Page 58 - Art Attack Gr 9 LB SKU1007

Create in 2D: Create an advert that makes a public comment

The visual language can communicate powerful messages within the social context. Design can create
awareness, be a voice for those that are not usually listened to, as well as keep society in check by
acting as our conscience. Give a definition and an example of each type of message...
Overt messages: .......................................................................................................................................
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Covert messages: .....................................................................................................................................
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Now it’s your turn...In this task, you will use the visual language in an advert to make
a public comment about an issue that you are passionate about. This advert could
be in the form of a print ad, a TV or internet ad, a set of street pole signs or a
billboard. To challenge you to use the power of the visual language the advert may
only include the logo, name of the product or service and another six words added.
Pretend that the advert for an illiterate target market.

WHAT!!? How do I use an advert to make a public comment!
With NO text and NO sound!!! I don’t get it! I can’t do this!
What... sorry I can’t hear you!!!

Don’t panic! Still life paintings have been used for centuries to make public
comments... and you thought that they were just pictures of fruit bowls! Still life
th
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paintings can be traced back to Egyptian times. In the Netherlands, in the 16 and 17 Century,
painters were creating Vanitas paintings. These are still life paintings where the objects included in the
composition had symbolic meaning to the people of the time-period and culture. The people
understood the visual language as the type and placement of the objects communicated a message.

So how do we communicate a public comment through an advert with very few words:
x Create tableau......................................................................................................................................
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x Use symbolism....................................................................................................................................
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x Manipulate the art elements and design principles .............................................................................
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x Create an anomaly ..............................................................................................................................
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x Through associations we have with objects .......................................................................................
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Okay, so let’s practise... Write down a slogan of less than six words and explain how would you
communicate about the following, using an arrangement of objects- mention which objects you would
include and how you would arrange them:
x The rich get richer while the poor get poorer .......................................................................................
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x Child abuse usually happens in secret .................................................................................................
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Artifact Publications and Training 2015 52