The timeliness of the film struck me the most. I love how it was done and it gave me motivation, inspiration, and hope for my Flash project. Motion art, if you will. The Pentagram segment was done particularly well. I loved the voiceover coupled with the image of the designer just staring at the camera.
The other striking aspect of the film was that none of the designers looked like me. Plainly stated, none of them were black. In general, the graphic arts industry lacks a visible black presence, certainly validated in this program, which lacks black professors (to the program's defense, at least those who are featured on the program website — I don't know each faculty member, of course).
I know black artists exist in this country. I'm well read on the traditions and history of black art, from its inception in Africa to its migration and transformation in America. But why aren't they more prominent? This lack of presence makes me glad I'm in the field; hopefully I'll somehow, someday, rouse young black artists to come out of the shadows; maybe I'll be or do something to which they can aspire. However, the lack of presence disappoints me. While racial composition of the field wouldn't steer my choice to be a designer either way, it's just nice to see, to have a sense of camaraderie, to have a reason to not feel concerned if my bodies of work throughout the course of this program and in life seem ethnocentric, just for the sake of "why not."
--
I see you bubbling all over the place -- you're yeasty, and I think it's grand!
2 comments:
interesting observation. when they were going through the silent intros of pentagram designers, i was disappointed about the lack of women. Were there 2?
Right. Totally. Maybe about two. It's peculiar how male-dominated the industry seems, but looking around in my classes, the story unfolds differently. Perhaps a good sign of changing times. Of course, we're just looking at slivers of a global work force. It's still something to make you go "Hmm."
Post a Comment