Week 6 - Symbols and Revolution

The Jesus revolution

“It has been said that Christianity has two great branches – Catholic and Protestant. Some are now saying that there are three branches – Catholic, Protestant, and Pentecostal.
Pentecostalism itself is not a denomination, but a rapidly growing religious phenomenon among all major sections of Christendom. Religious commentators are beginning to recognize it as the third force in the Christian world. Sometimes called "the Charismatic movement," it is no longer confined to the small Pentecostal groups as it once was. This activity is becoming quite widespread within the Catholic Church as well as the more conservative Protestant denominations. It can be identified by the experience of speaking in tongues (glossolalia). Interdenominational groups, like the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International, are very active in spreading the "Pentecostal baptism of the Spirit." So many charismatic groups are springing up, especially in the youth generation, that this movement has been dubbed "the Jesus Revolution.
In Short the movement has said to:
1. Pentecostalism Lacks the Apostolic Emphasis on the Gospel of Christ
2. 2. The Pentecostal Movement Is Based on Subjective Experience Rather Than on the Objective Word of God
3. Pentecostalism is More Catholic Than Protestant
4. 4. Pentecostal Theology Degrades God Into a Popular Somebody.
5. 5. The Pentecostal Experience Lacks the New Testament Emphasis on Repentance, Faith, and Obedience
6. 6. Pentecostalism Represents Love (Agape) As an Emotional Experience”
http://www.presenttruthmag.com/archive/I/1-3.htm

Today with shopping centre’s, life centre’s, number one hits on the music charts and private colleges, the revolution has said to stack votes n Australian reality TV shows, had financial criticism and involvement with controversial organisations. The movement has been hugely popular within youth and has spread internationally.

Week 5 - Cause Symbol

Cause - Green Lungs

Aim - More green space in the city. Directed at people who live and work in the city.

Mission statement - We need people to think about nature and how they use it."

- Once you destroy green space, you destroy it forever
- There have been two previous attempts in Sydney to reintroduce green space, both of which have failed
- We want to use Sydney as a model, but the same thing could be applied to other cities in the world
- Something like Earth Hour, Embraced by all - powerful, meaningful. Could possibly be a yearly event
- We want a distinct name, image, distribution, it must be cheap or free and have a lasting effect
- We are arresting a trend - Plants on balconies and backyards
- Don't get too wrapped up in environmental issues, this is more about quality of life
- Target market is late 20's, and people who own property
- Think about sustainability in distribution
- The effect must be immediate, not over time (eg planting a tree)
- Don't let people think you're after money
- Chalk feet video
- Think about dress and theme
- How can we approach people in a different way?
- No standing and handing out pamphlets wearing tree costumes
- How can we collect measurable info? (Website, social networks?)
- Using multiple media
- How do we interact with real people?
- The symbol must represent the cause, not tell the whole story

Our chosen favourite

Draft versions for client approval

In-class exercise Week 4

click to enlarge

This exercise was great in trying to achieve a simplified way of showing many different words and situations. I found this quite challenging at first but as i went on, i started to think more simple and refined.

Week 4 - Evolution - Symbols & meaning

'The Cross' - powerful, mystical, pain and torture, christ, opression
'Red Cross' - safe, good, positive relationship
'I heart New York' - A set of signs that appear to be writing
"Peace fingers' - can mean "fuck off" or peace turned around

the peace sign itself has also changed over time :

Week 3 - Superstitons

In Class Exercise

Humpty Dumpty



Superstitions

Superstitions began centuries ago when our ancestors tried to explain mysterious circumstances or events as best as they could with the knowledge they had.
For instance, before the development of science explained such strange things as why mirrors show our reflections or why shadows appear when it’s sunny, ancient people reasoned that a shadow or reflection was part of their soul.
If someone broke something onto which the shadow or reflection appeared, people believed that their soul was harmed. Therefore, when a person broke a mirror it was considered unlucky or harmful.
Today we know that reflections and shadows are not part of our souls but if someone still believes it is bad luck to break a mirror they are said to be superstitious.
So a superstition is a belief or practice that people cling to even after new knowledge or facts prove that these silly beliefs are untrue.

Common superstitions:
Friday the thirteenth is an unlucky day
An apple a day keeps the doctor away
To find a four-leaf clover is to find good luck
If you walk under a ladder, you will have bad luck
If a black cat crosses your path you will have bad luck
To break a mirror will bring you seven years bad luck
To open an umbrella in the house is to bring bad luck
To find a horseshoe brings good luck
At the end of a rainbow is a pot of gold










When researching superstitions it became clear to me how symbols have transformed, evolved and spread. I have heard so many common superstitions throughout my life but never before realised how they come about. This is proof in how individuals have a higher power to influence many over a long period of time.

Week 2 - Symbols and Groups

- formed by interest
-found in history - battles, fights, taking sides > individuals began to advertise and identify through symbols
(eg men encouraged to form groups with war (peer pressure))

Why do we join groups?
.belonging
.power
.social acceptance
.patriotism
.sports team

....some questions to think about
- How many groups do you belong to?
- How do you recognise each other?
- Do we all recognise your symbols?
- Which groups did you choose to join?
- Which group do you want to leave?

Groups you may not have control over include: slaves, class segregation, prisioners
Other groups: football, armish, religion, gangs, police force, bands, hobos, masons

++ We tend to symoblise through language and dress

> We use symbols to imply meaning but we sometimes change the meaning in the process.

In-class exercise Week 2

Tribe name and symbol
-- first we were asked to brainstorm the individual values in the tribe and from there create an identity.
Our group name is awkward turtle and our mind map is as follows:




Paragraph:
Sentence:
Word:
Symbol: