Design in the Sociopolitical Arena
Heather Mantovani is a design student who sent us her ideas for helping folks in this politically charged season to better understand fundamental differences in sociopolitical ideals. The first is called “Fish or Fishing Pole?” (.pdf) Heather suggests you fold the card in half and stand it on the TV while watching political debates. After each candidate offers a plan or idea or response, the card reminds you to evaluate whether the candidate is offering you a fish (something to help you only briefly) or offering you a fishing pole (to help you to sustain yourself better from now on). Great idea!
The second is a pro-Conservative postcard (.pdf) that clearly and plainly explains one of the fundamental pillars of Liberal ideology, which could help people quickly determine whether or not they hold with being treated in this regard ? or ? if they prefer the Conservative alternative.
Please note that these projects are not officially sanctioned by the organizations or websites referred to on the cards, as this is just a student exercise and design proposal.
I thought Heather’s work was very nice and that these were interesting examples of using design to communicate in the social arena. Thanks for sharing, Heather!
Click on either to download the printable PDF.
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Comments (26)
Wow. Incredible work, Heather. That’s quite easily the best sociopolitical art I’ve seen this election. Thanks for sharing!
Very effective communication. Short, deliberate, and to-the-point. Also has wonderful allusion to the “Give me a fish…teach me to fish” quote.
Very good. I don’t hold with using “liberal” to mean “socialist” or “statist” though, *especially* not with a big ‘L’. Market liberalization is the *opposite* of socialism. Liberals are people who care about liberty– if you need to use an L-word, Leftist is handy.
I thought I’d break the “J” responses and offer my opinion. I loved the light-hearted approach to a very serious topic: the differences between liberalism and conservatism in the political arena in the fish piece. Loved the postcard, too and would love to see some of the reasons “you can” listed that represent convervative thinking.
> Loved the postcard, too and would love to see some of the reasons ?you can? listed that represent convervative thinking.
I’d like that too. If http://youcan.com/ was actually linked to the marketing piece, the “You Can” ideas could prominently highlighted there.
I’d like to see more of her work – I used the give a fish/teach to fish quote the other day, and Heather visually presented it perfectly.
Drat! Now I’m going to have to order some of those online men’s medicines because you’ve dampened my Obamagasm.
[...] politically informed graphics from design student Heather Mantovani, at Andy Rutledge?s place: Design in the Sociopolitical Arena. Posted in Barack Obama, Election 2008, John McCain. Tags: Election 2008, News, [...]
[...] Fish or Pole? Filed under: Posts — buttle @ 19:24 Very nice. [...]
These are wonderful. Beautiful designs and a superb message. So simple yet so wise. Great job Heather!
The fish card is great! I thoroughly agree with John Stevens comment about sullying the word liberal by equating it with leftist. Leftists don’t like freedom, and can be found on both sides of the aisle.
Very nice. Cute fish too. Too bad McCain & Co. aren’t one one-thousandth as capable at articulating this message. (Maybe because they don’t understand it themselves.)
Nicely done. More please!
I think this boils pretty much all domestic politics down to their ultimate essence, with a 3×5 card and four words. Not just economic ones, but the other issues too, and free of party labels. Some people want a fish, after all.
The Constitution is all fishing pole, the stuff politicians promise is generally a fish.
Seriously, seriously brilliant. I’m linking this, and everyone should see it.
Both are very nice. Especially like the “You Can” graphic. Please have these made into biuttons, bumper stickers or magnets!
I am forwarding this to everyone in the galaxy to promote.
Nice work!
this is utterly stupid. have fun losing w/ mcsame.
reasons you can:
alberto gonzalez
heckuva job brownie
ted stevens
sarah “i cant name a magazine” palin
harriet “supreme court” miers
oh, and lest we forgot,
George “Bring it on” Bush
Put that on a postcard.
Very good. Perhaps there is hope yet for your generation, from the looks of it, you are the last glimmer of sanity. -Dad of an art student at UML.
Excellent work, Heather. Clever, concise, colorful, true.
That fish looks suspiciously like Obama to me, right down to the scaley green skin! Is this some kind of racist smear tactic? How dare you use your artistic talents to spew such clever and painful truths. Don’t you know that the constitution protects only liberal expression and that artists are only allowed to promote left wing views? Unbelievable . . . this most definitely qualifies as ‘hate speech’. What art school did you go to anyways? Next time, please use your time more prudently by creating images that will truly enlighten our society, perhaps something along the lines as ‘Old Glory’ being fed into a meat grinder.
Matt D: i love your blogger link. nice work.
Funny. But I disagree. Republicans will neither give you a fish nor teach you to fish. They will just privatize the pond and fence you out. ;)
Both well-done. The second is propaganda, plain and simple. It does not deepen anyone’s thinking in any way, or lead to “better understanding.” But it is well-done propaganda.
[...] politically informed graphics from design student Heather Mantovani, at Andy Rutledge’s place: Design in the Sociopolitical Arena. (Hat tip:Chuckles) Tags: Election 2008, News, Politics Categories: Barack Obama, Election [...]
thanks for sharing pdf… great work…
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