Download Project #3: Propaganda Poster

Project #3: Propaganda Poster
Digital Media Studio
Prof. Brooke Singer
Due: April 19th
NO CLASS ON APRIL 12th
You will be using Illustrator and Photoshop to create your very own propaganda poster.
The word propaganda was coined in 1622 when Pope Gregory XV scared by the global
spread of Protestantism created a new office in the Roman Catholic Church, The Office
of the Propagation of the Faith (Congregatio de propaganda fide). This office would
supervise the Church’s missionary efforts in the New World. “They are to take account of
and to deal with each and every concern for the spread of the faith throughout the
world.” Propaganda meant the exact opposite of spreading half-truths, lies, selective
history or any of the other tricks we associate with the word today.
By the mid-19th century the word became a term of reproach to secret associations for
the spread of opinions and principles. It was not since the 1920s and World War I,
however, that the word evokes subversive falsehoods. Prior to the war the word’s
derogatory use was far less common than its neutral denotation. Propaganda meant any
associate or movement for the propagation of a particular doctrine or practice.
–From Propaganda by Edward Bernays
Your task is to create a (propaganda) poster that is associated with a particular
movement or point of view for the propagation of a particular idea or practice. The cause
could be anything from don’t use cell phones in public to anti-war to pro-bikes to build
new dorms. You choose but make sure it is truly something you care about and want
to see happen. Propaganda posters are about inciting passion in other people to
promote change. Can you do that through text and graphics?
Assignment:
The poster can be any dimension and proportion. Make it work for you.
The final file should be an illustrator file with layers.
You must take one photograph with a digital camera for this poster. Manipulate it in at
least one way in Photoshop (color correction, extract an element, mask a selection,
remove features etc.). Bring this image into illustrator. DO NOT USE WEB IMAGES OR
ALREADY TAKEN PHOTOGRAPHS. It should be made for this assignment and you
must include the raw photograph with the final file. Make sure it is 300 dpi or higher. If
you need to check out a camera, see Mike Conry.
Use text tool in Illustrator for your text. You must have some. Think creatively and
expressively with your text. Think back to what Jenny and Christina talked about on
March 29th in class. Look at propaganda posters and Bauhaus prints for inspiration on
how to work with text and image. The text should look good visually and have an impact
conceptually. The text speaks as form and content.
Create at least one object or section using vector shapes in Illustrator. You can bring in
images from the web or scanned that help you to trace. THEY CANNOT BE PART OF
THE FINAL IMAGE.
Beta Test it! Ask someone to look at the image. It is best to pick a stranger or someone
who does not know you or how you think very well. Hear how he or she responds. Listen
to how your poster is communicating to this person. Make necessary changes.
Pre-Assignment or In Class Assignment:
In class today you will re-make a Russian propaganda poster. Each of you will receive a
reproduction of a poster from the 1920s. Your task is to mimic it closely. Recreate the
same composition and forms but change the photographic images and text.
Most of you do not speak Russian. Therefore, study the images and layout and come to
your own conclusion about what this poster is propagating. Express this through your
own text and photos but stay as consistent as possible with the design and layout.
Use a digital camera to take photos in the NS building or just outside. Use the scanner if
you’d like. Do not use web images for the final poster but you can place in Illustrator to
for tracing purposes.
Use Illustrator to construct your image. You should bring your digital photographs into
Photoshop to edit and then import (using PLACE) into Illustrator. Use the text tool in
Illustrator.
You have the length of the class to finish this. Save the file in your folder in the drop box.
Title it “Propaganda1.ai”.