Illustrate: Social Issues

What are “Social Issues”?

Wikipedia Definitions:

Matters that can be explained only by factors outside an individual's control and immediate social environment which affect many individuals in a society .

Common social issues include poverty, violence, justice, human rights (suppression of), equality (or discrimination), and crime.

It can also be called a community problem because it is known to concern a community of people.

Artwork of Kerry James Marshall

What Kerry James Marshall talks about in his artwork: - African-Americans being underrepresented in mainstream American society, History, and in Art.

-Uses color symbolism to turn over “black” stereotype.

-The symbolism Marshall uses in his paintings illustrate social issues on a larger scale.

Kerry James Marshall was born in 1955 in Birmingham, Alabama, and was educated at the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles, from which he received a BFA, and an honorary doctorate in 1999. The subject matter of his paintings, installations, and public projects is often drawn from African-American popular culture, and is rooted in the geography of his upbringing: “You can’t be born in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1955 and grow up in South Central [Los Angeles] near the Black Panthers headquarters, and not feel like you’ve got some kind of social responsibility.You can’t move to Watts in 1963 and not speak about it. That determined a lot of where my work was going to go,” says Marshall

- Art 21

Untitled (Altgeld Gardens)1995

“Lost Boys” 1994

“Rhythm Mastr” 1999

Shepard Fairey

Born in 1970, is a contemporary artist, illustrator, and graphicDesigner. Originally from South Carolina, Fairey lives and works from L.A. Attended Rhode Island School of Design.Originally started out running a small t-shirtand silk-screening company. Additionally he still operates as a street artist and does mainstream work as well. His inspirationIs derived from social issues and social movements in history.

-Wikipedia

“These Sunsets Are to Die For,” Stencil collage, mixed media on canvas, 2007

“Power and Equality”Stencil and collage onpaper, 2008

“Chuck D”, 2007Screen Print poster.

“Guns and Roses” 2007 Offset Print.

What does his artwork look like?

Old Propaganda fromThe 1940’s-1950’s

What is Propaganda?

Is the dissemination of information aimed at influencing the opinions or behaviors of large numbers of people.

Artwork of An-My Le

An-My Le

Originally born in Saigon, Vietnam in 1960, now lives and works in New York City.

“Her photographs and films examine the impact, consequences, and representation of war. Whether in color or black-and-white, her pictures frame a tension between the natural landscape and its violent transformation into battlefields.”

-Art 21

An-My Lê. Small Wars: Explosion. 1999–2002. Gelatin silver print.

An-My Lê "Untitled, Mekong Delta"1994Gelatin silver print, 20 x 24 inches.

"29 Palms: Corporal Hoepper“ 2003-04Gelatin silver print

Barbara Kruger

Barbara Kruger, born in 1945. Studied as a designer atParson’s in NYC. Her work is focused on “juxtaposing” Images with words. The main issues she talks about in herwork deals with sexism, consumerism, and abuse of power.

“Untitled (Questions)” 1991, Photo, silkscreen, vinyl.

Street Artists

B a n k s y

Dan Witz

Chappelle’s Show

Music

terror

What YOU will be doing.

-Initially doing assignment on board. Following that you will narrow down and choose the issue you’re most interested in.

-Planning out a Photoshop Collage which illustrates the issue through a visual narrative (visual story)using various sets of images, overlapping, series of layers (at least 10), you MUST use editing techniques found in Photoshop such as Magnetic Lasso, Eraser Tool, adjusting Transparency etc. etc. All of this will be explained lateron! So don’t worry.