Seasick Steve

One of the many musicians who played the Carling Leeds Festival but the most interesting one of them all. Seasick Steve is a Delta Bluesman who can really captivate an audience. His use of narrative story-telling is reminiscent of folk music but reflects on the hardships and woe of his life before he was discovered.

With the Mississippi Drum Machine; A small wooden box that is stamped to provide percussion, Seasick Steve creates a constant beat that is simple but catchy. His main guitar is called 'The Three Stringed Trance Wonder'. This is a normal guitar, but with only three strings. At the gig, he told the audience the story of how he got the guitar and that he bought it for $75 in this condition in Mississippi from a man named Sherman, who later told him he only paid $25 for it the day before. Steve vowed never to add another string, and that he would tour the world telling his story of how Sherman ripped him off. After unfolding the origins of his number one guitar he goes onto claim that it is the "...biggest piece of shit in the world!".

From a design point of view Seasick Steve provides a snapshot of Mississippi culture and the Detla Blues scene that has been lost alot in modern day music. His live performance works so well because it is honest and intimate. His style of playing seems to be more about communicating emotion and wisdom from his life experiences.

The Future of Television

Is the Slingbox the future of TV? This box allows you to watch your home television on your computer or phone via a broadband internet connection meaning that which the right combination of software and hardware you could theoretically watch TV anywhere.


With regards to the future of television I feel that this device is just the first in many more developments to make television accessible. There have been suggestions that TV will eventually combine with the computer so that households wil have one homogenous unit. If this is the case the face of the internet will completely change and television will become alot more like the 'on demand' services around at the moment and even websites could become a full video experience.

Chester Subway Murals

Recently there has been a movement in my hometown to improve city elements like subways and try and lift some of the current stigma associated with them. Above are four murals developed by volunteers with input from some of the churches in Chester. The murals represent different elements of Chester i.e. The Roman and Victorian influences as well as showing some of the famous architectural elements of Chester like the Eastgate Clock and the Fountains Roundabout.

I really like the idea of using design like this to brighten up the area and improve elements of the urban environment. My only concern is that although the murals look fantastic they aren't that big in real life and don't really cover up enough of the subway walls, if the murals stretched across a full wall I think they could create an even bigger impact than they do already.

However, these murals are a vast improvement to Chester's subways and it is refreshing to see artwork being put into use in an urban environment (this is not a new thing but seems to often be forgotten about).

Vision Streetwear Website

www.visionstreetwear.com

This is a good example of a full video website and how a apparel website can stay true to its essence. As the first page loads a pink spraypaint mark appears and drips down the page, straight away even this suggests the type of audience they are aiming for (young adults, rebellion, graffitti culture etc).

In addition to the loading percentage the website also provides you with a statement 'While you wait: 2 hectares of the worlds forests have disappeared,' however, the amount changes as the page loads and increases more and more. This is a simple idea but I really liked the delivery, it is the last place you would expect a message like that but it really works and will help to create awareness in a youngeraudience. Also, the delivery plays on the fact that you have to wait (converting the main weakness of the website into a feature), because the website is predominantly video it takes slightly longer to load - the 'while you wait' factoids are received by a captive audeince and use the amount of time a page takes to load to quantify another message.

Once the main website has loaded the entire background becomes a space for low-res videos to be streamed showing what the brand is about (skateboarding, music and the trends surrounding youth culture). The logo and navigation devices are static and in the foreground, made visible by spraypaint (also static). The entire website has a 'fanzine' influence and is an adaptation on the trend itself (derived from punk rock).

Another fantastic element of this website is the way the product is represented and really ties in the reason for having a video website. Instead of having a photo of the shoe they are selling or an expensive photoshoot with models posing Vision have instead used low-res videos close-ups of people's feet as they walk, run, and skateboard. This emphasises the brand and the fact they are more about the sport and lifestyle than other brands. They sell apparel for real people to be used in the real world. Personally I feel this is a really innovative way of showing a product and helps to strengthen the brand as well. Below are some examples of the the low-res videos of people wearing the product (the video still in the background).

'A Scanner Darkly' - Author Philip K. Dick

This is a brilliant science-ficition novel that portrays an all-too-real drug culture in a futuristic society. The 1977 novel by Philip K. Dick joins protagonist Bob Arctor in the future (1994) living with a group of drug users. However, they are unaware of a parallel life that Bob is living as Agent Fred (an undercover police officer in charge of the surviellence of Arctor's house. A major part of the story is that all undercover narcotics agents must sheild their identity in order to avoid collusion or curruption. Arctor was only supposed to pose as a drug user but becomes addicted to Substance D (Slow Death or D) which is a powerful psychoactive drug.

