Page 71 - Art Attack Gr 9 LB SKU1007

Write down your five-year plan. What are your goals for the next five years - what do you want to
achieve, gain, become, change, know, experience? ...............................................................................
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Visual literacy- Describe the use of the art elements and design principles
in designs and analyse the role of the designer in wider society

well for now you do not have a choice... you are about to receive orders!
This term you are going to be learning about printmaking. Your teacher is going to take you on a
panoramic tour of the history of printmaking before you create your own. This lesson you will be
introduced to some of the great printmakers who used the various techniques to comment on society,
namely Albrecht Durer (German), Francisco Goya (Spanish), Honoré Daumier (French), Emile Nolde
(German), and Roy Lichtenstein (American).

You will be introduced to some of the South African printmakers who include Azaria Mbatha, John
Muafengejo, Conrad Botes, Tommy Motswai, Sam Nhlengethwa and Dianne Victor. Each of these
artists/designers has/had their own unique style of manipulating the visual language to communicate
powerful messages about the society that they are/were part of.

Carefully observe the examples and answer the questions that follow. It is important that you think
critically about what you see and reflect on the answers you give. Remember the following things
when analysing designs:
x You need to concentrate and observe all the small details. Be inquisitive and think on a deeper
level.
x There isn’t always one correct answer. There may be many different layers of meaning within a
design. Listen to the interpretations of others and try to see their point of view. This makes the
process interesting and the design comes alive in people’s heart and minds.
x Substantiate your opinion with visual fact, for example “I think the design is communicating about
abuse and oppression as all the people in the awareness poster are distorted, squashed together
and their facial expressions are sad. The positioning of their bodies looks uncomfortable.”
x You don’t have to personally like the work and want to display in your social media in order to
appreciate its significance, message as well as the artist’s skill and ability to communicate. We all
have different personal taste and not all design needs to be “beautiful” to be accepted.
x Design are not created in a vacuum or a bubble- you will need to understand the context of the
work to fully understand and interpret it. This means that you will need to know about what was
going on at the time in politics and society, as well as what the artist’s life experience was.

1) Where do you think designs with a social comment should be exhibited in order to get maximum
exposure and response? Give reasons for your answers. ..............................................................
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2) Should a designer be allowed to represent or speak for a group of people, that they are not part
of? Give reasons for your answer. ....................................................................................................
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Artifact Publications and Training 2015 65