'...To Our Despair' Installation Mock-Up

Synopsis
The above image contains two posters positioned in a public space with 3 pieces of paper. Both posters pull quotes from 2 opposing texts. The black poster is from Georges Bataille's written response to Sartre's critique of Bataille's writings on Religion and the white is from C.S. Lewis' succinct treatise on the Christian faith, "Mere Christianity". Each poster's quote is an argument regarding each author's position on the idea of Religion/God, both of which end in the word "Despair".

The point of having the posters large and high on a wall with tiny text (The quote text is set at about 30pt.), is so that people literally have to find a way to get closer to the posters themselves, and even closer to grab one of the publications/documents. They have to use their surrounding to access the information...otherwise he/she is left simply with the ambiguous headline text. This is based on the concept of reversing the "Despair" inherent in any existential pursuit, and actively engaging in the on-going dialog within Religious/Philosophical theories.

The pamphlets/publications attached to the wall originally started as a reference to Martin Luther's nailing of the 95 thesis to the church wall, but was not really explored beyond that initial idea. In general, I see the attached papers as an even further explanation of the positions presented in the posters, once again requiring added effort to reach the depth of the content, literally and figuratively. I left the idea of the publication slightly open, as I see myself exploring this idea for next week's assignment.

Locations

I would see this piece as an idea that would be created in multiple locations, possibly with a variety of different posters, yet the same free publication, functioning in a similar way to the free newspapers that you find all over los angeles. Obviously areas of religious or intellectual interest would be the main spots that this would exist. Churches, Universities, Libraries, Graveyards, are among a few that come to mind first.

Musics: Agalloch, Deathspell Omega, Women, Al Green, Arcade Fire "Sprawl II" (and only that song), The National, Cat Power, maudlin of the Well, Underoath.

Huge Update over at League's website

One of my absolute favorite firms, League just updated their website with some stunning work. The above photo is titled "Discussing Water Colour Techniques", and that makes me that much more a fan of them. I placed some images below from the website, but obviously you need to go see all the work and quickly. I especially like the fact that they basically own, in an Yves Klein kind of way, that bizarre teal color that appears all over their website. They even posted some shots of a specimen book they did for their customized version of futura for gig posters. It's all a little overwhelming in the best way.

It's especially nice to see musicians like Ulver and Attila Csihar get a nice contrasting, yet intense clinically structured graphic treatment. Extreme music's visual language has been marred by the slumping ghost of punk's DIY aesthetic for too long. It's nice to see disciplined and sharp work done like this that completely refreshes the band's image and shines a new light on their work.

Considering the many directions design is moving in Europe, especially with this whole resurgence of "The Cult of Ugly", well documented in the zeitgeist capturing book "Turning Pages", League fits in an interesting slot. Thankfully, I would argue, this second wave of anarchic design is fronted by an avant-garde that is fully aware of the history it is helping shape. Obviously for every 032c magazine we get this bastardized commodified version, but the discourse remains valid and exciting to watch. League's work obviously has foundations in the International Typographic Style, but I think they stray away from rote & predictable solutions time and time again, consistently injecting an element of bizarre whimsy. They have a style entirely their own and I would not be surprised if we see more and more people trying to replicate the elegantly subversive work of these Swiss folk.

Great work, I can't stress that enough, take a look.

Ondskapt-Lord of All Unclean Spirits

(Attempt at Black Metal done via 60's modernist tropes)

Song of the Week | Al Green-"Just For Me"

Now some of you, out of ALL two of you that kindly visit from time to time, may think it is at least mildly absurd that this song, from Al Green's 2006 album "Lay it Down", is the first jam of his that totally caught my ear. Woops, I guess I'm as late as one can be to this party, but as long as that perfectly smooth guitar line exists I am quite content. Just spend of few extra minutes and listen in awe as the bass and guitar play off each other in the most perfect way. Cool.

Beach House-Better Times

Typefaces: Gill Sans Book, Century School Book Regular Italic, Akidenz Grotesk Medium

Belle and Sebastian-Read the Blessed Pages

Typeface: Garamond Premier Pro Display

Cat Power-Maybe Not

Typeface: Karina

Candy Claws-A Strange Land Discovered

Cults-Go Outside

Kayo Dot-Abyss Hinge I: Sleeping Birds Sighing in Roscolux

Deathspell Omega-Abscission

Underoath-In Division

Women-Upstairs

Crystal Castles-Suffocation

Dedicated to C.W. Moss

Deathspell Omega-Malconfort

Song of the Week | The Tammys-"Egyptian Shumba"

Now, I have a certain roommate that plays many an oldies girl band tune, and although I have always enjoyed that kind of music on some kind of weird nostalgic level...or something, it has never been the type of stuff I put on repeat. This song on the other hand is absolutely one of the best songs I have heard in a while. The elongated harmonies and eerily metallic background drone drive the song into a cathartic collapse of frenzied screams and yips that I have never heard anything like before. COOL SONG YOU GUYS.

Women-Locust Valley