 

There was also an exhibit on the caricature or Air-India’s Maharaja, a cartoon caricature created for advertisements for Air-India. 

I saw these posters which don’t exactly relate to my project, but I love the intricacy and the delicate patterns that are present. 

And also the color palettes for these posters

I was also super inspired by this recipe card booklet full of recipes each from a different park of instead. I think the color palette and attention to detail (ex. the shape of the pocket) are really beautiful. The cards kind of remind me of Kpop photo cards I collect. They’re about the same size and I also keep them in a little binder. But I’ve been thinking go making some sort of pamphlet or booklet to hand out with mu art piece, and I think that this is a more unique option. 

I really enjoyed my experience going to Poster House, and got some really good inspiration for color and type. All of the work was very beautiful. Dissonance #14 and Allusion were surprisingly complex, and made me think more about how we can piece together a bunch of little holes to create an image, which is gestalt. The recipe cards are also something I plan to maybe make in the future. 

Finally, for scholarly research, I found this article about juxtaposition as a soft power. 

Citation: Richard, Erica. “The Power of Juxtaposition.” Art21, April 21, 2020. https://art21.org/read/the-power-of-juxtaposition/. 

Link: https://art21.org/read/the-power-of-juxtaposition/

The article is aimed at educators to show how contemporary artists combine their art-making with their roles as engaged citizens. It brings up the term soft power, and explains that "Soft power is a fitting term to describe the subtle and nuanced ways in which artists influence the social and political sphere.” Juxtaposition can be a way that artists can empower themselves to have influence in the social and political sphere by persuading viewers to see a juxtaposition and come to a particular conclusion. It also explains that "Juxtaposition is one tool used by contemporary artists to persuade viewers or elaborate on an idea; it demands that artists become conscious organizers of content.” I know that soft power is already a political term, so it’s interesting to see an overlap between politics and juxtaposition. I also feel like this is a good way of explaining its importance, which I was having trouble putting into words previously. 

I was definitely inspired by the posters that I saw this week, even if I’m not sure if it’s really the final form that my project is going to take. I really like the way that the Nicholas Fraser banners played with light, and you sort of had to look at it at a certain angle to be read. I was also inspired by the colors and type in the Maharaja exhibit, particularly the recipe book. I just find it so delightful, and could be a good way to incorporate the making of a physical object to hand out for my project. I am also super intrigued by the concept of a soft power now, and plan to look maybe more into the history of the term, as I only know what it means on a surface level. It’s definitely an important aspect of juxtaposition though that I plan to incorporate into my final paper. 

Final Crit Notes

Notes from meeting with Nancy 9/9/22

I can explore a technique, material, or technology 

Sometimes choosing something smaller is better than something bigger

3D printing (after talking about the Taemin lightstick project) 

What are people 3D printing?

Look at the most popular files and history of 3d printing 

I want to explore collage: Giving myself a rule like a collage a day 

Damien Davis 

Acrylic collages

Am I more interested in the how of things rather than why?

Easier than choosing a social topic 

Go on a walk 

Stephanie Syjuco

Daan van den Berg

Week 13: November 29

This week for scholarly research, I did a final look into semiotics with by taking look at The Semiotic Perspectives of Peirce and Saussure: A Brief Comparative Study

Citation: Yakin, Halina Sendera, and Andreas Totu. “The Semiotic Perspectives of Peirce and Saussure: A Brief Comparative Study.” Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 155 (November 2014): 4–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.10.247. 

Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277572736_The_Semiotic_Perspectives_of_Peirce_and_Saussure_A_Brief_Comparative_Study

Summary: The primary purpose of this paper is to make a comparative analysis between two leading scholars’ perspectives on semiotic theory, namely Charles Sanders Peirce and Ferdinand de Saussure. In addition, it is also aimed at discussing the linkage between communication and semiotic which can be grasped as a signification of symbol or simply as a study of sign in societal life. Apart from the communication field itself, the theory is commonly used as a reference in various fields such as philosophy, linguistic, arts and literature, archeology, architecture, mathematics and so on. The data has been attained by using content analysis technique of various studies on semiotic and related subject. This article is expected to generate positive contribution in underlining the significance of semiotic theory, not only towards the enhancement of the semiotic epistemology but also to other researchers and academicians in related fields or specific areas.

