Study Task 4 - Triangulating and Harvard Referencing

In the following I am to produce short pieces of academic writing based on the following manifestos:
- 'First Things First Manifesto' by Ken Garland
- 'First Things First Manifesto 2000' by Adbusters
- 'Fuck Committees' by Tibor Kalman


Triangulating Manifestos:

Within the first two Manifestos by Ken Garland and Adbusters they both start off with rather similar introductions. Both addressing the "undersigned" as graphic designers, besides Garland also addresses photographers and students whereas Adbusters addresses art directors and visual communicator. They both mention how advertising has been presented the undersigned as "the most lucrative, effective and desirable means" of using their talents. Both show lists of the menial products (e.g. cat food, detergent, toothpaste, lotion... etc.) with which they claim "skill and imagination" are wasted on. With all three Manifestos they mention at least some type of improtance towards culture, that it is (one out of many listed) worthwhile for the undersigned to use their skills for and support ("Urgently require" their "expertise and help").


Analysis of an animation:

Relating to the first Manifesto by Ken Garland I have identified an animation which makes his point of designers flogging "their skill and imagination" for the selling of products. The animation I identify is "Coca Cola Animted Short 2015", it shows incredible amounts of animation capturing the movements of the interactions with an owner and his dog. How the dog sees the world through its' eyes provide some wacky and imaginative animations (e.g. chasing his tail and chasing squirrels). Yet all this effort is used for promoting a sugery fizzy drink. If Garland means what he said how he would react to such an animation selling a drink which has proven not to be health.


Evaluation on 'First Things First Manifesto 2000" by Adbusters:
The introduction does well to address a range of artists/designers relevant to the argument the Manifesto makes. Telling us at the beginning about artists/designers raised to believe their their skills are much needed for advertisement suggests some criticism. Then later on in the text it confirms that it's being negative through the list of menial products and stating that "there are pursuits more worthy of our problem-solving skills" suggested that the product advertisements mentioned are not worthy of their "problem-solving skills".


Summary of "First Things First" by ken Garland:

We undersigned (graphic designers, photographers and students) are raised to believe advertising is a lucrative, effective and desirable means of using our talent. Publications bombard us with such belief, congratulating skilll and imagination wasted on selling cat food, detergent, toothpaste, lotion... etc.

Great time and effort is wasted on trivial advertisement purposes with no contribution to national prosperity.

With increase to the number of general public we hav reached a point where the scream of consumer selling is just sheer noise. We believe in other thing worthy of our skill. Signs for streets and bildings, books and periodicals, industrial photography, educational aids... etc. and any media we promote our trade, our education, our culture and our greater awerness of the owls.

We do not promote a ban on high pressure consumer advertising (not possible). We propose a change of priorities to favor useful and lasting forms of communication. Our hope is that society grow tired of gimmicks, such as merchants, and that our skill be used for worthwhile purposes. Keeping this in mind, we propose to share and make our experience and opinions available to colleagues, students and others who show interest.