This is typed from notes made as a working plan. Updated as I progressed through the written element. I have typed this up here because the notes made are pretty freehand and wont make much sense otherwise. The aim of this post to to document my changing though process and ideas as the project progresses. The first line is the earliest and last the latest in development.
How did the graphic design output of the respective space programs run by the US and the USSR reflect of their national aims and philosophies during the cols war era space race?
US:
-Tried to colonise space.
-Aimed for human achievement.
-Used Cultural capital to portray image of being the masters of space. Both internally and externally.
-Act of neo-colonialsim
-NASA being publicly funded caused it to surprisingly socialist imagery.
USSR
-Space was a social experiment.
-Aimed for scientific achievement.
-Used propaganda machine to spread image of space superiority to the soviet union alone.
-How does this actually link to policy.
-At same time much like in the US cosmonauts were becoming heros - counter to Marxist ideology of equality.
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USA
- Globalisation and empire.- Link to voyager 2 note written by Carter- "We are not yet one state"
-Globalisation of American culture through neo-colonialism. UG P33
-Ownership of space through occupation.- Landed and man and flag on the moon.
-Conflict of enlightenment, democracy and human rights. Against the grid of power "resistance is futile" against superior technology.
-Cultural capital through astonishment of achievements. "Better than God". UG P49
-Concept of NASA is against capitalist ideologies.
-The use of nationalist representations./ notions of identity and nationhood.
-To have space is to be free/ frontierism.
USSR
-Post Stalin communism/ Marxism era Russian political map.
-Nationalism of soviet culture/ achievement inwardly portrayed to soviet union and eastern bloc.
-Aimed to engage peacefully on homefront.
-Worked towards scientific understanding.
-Tryed to always get there first. Abandonment of safety.
-Claimed ownership with man or machine.
-Had a conflict of equality and elitism, astronauts became heroes.
-Released propaganda for inclusion and internal state cooperation.
-No longer the vanguard of the proletariat but of the "whole people".
-Soviet utopia's propagated over western strength.
-Concept of soviet space program is in line with their ideologies.
-Also look at use of nationalist representation BPC P73.
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USA Hero Astronauts
-Heroes above the normal people.
-Anyone can be this if you are special enough.
-Achiveable with: Money, Training, Education, Hard Work.
-Have to be self driven and achiemve it for yourself.
-Have to be better than the rest.
-Post-colonist 'celebration of the elite.
USSR Hero Cosmonauts
-Heroes of the people.
-Anyone can be this if they are a good soviet.
-Achievable with: Hard work, Training, Following rules, aspiration to serve the state.
-An example of the rest.
-Nationalist celebration of an ideal soviet.
-Reality: Astronauts spoke out against safety, could do it because of status.
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Problems:
Question straddles too many concepts:
-Colonisalism
-Postcolonialsim
-Neocolonialism
-Semiotics
-Phycoanalysis
-Internal policies
-International policies
-Post Stalin communism.
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Chapter Plan:
1. Historical Chapter on space race. 750 words maximum.
2. Film poster analysis about visual identity/ ideologies + notions of nationhood. 1,800 words.
3. Hero analysis of spacemen. 1,800 words.
4. Badges - Content vs Image analysis. Do both. 1,800 words
5. Conclusion. 750 words.
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Essay must be completed by christmas.
-2 Weeks today.
-Meeting on 8th Jan. 1hr Tutorial.
-Chapter 2 + 3 by Christmas at least.
-Leave the intro till the end.
-Work out how to include sources.
-Make sure to link references back to title.
-Highlight key actions and events.
-Documentary film poster linked to essay chapter. New idea for practical on top of DSI work.
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-Cut out the USSR from work.
-Focus essay on US perspective.
New Essay Plan:
1-Intro
2-Historical Chapter of Space Race.
3-Representations of Nationhood/ Identity/ Ideology in broader US (John Wayne as Idealised American)
4-The Hero Generation. (Buzz Aldrin and the space frontiersman)
5-Content analysis of Apollo mission insignia. (and Gemini)
Link Iwo Jima flag raising to the Raising of flag on the moon.