Specific sections of interest are attached below: 

It’s interesting how all of these texts describe Saussure’c concepts in just a slightly different way. Sound pattern I don’t think was mentioned in the previous articles I read. 

Here, Saussure says that signs are not signs unless they are intended to be interpreted as a sign, which I find interesting but I’m not sure I agree with.  

This article focused on Peirce and Saussure’s theories in particular, rather than on semiotics as a whole like the other articles I have read. I focus on Saussure in particular. The signifier is the physical existence of the sign, which can be a word, symbol, or anything that can represent an object or concept. The signified is the object or mental concept that the sign brings about. For example, the symbol of a snowflake brings up the mental concept of a snowflake, as a small icy crystal that falls from the sky. This then may lead to other associations that come with the idea of snowflakes like winter, Christmas, the cold, snowstorms, etc. This makes sense. What I’m not sure about, or maybe am a little unclear about, is how a sign is only a sign if it is delivered with purpose and specific meaning intentionally. If a sign is delivered with purpose, but a very vague meaning, is it no longer a sign? Why can a sign not represent something signified if the person viewing it sees it that way? If it brings about a signified, I argue that it could be considered a sign. 

For creative research and inspiration, I went to the New York Public Library main branch. I was not able to see all of the rooms as some of them were closed or full for tours for the day, but I was able to see a few objects: 

I just thought the typefaces here were really beautiful

Trompe L’oeil with Paper Money, 1796

By Joseph Hunin After Jacques Callot 

Wall card for Trompe L’oeil with Paper Money

Fan made of ivory and printed paper

Wall card for fan

The book at the top I initially saved because I found the typefaces to be really beautiful, and thought it was interesting that so many different ones were combined on one page. Usually this isn’t cohesive, but here I feel like it kind of works. On the topic of certain signs leading to certain signifiers, I thought about how certain typefaces can seem to go with certain words. Could typefaces sound as a semi-symbol that bring about certain mental concepts, making them a sign? I also enjoyed seeing the samples of the short-lived assignat juxtaposed with each other. The fact that there are so many variations yet it is short lived suggests instability, which make sense since this print is supposed to hint at the poverty that can come with putting all of your trust in paper money. A similar message can be found in the beautiful fan below that is also made of currency. 

This week, I got a new perspective on Saussure and Peirce and semiotics. While I may disagree with Saussure on the necessity of intentionality for a sign, overall I have found his theory about making meaning to be key to understanding juxtaposition. For now though, I think I have done enough research on this subject. I also saw some more historical pieces that I generally found beautiful, but do act as examples of how juxtaposition can be used to convey a subtle message that may not be apparently obvious. My main focus now is going to be on finishing my paper, as well as deciding on an exact idea for my final form. 

Week 8: October 25

This week for my creative research I visited the Cooper Hewitt Museum. Here are some of the highlights:

From Design and Healing: Creative Responses to Epidemics

Zero-waste Scrub Set, 2020 by Danielle Elsener

This zero-waste scrub resulted from when the logo from the NHS (National Health Service) was printed at the wrong size.

I love the unique pattern that is created from the fabric scraps sewn together - it makes it look more high fashion than a normal scrub, even though it was made from a fabric that would normally have been thrown away because of errors.

Next was an exhibit on AI

Expression Portrait by R. Luke DuBois

This piece scanned your face, and guess the emotion that you were showing. It then asked you to hold that emotion for a minute. However, right after, it reveals that it had collected data from you about your age, ethnicity, current emotion, etc., and that the fun activity was not so fun after all. One thing that we noted was that the results for my roommate were a bit more accurate than mine, maybe because AI tends to be better at detecting white faces...?

The next exhibit we went to was designing for peace. I just really liked the theme of this exhibit and it was definitely my favorite due to the variety of cultures, ideas, issues, and solutions that were involved with it.

I through the opening wall was really cool, and how there was a hidden message depending on which angle you were looking at it.

I loved the typography and symbolism in this Black Lives Matter street art, and the imagery that was in each. They still all look cohesive.

Conflict Kitchen is a takeout kitchen in Philadelphia that serves food from countries in conflict with the United States.

The facade of conflict kitchen. It reminds me of Rich’s piece from last year.

