OUIL401 Investigating quotes

Politics

‘Where is the content? Where is the comment? It’s all about the materials, rather than the message. It’s all about the quantity rather than the quality. It’s all about design doing rather than design thinking. It’s all style over content, function following form. Illustration has withdrawn from the big debates of our society to focus on the chit-chat and tittle-tattle of inner-sanctum nothingness.’
Zeegan, Lawrence

https://www.creativereview.co.uk/where-is-the-content-where-is-the-comment/

The quote is expressing frustration and exasperation of how illustration as a whole has absolved itself of expressing any political comment or having anything of substance about current affairs.

Zeegan explains how illustration as a collective has collapsed into a group of individuals who shun the traditional, tougher aspects of illustration such as competing for commissions and thinking big with their work.

    The problem with this solitary attitude is that illustrator’s unwillingness to compete means their craft becomes stale and lacks punch. A small, inward focused group that congratulates itself with self given briefs is not in touch with more hard line issues in the global society.

The image below, left is an example of how illustration has slipped into a childish, mediocre style that has been allowed to dominate illustration. Zeegan talks about 'style over content' meaning the handmade crafting aesthetic is now the main focus of modern illustration rather than what the materials are being used to actually say.  

Below Top, Molg H. Bottom, Josan Gonzales. These are aesthetically beautiful but also imaginative pieces of illustration. Molg H creates darkly comic work that isn't afraid of dividing it's audience and Josan Gonzales' work is incredibly complex and technically brilliant.

These two pieces of illustration are examples of when an illustrator can push their craft an achieve a successful communication of their humour, personality and individual interpretation of the world. Zeegan seems to be saying that most illustrators are too afraid to push their craft in favour of more naïve, cosy art that appeals to more commercially safe illustration that takes no risks in terms of causing offense or challenging the mainstream blandness of illustration and media in general.

I think the 'Fight the nothingness' fails as a piece of illustration because it is not a bold or strong image which is needed for the message.

Zeegan describes David Shrigley's 'Fight the nothingness' design as an exact example of the bland, apathetic mentality he is trying to protest against.