Pearl Harbour lead to fear of the unknown. Just like Sputnik, and Sci Fi.
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Notions of American Identity:
1. Warlike
2. Frontier Myth
3. Sales Culture. Mass Consumption.
4. Fear of the Unknown.
5. Christian Values.
"How Did the Graphic Design Output of the US Space Program Reflect on National Ideologies During the Cold War era Space Race from 1955 too 1975."
1. Warlike.
-Disguised motos: "our profession is peace".
-Military industrial complex
-The Eagle as a power symbol. Also a national symbol.
-GI Joe- Stands for Galvanised Iron.
-Children toy as personification of national identities.
-Green Berets film. Direct assault on the Vietnam peace protests. Fights communism/ values. Funded by government.
2. Frontier Mythology.
-Open spaces symbolic of freedom.
-Explored concept of American ideologies.
-How the West Was Won film. Features stereotypical Anglo-Saxon cast. John Wayne.
-Romanises History.
-Vigilante justice.
-Self Reliance.
-Biblical connotations.
-Manifest Destiny.
-American civil war.
-Rail-road= capitalism in microcosm.
-Search for American dream.
-Highlights the actions of good Americans, those who overcame hardship to find fortune personally and pave way to modern America/ modernity.
3. Sales Culture and Mass consumption.
-Use of western cowboy in advertisements for cars/ cigarettes. To sell items as being distinctively 'American' the definitive American image.
-Playing on peoples desires to achieve social status through consumerism.
-Look at plymouth car ads.
-Progress onto Marlboro man imagery.
-Evaluate with the rhetoric of image theory.
4. Fear of the Unknown.
-Nuclear War.
-Caused by Pearl Harbour. Surprise attack on American notion of superiority.
-Reds under the bed McCarthyism.
-Space master X-7 film. Blood rust virus symbolic of communism.
-Sci-Fi representing a fear of the unknown.
-Sputnik, reincarnation of pearl Harbour through soviet technology, spread panic is similar way.
5. Religious Values.
-AKA American family values. Idealised American people.
-The nuclear family as a model.
-Inclusion of 'In God We Trust' to dollar bill.
-Inclusion of 'One nation under God' to pledge of allegiance.
-Billy Graham popularity as example of the mixture of public, politics and religion.
General Americanisms
-Anyone can make it- the American Dream.
-Unlimited Economic Growth.
-Capitalism.
-Consumerist culture.
-Freedom of Expression.
-White Anglo-Saxon Protestant as the Elite class.
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Hero Generation Part 2
-Comparison of John Wayne and Buzz Aldrin/ Neil Armstrong.
-Both were represented as pioneers on a 'frontier'. Dusty desert vs Dusty Moon.
-Iwo Jima- Moon Flag.
-Link the exploration of the western frontier to the exploration of space causing the portrayal of space exploration as an American endeavour.
Neil Armstong History.
-Link to points made of the idealised american.
-Military history in Airforce/ Korean war.
-Test pilot.
-Mixed Anglo-Saxon heritage.
-Christian
Buzz Aldrin.
-Military pilot in Korean war.
-Mixed Angle Saxon heritage.
-Christian
Plan for hero chapter:
-What is a Hero?
-Who were they at NASA? History of Aldrin and Armstrong. Image of ground control from NASA Art.
-Planting the flag/ Iwo Jima analogy.
-Space. The Final Frontier. Space Heroes in popular culture. Captain Kirk as archetypal American man.
-Star Trek analogy. Team of different people bought together through American values. Lead by an American.
-Space portrayed as an American pursuit through flag planting and media machine.
-Conclusion of chapter.
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Plan for Insignia chapter.
-Overall analysis of patches and common themes.
-Link to mythology and nationalism.
-Romanisation of space exploration
-Analysis of Gemini 5 patch, link to frontier.
-Analysis of Apollo 11 patch, link to American might.
Notes.
Mercury. The sttelers and planners of space/ the American frontier.
- Gemini. The pioneers of space/ the American frontier.
- Apollo. Independence and show of American Exceptionalism.
Comment on link between Greek mythology and the mythology of the pioneers and how this relates to the mythology and hero generation of astronauts as pioneers of space.
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