In the book, extensive consumption of substance D causes the user's two hemispheres of the brain to function independently or "compete" resulting in hallucinations and a state of lucid dreaming. In the case of Arctor and Agent Fred it causes them to fail to see that they are the same person and Agent Fred begins to spy on Arctor. Throughout all of this Agent Fred is being put through a series of psychological tests which eventually reveal that he is no longer capable to do his job. Donna, Arctor's dealer and love interst, takes him to rehab (known in the book as "New-Path") where he is renamed Bruce and ultimately descovers the secret behind the emergence of Substance D.

The title of the book comes from a Bible passage in 1 Corinthians 13 which states:

" For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."

The main character of the book is required to view clips of his life on a 'scanner' (holographic recorder/projector used by the undercover police). In Chapter 13 of the book, the protagonist claimes that he has seen his life through the scanner but has come no closer to understanding it (similar to St. Paul in Corinthians) and that true understanding will only come in death. In other words, there are some things too big for one person to comprehend / there are things that we don't understand that will be revealed.

Although Dick's vision of the technology in the future was a little off the actual themes really struck a chord with me. Some of the key themes surrounded police surveillence and the blurring of a seedy drug culture with law enforcement agencies (which is also personified in the form of the character Bob Arctor). This duality seems to be underlying throughout the book but it could be argued that in today's society the blurring of boundaries is also a common theme. For example, in the case of surveillence where is the line drawn between lokking out of our best intersts and voyeurism?

What I also liked about this book is that although you are presented with a plausable protagonist there is no clear antagonist until late into the book.

I also watched the recent film adaptation of 'A Scanner Darkly' which I feel was a really underrated film. Directed by Richard Linklater, the film has been shot and cut like a normal film and than painfully rotoscoped to create an almost life-like animation.


The visual style for the film is spot on because it reinforces the idea of lucid dreaming or being in a state of consciousness when you are aware of what is going on around you but nothing seems real.
The Intro sequence to the film couldn't have been achieved in the same way with live footage. A Substance D user has developed paranoia and thinks he is covered in aphids but as he continuously washes they re-appear tormenting him. Please watch this film, if you are a designer or just a fan of Philip K. Dick it is worth a watch.

Nike: Play Colourful! Viral Advert

This is a brilliant viral advert from Nike playing upon Japanese humour to create a bizarre yet captivating visual narrative. The viral involves a mob of what can only be described as ninjas / power ranger-like characters harassing Japanese business men. I feel this viral works because you only see the brand for a split second towards the end, if branding had been placed throughout the viral it would have looked too staged and fake whereas the final delivery has a gutsy edge to it. Enjoy!

Arabic Typography - Damascus, Syria

Below is a collection of images from my travels to Damascus, Syria. I have selected these images becuase they show the use of Arabic typography/ calligraphy in a real-life scenario working to inform as well as embellish. I found alot of similarities between Eastern and Western use of typography. Alot of typography was used to inform (this is logical as it is a simple method of communication). One thing I did find was tht calligraphy was alot more dominant in the Eastern culture, with traditional calligraphers selling their work on the street - each piece being a detailed visual presentation of the Arabic language. Shop Fronts seemed to use calligraphy in different ways; the amount that the signage was embellished or decorated seemed to be a good indicator of the stsus of the shop (with the more traditional and up-market shops selling cloth and antiques having extremely embellished shop signage). I also noticed that the more modern shops in the city centre were using LED lighting and neon instead of embellishment - the Arabic would be more minimal but woud be backlit to create a modern look.

I also found Hezbollah flags hanging from the ceiling of the market halls. The flag uses different variations of Arabic to create a striking visual. According to Wikipedia the bottom of the Flag reads, "The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon." The upper text reads,"Then surely the party of Allah are they that shall be triumphant." (Quran 5:56) The main part of the Flag is the Hezbollah logo which is a representation of the phrase "Party of God" rendered inKufic script which I personally find the most bulky and masculine of all of the Arabic writing styles. The first letter of 'Allah' reaches up to grasp a rifle.

From a design point of view this logo communicates a very clear message even without having to understand the Arabic language, the use of the rifle and the clanched fist suggests violence, war and revolution. As stated earlier the Kufic script is also very masculine and has a very strong and confident 'tone-of-voice' which is also reflected in the boldness of colour and line.

Dizzee Rascal - 'Sirens' dir. W.I.Z.

After watching the short film 'Cubs' by Tom Harper I remembered seeing a recent video for Dizzee Rascal's 'Sirens'. The video follows a similar theme as 'Cubs' with Fox Hunting in an urban setting but what I liked about this music video was the use of symbolism. Fox Hunters riding through a housing estate creates a really interesting visual which seemingly has no relevance to the song until you realise that Dizzee Rascal is being hunted down like a fox. The Fox Hunters are a powerful metaphor for the police and authority and the way that some people feel that the police 'clamp down' on gangs and youth culture.

