Essay questions to choose from

i think i will choose question 4, because we have had previous tasks on conducting a semiotic analyse hopefully the information will be fresh in my mind, making it easier for me to carry on in the same mind set to produce another more detailed analysis. 

choosing a subject to conduct my semiotic analysis on.

after much brain storming, i have decide to choose different representations of woman as my chosen essay subject. 

below are a few illustrations that immediately stereotype a woman - using codes that we as a culture read to hold certain meanings/messages about the woman. 

houswife

objectified woman

independent woman

semiotics analysis of chosen illustration.

In this analysis I will aim to highlight the key signifiers, connotative and denotative meaning of my chosen illustration.

There are number of subtle codes (suggestions) in this illustration, all of which imply meaning and a visual impression. 

These subtle codes all rely on a shared knowledge in a culture for them to make sense. One example of this in this illustration is the White baby grow the baby is wearing, this signifier signifies he/she is a well-cared for, clean baby; whereas, a white baby grow in another culture may signify something else.

 The relationship between the two (signifier, signified) are entirely obligatory, and come natural in certain cultures, as society has got together and agreed on this semiotic structure.

The denotation of the baby with Chubby red cheeks connotes that he/she is well fed and healthy, producing a ideology that your baby too will gain these characteristics after drinking the milk. The image itself is designed to tug at people’s maternal heartstrings.

The illustration was created in 1935, and shows a stereotypical representation of a family unit The mother is looking happily at her child, making the ideology that by feeding your child this milk, you will have a loving, stress-free relationship with your baby. The overall red coloring to the illustration is a signifier, signifying similar meanings, warmth, love and health.

in this time period- housewife/mother looking after children, father not present, insinuating he is out at work, providing for family. This representation Informs and constructs our beliefs and ideas on society. This whole illustration is very idyllic of what society wants a family norm to be. The advertisement also seems to be aimed at a middle/upper class demographic, as the warm glow is also signifying the pair are sat in front of a open fire which is partially out of frame, this along with the white clean garments, represent a stereo typical upper class family unit and environment.  Another factor that this illustration is directed towards upper class demographic is the product itself, a alternative resource to breast milk,  Despite having it available naturally, and it not being a necessity , it is still being purchased by those that can afford to do so.

Therefore to aim this advert to all demographics would have been pointless as the working class may feel their money can be put to better use.

The text present In the illustration has a friendly personal style to it, this again connotes happiness, and comfort.  Fonts are also cultural codes, if the text present was in a bold, blunt capital font instead, this friendly vibe would not be suggested, it would be a broken cultural code and is not adherent to convention.

The text itself  ‘thanks to Nestlé milk’ suggests that Nestlé are responsible for this happy, healthy, family atmosphere. 

image analysis 500 word Essay

When looking at both posters, both illustrators have gone for a realistic detailed approach. I think by making them more life like, and illustrating a realistic scene, it makes them more convincing and sincere, therefore I think audiences will take them seriously. 

‘The uncle Sam’s range (1879)’ advertising image by Schumacher and , style of illustration allowed the viewer to be a ‘fly on the wall’, a onlooker at the scene and way of life the product is selling . The poster also uses an indirect commercial bold font to draw everyone in, whereas the poster by Savile Lumley (1915), uses a more direct approach, asking a rhetoric al question and underlining the word ‘you’ personally involving the individual reader.  Another way Lumley has made the poster more personal is by using a hand written style of font.

both posters are ultimately trying to sell the idea of a better life, however both have used different tack tics in doing so. Schumacher and Ettlinger are trying to sell the ideology that the cooker has magical properties, and by purchasing the cooker you will be buying into, and will have a more affluent and better life, much like the man in the illustration who is being waited on by a woman and is surrounded by food and wealth. The illustration was created in 1876, 100 years after America's independent nation arises. The illustrator is using this fact to show a celebration of America’s wealth and achievements, ultimately making the American citizen feel humble and happy when seeing this advertisement.

The use of patriotic color schemes and symbols such as the golden eagle on the mans shoulder, implying that if you purchase the cooker you will be doing your patriotic duty and are a true American. The poster also play upon the unique selling point of the product by showing and narrating the many foods that can be produced using the cooker. The list of countries and foods in the illustration shows America's stereotypical view of different cultures at the time. Savile Lumleys poster also uses a patriotic approach in their illustration, including things such as red roses on the curtains and the queen’s guard’s children toys. 

Both illustrations are showing a scene from the further (after buying the cooker/when the war is over).  However Lumley uses this to guilt trip his audience, making them ask the question ‘what will I tell my children i did to fight for our country’. Though this illustration was created in 1915, before the war, Lumley has painted the future to be a positive image, that we would win the war, and it will be talked about in children’s books and reenacted in child’s play. This again is persuading audiences to sign up for the war, as this will make them part of history, and they will have made their country proud. It is also playing on the ideology that the war will not be lost and you will survive and be sharing your experience for years to come. 

image analysis essay - comparing images.

image analysis - essay planning

Quentin Blake

Quentin Blake 

Quentin's work reminds me of being a child again, surrounded by the illustration that is found in books such as the twits. The simplicity of the images reflects the nature of the young audience that would be consuming the content.  

Pat Perry

Pat Perry

I like the complexity of the illustrations that Pat Perry has produced, the combination of scenery and portraiture gives he image a possible meaning. Conveying a message that the personality is reflected in the illustration. The juxtaposition of the white and black colours adds to the definition of the trees and allotments in the faces. 

Florian Nicolle

florian nicole has created some of my favourite illustrations. I love how the majority of them are not finished, which brings your attention towards the important features that make the illustration. 

I feel the persona of he's illustrations are quite serious with dark colour schemes and black pen lines. 

David Laferriere

When I came across this piece it just made me smile! David Laferriere created these illustrations on his children's sandwich bags everyday since 2008. 

Each one is stylised in a simple, yet humorous manner. 

Zach Johnsen

These illustrations by Zach Johnson caught my eye with their fine precise detail which i myself enjoy to focus on in illustrations. However the combination of the detail lines and the explosion of colour are what makes these illustrations interesting, and not just another  pencil drawing. I also love the positions and body language of the figures in these illustrations, I feel it adds to the narrative and gives the piece a emotion. 

reflection on the week.

One thing I have enjoyed about this weeks introductory work is that we have had a brief to work with, whilst still having the freedom to choose what you want to draw to fit to the brief. Having a guildine to work with is a one of the main reasons I chose to take illustration as I like having a direction for my work. 

I have also really enjoyed the freedom to use whatever media I wanted this week. I was not pushed to work 'bigger' or 'looser', something that I felt in previous coursed my tutors preferred me to do, though I felt my strengths lied elsewhere. however I do enjoy learning new skills and working with different medias, as this will hopefully bring me to my 'tone of voice'. 

I have also enjoyed looking at the rest of the classes work and seeing the variety of skills in my class... though it was amazing to see, I do feel slightly under pressure to try and keep up with the standard of everyone else. 

One thing I found challenging this week was the fact we had to draw scenarios/ideas from our heads. I'am used to drawing from a image or a photograph as I like to capture likenesses. I found this very hard as i didn't like any of the work I was producing and felt it did not look professional because I do not have a 'tone of voice yet'.