This idea is great because it highlights food from countries that many Americans may normally be hesitant to try, due to lack of accessibility, knowledge, or fear of cultural differences. Restaurants representing these countries also may be more likely to face discrimination due to the bad media that they recieve due to the fact that they are the US’s “enemy”. Serving food though gives people the opportunity to associate these countries with something more positive, and experiencing the culture can help to humanize it's people. Food also acts as a gateway to learn more about these countries’ people and cultures in a more positive light that the media does, telling the other side of the story. Cultural exchange is a great was to confront bias and fear that Americans may have.

Take out wrappers for Conflict Kitchen contain interviews with multiple perspectives of people but currently living in and those who moved away from the focus country.

Universal Declarations of Human Rights Posters

“This is My Home” Poster based on the Declarations’s Article 25: Everyone has a right to a standard of living adequate for health and well-being.

By Cindy Chen

“Your Thoughts are Illegal” Poster and Postcard based on the Declaration’s Article 18: Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.

By Christopher Kosek

Everybody poster and postcard based on the Declaration’s Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and right.

By Christopher Kosek

Sweat Shop Labor poster and postcard based on the Declaration’s Article 23: Everyone has the right to work... to equal pay...

I really like these posters because of the irony in the imagery, and how it gets the message across so clearly. Just the imagery alone implies what the topic of the poster is. The designs are really creative and clever.

I also talked to Jack as he also went to the Cooper Hewitt, and he said that the layout of the museum reminded him of my project, as the exhibits were really close to each other and juxtaposed each other.

I really enjoyed going to the museum this week, but I’m still not sure exactly the direction I want to go for my next project, I loved so many of the projects there, but I’m not exactly sure how some of them relate to my topic, as I feel like they maybe touch more on other interests I have that are not necessarily related. I did get some insirpation on how to present my work, and the various forms that it can take. Who knew medical devices could be placed in an “art” museum? 

For scholarly research this week, I found a book by Gail Dexter Lord and Ngaire Blankenber called Cities, Museum, and Soft Power. 

Citation: Lord, Gail Dexter, and Ngaire Blankenberg. 2015. Cities, Museums and Soft Power. Washington: American Association of Museums. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspxdirect=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=1341266.

Link to article: http://ezproxy.stevens.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xna&AN=1341266&site=ehost-live&ebv=EB&ppid=pp_9

Summary: Soft power emerged as a concept in the late twentieth century to describe international relations based not on military or economic strength, but on influence. While the resources of "hard power" are tangible-force and finance-soft power resources include ideas, knowledge, values, and culture, as well as the ability to persuade. This volume discusses soft power from the vantage point of museums and demonstrates how they are quietly changing the world. With contributions by thirteen experts from ten countries, Cities, Museums and Soft Power reveals the world's 80,000 museums to be sleeping giants. Two major characteristics of soft power-the rise of cities and the role of civil society-are pushing museums from the margins toward the center as these institutions serve as education hubs, employers, magnets for creative industries, and engines of economic development. Meanwhile, the growth of technological networks and connectivity has enabled this soft power to spread even farther and deeper across the Internet and groups of people. Whether cozy and local or internationally renowned, museums possess a cultural strength that extends far beyond their walls

It also recaps some information that I learned earlier from a different perspective. 

There was also some discussion about when soft powers collide, how cities and museums can use soft power to better the lives of the people that live there, and how soft power is not always employed positively. 

I am glad this week that I finally found another book talking about soft power in an artistic or more localized scale. I was honestly surprised that a whole book existed. It focuses a little more on cities and museums than I probably will in my paper, but still has some good insight. Particularly, how soft power is not always a power used for good. In a similar way, juxtaposition is a soft power, but it can be used to portray a negative message as well. 

Overall this week I got some really good inspiration from Cooper Hewitt. I particularly like the way that the Human Right posters played with meaning and were so easily able to grab my attention. The format and imagery with the text had great gestalt and already implied the topic at hand even with just the simple imagery. I also feel now after this week that I understand soft power enough in all sense (political, artistic, and the negative sides to it), so will find a different research topic for next week. 

➤ GUŌ PÉI | 郭培 Spring Summer 2018 Couture Collection — ELYSIUM