Punk and such

Wednesdays sessions I always seem to find enlightening on some level. Although I know a significant amount of people feel as if the fashion history lectures/nazi germany sessions were irrelevant, I think that isn't the case and design as a whole should be embraced as a essential factor in life.

The punk lecture in particular reminded me of this belief I have about design, as Paul Barlow explained, the Punk movement in Britain was much different to that in the U.S as we are a visual country. This linked into Elizabeth's talk about fashion history, as she identified that the higher-achy set the rules of fashion, which colours could be worn by different people etc. and how when these fashions trickled down through the classes until they reached the lower classes.

The reason this is important in terms of British Punk is that the style we have is very bright and in your face, almost a rebellion against smart/sleek colour coordinated suits and outfits of the middle/upper classes.

Where as in contrast, American Punk was very slobbish, dirty/old clothes which were in fact old and ripped, instead of being deliberately torn.

So the U.S had a Punk culture based around a way of life, a rebellious maybe even criminal mind set, and the British embraced an idea of expression through visual mediums. Getting in your face with imagery, fashion, almost a contrived sub culture.

So maybe I've got slightly carried away and basically explained what I took from Wednesday's session, but I think my point is we are very much a visual country, very much about image, very much about the way we are perceived, and we should embrace that.

Take in everything around us, be aware if not try to understand other areas of design which can only be beneficial to our own creative experience. It can't hurt, can it?