TAP Lecture 6: “Production and Outcomes” influences and reactions (Principle2: Delivery)

Artists have to choose particular platform they want to work in in order to deliver their pieces and outcomes in most effective way for them. There are plenty of areas people can work in.

I will use Ralph Steadman as an example, I really enjoy encoding his work for hidden messages and he worked in multiple areas of illustration, which let him stay on top and up to date with newest works and products. He works together with journalist Hunter S. Thompson, and creates illustrations for his articles and books. This shows already two formats, as articles is editorial and books are into publishing.    

I will use the illustration of a mad tea party from Alice in Wonderland as an example, as this is the most clear and visible meaning for his work.

This is an illustration for children’s book, however we can clearly see its political meaning. Rabbit is dressed in a jacked with a tie, which brings an idea of some businessman, however his trousers I would say are more “trampy” looking which contrasts with the top of his costume. Mad hatter sitting there with classes with English flag on them is bringing in mind England and any political issues this country faces. Headphones are making him look contemporary and up to date with fashion. The fact he has his middle finger up makes him look controversial. Alice sitting there in the chair looking really bored and annoyed changes the look for the whole story, however when we read the books it gives away a whole different idea. This is how the platform can change the meaning of the image. This is linked to text and image.

Steadman gave us visual interpretation of being mad by writing A MAD TEA PARTY upside down.

With his work Steadman shows that you can work on different platforms and still be able to pass some of the message through, no matter in what area you are working in. Steadman doesn’t only work in publishing and editorial, he designed set of postal stamps (one of them presented on the right) as well as packaging like label for a beer called Flying Dog (bottom right) and Cardinal “Spiced” Zin’ wine (below).