Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Yvette Helin created something known as the pedestrian project which plays on the idea of identity. It shows people walking around New York city dressed in all black. What better way to hide your identity? No one knows who you are, what your doing or why your doing it! What appealed me about the project is that the form identity plays on society as a whole is crucial in regards to the way we feel about the ‘unknown’. Humans are forever questioning what they don’t know and what they are unsure of. Seeing someone walking around in all black, no verbal communication, no facial expressions, just black will create a sense of uneasiness. Due to this the project had to be postponed after the September the 11th attacks. It would be immoral and inappropriate to create such tension and fear among American citizens. Hiding your identity creates anonymity which makes people feel more confident and brave. For example if they were to commit a crime they would be more confident theat they would not get caught by the authorities if they had covered up their face than if they hadn’t because your face is more easily identifiable than a black bandana. Many people have a black bandana, how many people have the same face, features, tattoos, scars etc, as you?
"In 1989, New York costume designer Yvette Helin became increasingly fascinated by the generic graphic images of people used on many types of signage — faceless figures intended to convey broader concepts. This gave birth to ongoing performance art known as The Pedestrian Project — silent performers wearing entirely black custom-made costumes modeled after the signs, roaming the streets and other public venues and mimicking the lives of everyday people." (
Modernism/ Postmodernism
Postmodernism is complex to define and a conclusion on the definition has not been reached due to a wide range of varied opinions. A lot of philosophy and science lurks behind postmodernism after researching the topic to me it is simply a title given to the way in which tradition ideas and backgrounds are applied in a way which is not traditional. For example thorough art a lot of complex ideas and data are displayed through a simply painting, structure or design. For example Jeff Koon an artists who constructs pieces of art using flowers and mirrored still. To me Jeff highlights and shows a different approach of a serious subject. Some examples of his works are shown below.
Identity
Identity to mean means something which makes something unique and recognisable. Each person, creation has his/hers/its own identity. Without identity nothing could be individually defined, everything would have the same meaning and description. Something whether obvious or obscure makes everything different in some way shape or form. For example, a pair of identical twins, it would not be so easy to see the difference in each of them straight away if you did not know them personally but as you delve deeper and begin to understand and relate to the twins individually you will soon realise the differences. One of the most obvious would be their name! Then it would become more personal such as personality, interests etc.
Semiotics
Is a word which describes and explains the use of signs and the use signs have and how they are used. Signs are used to represent almost everything. Signs denote a meaning to a primary beginning. To make this sound simpler for example there are all different signs in religion but the primary outcome after seeing the sign will be to think of the religion and God. Examples of some signs are shown below. Semiotics has an effect on people which to me seems to be subliminal. By this i mean by seeing a sign or a symbol you automatically create a connection with something more complex with more meaning behind it than just the sign or symbol.
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