DSDN 171

The way this course was designed has helped. I think it’s the way these topics are taken from different perspectives- from the historian, different political views and the lecturer. Because we are forced, or really I guess it is up to us, to read and appreciate what’s happened and how all of that had built up into what design is today. I think there has been some effective learning here although perhaps some more class discussions would contribute to this. I think that being able to identify or actually being able to understand why some things are done has helped me personally to interpret design and what it’s about to me. Learning about the reasoning behind why people created works of art and design due to social/political influences as well as their own contexts and backgrounds has made me think about why I do, not just design but really anything and what it means. So I guess this class has helped me, it’s a nice change from solely focussing on big hand ins and projects- something I

This postmodernist painting titled, Don’t forget your scarf, by Banksy is an example of how “the past always tries to control the future.” It shows how the mother is trying to influence her view upon her youth because of her own past experiences. Here, she is trying to protect her son by covering him up with a red scarf, while at the same time disguising his voice and distorting his opinions. One can only assume that she is the one doing the talking, expressing a subtle command that he has no way to refute. The context of the painting becomes especially important because it is an ironic family portrait- meticulously embroidered with a glimpse of how two generations contrast but are joined together. It shows what is viewed as a socially acceptable youth compared to the display of the loving mother’s more ‘wholesome’ generation and attitude of the past. It therefore reveals the limitation of control of the past and the progression of the future. This new cultural view is