In the appropriation brief, I was to create 3 images. These images had to be made from other photographers work, I would then create a new meaning by editing or combining them. Appropriation, as defined by the Oxford Dictionary means:
- To set apart, authorise, or legislate for some specific purpose or use
- To take to or for oneself; take possession of
- To take without permission or consent; seize; expropriate
- To steal, especially to commit petty theft
The first image I made using a very iconic photograph that would be instantly recognisable to anyone who has used a Windows XP computer. I did this on purpose so that people would bring that familiarly and preconception with them when they looked at the image I had made.
The image I blended it with was taken from a fracking operation in Florida. The meaning I wanted to convey with this image was that eventually, everything that is familiar to us, everything green, will be gone as humankind continues to use up every last resource this Planet has. I also wanted to convey that as a people, we are quite happy to ignore it and let it happen as we will always have these pretty, too perfect images that we can look at on our computers.
Another interpretation of the image could be that to make the computer in which this image was made famous as a background on, crude oil had to be stripped from the earth and forged into plastic parts to make up the individual components of the machine. This process is considerably harmful to the environment, but we as consumers are happy to forget that as we go about our work, with a image of a beautiful natural landscape as our backdrop. My image forces you to consider what is going on behind the scenes of computer manufacturing and how we are all deluding ourselves with these too perfect wallpapers.
My second image came about after seeing an advert for an E-Cigarette. Since the conception of normal Cigarettes, the advertisement for them has changed drastically. From making them out as something that your doctor would recommend and that is good for you, to having them advertised nowhere in the fear that children would see it and be influenced to try these poisonous death sticks. However with the invention of Vape technology, once again nicotine based products are seen being advertised everywhere. Vaping is being advertised as being better for you than traditional cigarettes, however all that I could think of was the traditional old fashioned adverts that promoted cigarettes as a heath product.
Because of this I made this image:
With this I am trying to point out the same phenomenon to everyone else that I myself have witnessed. This merging of the past and the present in this picture is meant to bring into focus how we as consumers are once again allowing the advertising companies to fool us into believing that inhaling smoke into our lungs is good for us.
The last image I chose to do was by far the most time consuming as it involved the most work in Photoshop. My image is a play on the iconic ‘Hope’ poster that first appeared in 2007 for the United States Presidential elections. In the original poster it depicted Barack Obama with the word ‘Hope’ written under it. My image uses the same style but for the 2016 Presidential candidate, Donald Trump. I wanted to make a comment on how Obama inspired hope in millions of people from around the world as being the first black man in charge of a Super Power. My comment is how Trump is also inspiring a strong emotion in millions of people, he just happens to inspire fear. With his extreme right wing views, Donald Trump has become infamous around the World. I wanted my poster to capture how much has changed in the American peoples favourite campaigner. From someone who promoted acceptance and moving forward to someone who wants things to go back to the “good ole days” and whose controversial views on who in his country of immigrants is allowed to be considered an american and who isn’t, has sparked outrage and backlash.
My choice for the picture and tagline for this art was done so that it purposely looks like Trump is saying the tagline. This is thought added to the power of the message because its as if he agrees with it, therefore making it more hard hitting