A really clever aspect of this video is the fur coat that Dizzee Rascal wears, it works as a symbol for youth and 'hoody' culture but also acts as a visual tool to represent the fox (at the end of the video the fur from the coat is drenched in blood and smeared over the youngest hunter in the pack as part of the ritual of the hunt).

The end of the video shows the young boy (presumably related to Dizzee) watching the 'kill' and ultimately becoming what one can only assume will be a trouble-maker. This suggests that although authority is put in place to stop crime it can sometimes develop or perpetuate crime.

Lucha Libre: Good vs Evil

I was watching TV the other night and I came across Jack Black's recent film 'Nacho Libre'. The film involves a monk (Black) becoming a Luchador (Mexican wrestler). Although this film wasn't particularly well received it portrayed some aspects of Mexican culture and the importance of Lucha Libre.

A common characteristic (and the most intriguing from a design point of view) of nearly all Luchadors is the wearing of a mask to wrestle.


There are several reasons for the development of the mask in Lucha Libre and Mexican Culture. Lucha Libre was very popular in working-class Mexico and wrestlers often would have a day job as well; the mask was a means of keeping their athletic career separate to the rest of their life. A more primal reason for the use of the mask is the creation of a persona.Wrestling in its simplest form is entertainment that borrows from archetypal imagery and ritual. Every society has an understanding of good verses evil through mythology and religion. Lucha Libre is no different; wrestlers fall into two categories: the hero (techino) and the villain (rudo) and the battle between good and evil is represented in some form in every match. The mask allows the luchador to fully become the character they represent and protect their true identity - this is very similar to comic book superheros who take on their status through their costume; they are no longer 'human' but instead a living icon. Wearing a Luchador mask is to deny an opponent your true identity and to become the character the mask represents. To be 'unmasked' by an opponent is to lose this identity/ reveal that the luchador is only human.

Whilst researching Lucha Libre I noticed, as with many sports, there are shared archetypal images with religion. For example, the 'church' is the wrestling arena and the battle between good and evil is well documented in many religious texts in some form or another.

Factional Media - Conflicting Opinions in Lebanese News Reporting.

I was recently watching the new Al Jazeera channel on sky and I stumbled across a programme called 'The Listening Post'. The programme was a discussion of the weeks events in the media from across the globe. One report that grabbed my attention was a story about a Lebanese news reporter who was caught on a microphone gloating about the assassination of parlimentarian Whalid Eido. Sawsen Darwish of NBN TV was caught off camera saying:

"... what took them so long?"

What I found really interesting about this news report is the fact that the event involving the assassination of Whalid Eido was covered from several different perspectives (these perspectives varying between each channel).

Moussa Srour (Broadcaster, Arab News Network) agues that Lebanese media is incredibly biased and segregated; many religious and political groups have their own programmes and TV broadcasts. This event exposed the highly factionalized Lebanese media where major political players are allowed to verbally attack each other, usually through TV channels they control.

For example, the pro-government channel Future TV covered the assassination by claiming that a new name had been added to the list of the nation's martyrs and that Eido was a 'hero' in the 'new battle for independence'.

In contrast to this Syria Satellite Television reported Eido's death, condemned the killing of innocent people but thier focus was the absolute denial of Syria's involvement in the assassination.

Darwish's slip-up has been well documented an widely spread across the internet (e.g. Youtube). Habib Battah (Editor, Journal of Middle Eastern Broadcasters) claims that Youtube and other forms of new media are one of the reasons that the 'slip up' has become a major event. He also claims that there was a plan to destabalize Lebanese society then it has come into fruition with these 'off-the-cuff' remarks such as the Darwish incident.

The London based newspaper Asharq Alawsat wrote that this type of media (the coverage of the remark by Darwish) is:

"... not based on neutrality or a commitment to journalistic professionalism..." rather on "... bigotry and a commitment to a specific ideology and sect..." with their homeland being the least of their concerns

The newspaper Ya Libnan also wrote that dismissing Darwish,

"... does not solve the systematic problem... Darwish's sick perspective was not an isolated incident.... (could) very easily push Lebanon into civil war."

But what does this all have to do with Graphics and Visual Communication? Lebanon has a unique ethnic make-up and the media refelcts this. Due to the fact that the media is governed by politics, religious views and sectarian struggle the content will be heavily affected. Our perspectives on issues can be influenced greatly by what we see and hear, and what if the propagated media is designed to make us think a certain way? Do words like 'martyr' and 'hero' change our perception?

Dove Evolution (Viral Advert)

No wonder our perception of beauty is distorted.

This is the tag-line for the Dove Evolution viral to create awareness for their real beauty campaign. The viral is successful becuase it is almost commenting on the social structure and the way that media can affect perceptions. The viral shows the visual distortion (i.e. the 'doctoring' of an image) but the tag-line also refers to people's distorted perceptions of themselves - arguably distorted by the media and the use of imagery portraying perfect models (often touched up to achieve a naturally unobtainable result).