Post modernism in album covers

The Clash - London Calling album cover
Codes
Photo: Rock & Roll rebellion
           Live gig
           Contrast in lighting
           Black & White
           Blurry/out of focus = realistic = movement
           Allusion/reference to Elvis' 1st album= font colours/black and white action shot photo.


Conventions
Album name
Band name



Parody (Mocking) -> Satire (Political statement) -> Pastiche(Ec
clectic/bricolage) -> Homage(Celebration - e.g. The clash pays homage to Elvis)


Our own album artwork


The commission

• Give job to artist  
• Is it the 1st album of an un-established band/artist? or a well established band/artists 5th album for example

The brief

• Group decision by manager/band/artist
• Use lyrics and music to draw some inspiration from 
• Band name
• Song names?
• Concept albums - themes running through?

The roughs

• Initial idea's based on the brief  & the artists reaction to the music itself
• Usually is several roughs to show to the band/manager who will often make the decision.

The presentation

• Presenting rough idea's to band/manager

The shoot

• Tell of the steps that you had to go through to achieve the final album artwork.

The artwork

• Font styles 
• Basis of CD booklet
• Credits
• Variations (e.g. vinyl)
• Use of equipment (e.g. apple macs)

The printing

• Separation
• Printing
• Production (cutting, folding, binding, packing)

The aftermath

• How the album artwork is received by its audience/critics

I will have to consider all of these features in my own coursework when designing the album covers, as I would have to if the album cover were actually being distributed.

House style

An overall visual approach for a particular set of graphic items or the design ethic of album artist.

We will have to consider our own personal 'House Style' when setting out to create our album artwork. This will establish what our Ideologies and Image is about.