The culture of Music.

Music as culture

It has often been said music serves as a social glue, a statement with undeniable truth considering its universal power to elevate and inspire. Research has proven music to be an essential element of the human experience, with specific areas of our brain developed to process the art, making it a central pillar in all cultures across the earth and time. At its core, it is a reflection of the human experience, as artists immortalise their emotions through the language of music, bringing people together with an emotional thread of relatability. Moreover, music is moulded by the culture that creates it, thus serving as an insight into specific groups and people to understand ways of life.  In the context of graphic design therefore, music in many ways echoes my role, as it seeks to resonate and communicate ideas, lifestyles and ways of thinking. For this reason, I have chosen music as the sub-theme of culture for it embodies the importance of both universal human experience, yet simultaneous personal experience in a manner that inspires me greatly.

Statement of intent

What interests me most about the culture of music is how the subject collides and intertwines with many other interests of mine, such as fashion, art, film and design. When exploring the culture of music I will be able to explore the history of specific genres and how they are influenced and influencers of graphic design. My clients could range from a record label asking me to design promotional pieces for an upcoming album, to event organisers requiring posters and videos, or even designing album covers. When wanting to explore the aspect of fashion in music, particularly hip-hop, my client could be a musician asking for a clothing line that represents them and embodies the culture. What interests me most about exploring music in the context of graphic design is the concept of communicating an auditory art through a visual medium, hopefully forcing me to explore deeper into not only the intent of the client but also the meaning, aesthetic, audience and style. This balance is in line with a wider interest between graphic design and fine art or rather personal art that music can be labelled under, seeking to serve commercial purpose whilst maintaining an emotional and thought provoking impact.