Term Paper on "Arts and Crafts Movement"

Term Paper 14 pages (4332 words) Sources: 1 Style: Chicago

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Instead it is concerned with profitability and acquiring the cheapest source of labor possible.

Countries like China and India have amassed a huge workforce that not only does an adequate job of manufacturing goods, but does so at exceedingly inexpensive rates, paying their employee pennies on the dollar. Most of the manufactured items sold in the western world are made in China and other countries that support sweat shop conditions and extremely low and unfair pay. Perhaps a re-emergence of the movement would help workers like these who struggle to survive under these working conditions, improve their lot in life. The movement supported and encouraged not only better working conditions for workers, but also generated comradery, a sense of pride in making things, and expressing design and creativity.

After all, the Arts and Crafts Movement celebrated beauty and meaning within everyday objects, and expressed through the use of one's hands. It was believed then and most likely would be now, to be a benefit to not just the individual, but society as a whole. Craftsmanship connects people with the world around them and nature as it improves morale by drawing people together. The movement in its peak offered people a chance to gain a sense of community with each other through guilds and organizations developed for the purpose of unity and union. These connections not only restored community life, but also brought a celebration of art and the betterment of society.

Although population size and technology was vastly different during the movement in comparison to today, the values and principles can still be applied. The only problem however, presents in importation of international goods. The main problems of today in regards to manufacturing is companies and their desire to outsource their labor. Back in the early 19th century, for example, America produced most of its consumer demand, especially in the area of textiles.

Now most of the clothing sold in America comes from either China or other countries like Malaysia and Pakistan. In order to solve the problem of outsourcing, the local and federal governments would have to severely restrict or ban importation from certain countries or in the very least limit how much labor companies within the respective country can outsource. The government in China for instance, would have to regulate employee pay and work conditions to allow for higher wages and unionization among workers. Adaptation of the principles of the Arts and Crafts movement, along with business regulation and reform, especially as applied to international limitations and importation would result in improvements not just in the product quality of manufactured goods, but also improved job availability domestically and internationally with employers in other countries forced to alter their pay rates and working conditions.

Manufacturing and business is consumer driven. If consumers opted to purchase domestically made goods instead of cheaply made internationally derived goods, then businesses would be forced to adapt their methods. It is a very complicated process that involves not just consumers, but manufacturers and with a struggling economy, political reform as well. Like the movement mentioned in its infancy, people lose their connection with nature and with each other when goods are mass produced. It is up to society in general to make the shifts towards appreciation and encouragement of individually crafted goods. Movements like the Arts and Crafts Movement should be brought back to ensure the survival of individual craftsmanship. Crafting and making products not only generates pride in the person making it, but also appreciation in the consumer. At times it best to take a step backward in order to move forward.

Giambattista Bodoni and Geoffroy Tory, were two very different and well-known graphic designers/typographers. Bodoni, celebrated for his simplistic style, was neat, clear, and decisive with his fonts whereas Tory saw paper as a place for creativity and art. His typeface especially in his work, The Book of Hours, contained sixteen full page borders and thirteen large woodcuts, breaking many of the publishing traditions of the time. Bodoni's style involved wide margins and used little or no illustrations or decorations, the exact opposite of Tory.

Geoffroy Tory's design philosophy began with a deep passion for the French language. As Megg's History of Graphic Design states: "As a reformer of the French language, he introduced the apostrophe, the accent, and the cedilla" (104).[footnoteRef:3] As it pertained to graphic arts, he played a primary role in the importation of the Italiantate influence as well as evolving a distinctively French Renaissance school of book design and illustration. His philosophy of design revolved around visual forms of the Italian Renaissance. His passion also came from his love of roman letterforms. "Tory's lettering, developed in Italy and used in the 1506 manuscript book Les heures de Jean LAllemant, is a light roman with long ascenders and descenders" (105)[footnoteRef:4]. [3: Meggs, Philip B., and Alston W. Purvis. Meggs' History, 104] [4: Ibid, 105]

Visual form was necessary for Tory as his work later demonstrated. After returning from a second trip to Italy, he focused on design and engraving of woodblocks. He then continued with opening a bookselling firm where he published, bound and illustrated, even printed books. He loved not just adding text to a book, but designing the book itself. "Tory sought out excellent craftsmen and trained them in his approach to book design, which helped to eliminate the dense, claustrophobic page layout and heavy Gothic typography in French printing" (105).

Like any visual artist, he represented pain and change within his work. Following the death of his beloved daughter, Tory formed the trademark of the pot casse, which became a poignant symbol for the French Renaissance. The symbol represented the ashes of his daughter Agnes, who unexpectedly died at the age of ten. In his grief he dedicated a poem to her and put the symbol at the end of it. "This shattered antique urn, chained to a closed, locked book and bearing the inscription non-plu, seems to symbolize the death of his daughter. This association is strengthened by the small winged figure in the upper right corner, a detail that has been cut away from the woodblock by the time this same cut was used in a book published by Tory a year later" (106)[footnoteRef:5]. [5: Ibid, 106]

Not only was Tory's work in, in of itself a source of inspiration for others, but it also made way for inclusion of designs within the page borders of books. Tory's Roman capital initials, came alive through scrupulous floral designs which provided the flawless complement for the lighter new roman types by Garamond. His work not only gained wide recognition, but also set the style for the era, as mentioned previously, the Book of Hours set precedence in its time. "Tory achieved a light, delicate effect in the complex illustrations and ornamental borders by using a fine contour line with air flowing around and within graceful curves" (106).

Tory's design philosophy grew to symbolize French Renaissance. He was of a light and artistic mindset that was reflected in his work. His work achieved not only a light effect, but a delicate and complex ornamentation through illustrious borders and intricate artwork. Gothic styles, the heavier, darker lettering, was pushed away as Tory's style breathed in a new and fresh perspective, thus influencing many others during and after his time.

The characteristics of Tory's work brought a new transparency of thought, a pioneering and inventive attitude toward form, and a detailed synchronization of the countless elements. These elements, some of which were text, capital initials, illustrations and borders, designated 1525 as the year for milestones in graphic design. France and its typographers led groundbreaking work with Tory being one of the front runners for innovation. His use of artistic elements in conjunction with text offered a different style and layering to writing making his work a reaction of that age.

Tory reflected his desire to rebel against the traditional writing forms and lettering. His actions were in direct contrast with those commonly seen during his time. Hence why he is regarded as a pioneer. In a sense he was one of the first to employ his techniques. Unlike Bodoni, who reflected a sense of order within simplicity, Tory reflected a sense of chaos within the borders by using art and words.

In regards to contemporary graphic design, it suggests the use of Tory's style in certain genres of writing. Although the economical form of writing is often more utilized, complex and intricate designs interwoven with lettering is still used today as some contemporaries bring back the enthusiasm for personal style and originality. Expression after all is something that continues within anyone and still lends itself to wish to be explored and expressed. People like Tory will always continue to exist and there will always be a medium with which to express their styles.

Just like Tory,… READ MORE

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