Final Posters and Rationales

Poster 1:

Rationale:

Ihi Wehi: The New Zealand Flag Debate

Stance - Anti Flag Change
Issue - The money being spent on the referendums would be better spent on New Zealand’s housing problems

This poster uses the rhetorical devices of irony and juxtaposition to draw attention to an issue in our society. The headline is ironic as it uses language that contrasts the subject of the image. This juxtaposition creates tension and exposes the issue that I am arguing in a way that evokes a sympathetic response in the viewer. I used ihi in my work by applying techniques such as photography and manipulating printed out images with water. These mediums created tangible images and textures that enhance the feelings that occur in the viewer - the wehi. The font I used compliments the atmosphere of the poster as it is quite subtle yet straight to the point. The size and position of the text creates visual flow and hierarchy. The asymmetrical positioning of the image in the bottom left-hand corner makes it feel very submissive, increasing the ethos in the poster and adding to the tone. This poster combines the use of colour, scale, imagery and rhetoric devices to construct a specific voice that elicits a concerned, empathetic response in the audience. This makes the audience re-evaluate their attitudes towards the topic and where their values lie.



Poster 2:

Rationale:


Ihi Wehi: The New Zealand Flag Debate

Stance - Anti Flag Change
Issue - The money being spent on the referendums would be better spent on New Zealand’s housing problems

This poster uses the rhetorical devices of addition/juxtaposition and pun to draw attention to an issue in our society. This addition/juxtaposition of a house shape onto an image of condensation creates a new connotation about housing in New Zealand. It also introduces the issue that I am arguing in a way that makes the viewer re-evaluate the importance of the flag debate. The headline includes a statistic that establishes the subject of the poster and evokes an emotional response in the viewer. The tagline contains a pun that helps challenge the attitudes and values of the audience. I used ihi in my work by applying techniques such as photography and painting on printed out images. These mediums created tangible bold images and contrasting textures that help enhance the feelings that occur in the viewer - the wehi. The word I drew and the grungy typeface I chose compliment the subject of the poster as they have qualities like mould. These textured fonts add to the overall atmosphere of the poster. The different sizes and colours of the text creates visual hierarchy. Overall this poster uses pathos to garner a commiserative response from the audience and make them re-think what is truly more important for New Zealand from an ethical and pitying point of view.

Grids

Grid: 3x8
This grid separates the image and the text onto the three different sections. This helps the image be submissive - it makes it feel small and forgotten. It also helps the word 'warm' stand out as it is in its own third. The bulk of the image isn't on any of the vertical lines of the headline meaning that the composition is asymmetrical but it doesn't feel unbalanced.

Grid: 4x4
This grid focuses most of the content into the centre, making the poster balanced and symmetrical.

Topic Stand-Point Statement

I have chosen to focus on the issue of how much money changing the flag is going to cost and what that money could be better spent on (anti flag change).

Three main issues it could be better spent on:

• Poverty
• Hungry Children
• Old People (Cataract and hip surgeries etc)

Thinking Hats Group Exercise

Four Posters for Interim Critique 1

Rhetorical Device - Pastiche + Homage to Dorothea Lange
Satire/Irony/Sarcasm
Critique: Really like the photographic style and the pastiche, needs more space between text and image so image has room to breathe

Rhetorical Device - Juxtaposition
Critique: Not enough colour, not everyone might understand the icons that represent asset sales

Rhetorical Device - Irony
Critique: Too many words, maybe don't need "Say no now"

Rhetorical Device - Juxtaposition
Critique: Very funny, but not sure if allowed to montage photos you have not taken

Recommended Reading 1

I read the recommended reading that was on Stream.

It was about communication design and audiences.

Debate

Tomorrow we are going to start off the morning with a debate about the topics we can chose to do our posters on. The class was split into four groups using our star signs; two groups are focusing of the flag debate and two are focusing on private school vs public school. Our group was given the position anti flag change.

Our group brainstormed arguments for why we should keep the flag such as the history, the money the change is going to cost and what it could better be spent on, how it could never represent everyone in New Zealand etc. We tried to think of what arguments the opposing team would come up with to make sure we had ideas for counter arguments.

As I was not chosen as a speaker for my group (there could only be three speakers) I had to research the topic to find facts to back up our claims and give our points impact.

Examples of Ihi/Wehi

We had to find examples of ihi/wehi to bring to class.

Ihi Wehi Exercise

We worked in teams to look at a group of set images and identify the ihi and wehi in them.