HISTORICAL ESSAY SKELETON PLAN

THE INTRODUCTION - Acting a set up for the rest of the essay, the introduction will lightly touch on the subjects that will be detailed and researched throughout the essay.

• Introduce the art movement
• Define what it symbolise
• Mention key designers 

THE HISTORY OF ART DECO – This entire section will follow the journey of Art Deco from its early beginnings in 1900 to its peak resurgence in the 1940 due to countless international exhibitions. Where did it come from? What was it and what did it intend to do? Why did it lose popularity? How did it rise again? These are the questions that will be answered in this section.

1.       Origination in 1900 from sudden surge of technological progress

2.       Departure from Art Nouveau and other styles – modernism, cubism; what are they?.

3.       Looking back at all past art styles to build a future

4.       Its aim to streamline form to fit function. Examples and support for this.

5.       The forms of art it resonated within – glass, automobiles, furniture, architecture?

6.       The Universal Exposition of 1900 and what it did

7.       The Society of decorative artists was formed because by people who attended it

8.       Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes

9.       Its popularity between the two world wars after the third republic

10.     Its extensive use in the 1930 for architecture, cars, railway etc

11.     It’s focus on the elite – image glamour.

12.     It’s fading during World War 2 due to bias towards the elite.

Eva Weber, E. W. (2003) Art Deco.  JG Press.

Carolyn Mcdowall, C. M. (2010) What is Art Deco? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amVvYPU4Gw8

BBC (2007) Art Deco (c. 1908 to 1935). http://www.bbc.co.uk/homes/design/period_artdeco.shtml#influences

KEY DESIGNERS OF ART DECO – After discussing the history of Art Deco and its journey until its wane in the great depression this entire section will be dedicated to answering the questions; what is the society? What did it do for Art Deco? Who was involved in it? What did they do? What was their influence the movement?

1.       How “The Society of decorative artists” developed and influenced Art Deco

2.       Founders of the “The Society of decorative artists”

3.       Hector Guimard – his work, his influences.

4.       Eugene Grasset -his work, his influences.

5.       Raoul Lachenal - his work, his influences.

6.       Their intention the demonstrate the evolution of French decorative arts

7.       The societies wade in the great depression.

Hector Guimard (2010) http://www.hector-guimard.com/

Eugene Samuel Grasset (2010) http://www.eugene-grasset.com/

Jacques. J. Raoul Lachenal http://www.jasonjacques.com/works/raoul-lachenal/

Goss. J (2010) French Art Deco. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/f

THE CULTURAL IDENTITY OF ART DECO – Now that the history of Art Deco and those who made it the icon it is today have been discussed. I will now lead onto how the movement became globally identified both nationally and internationally.

1.       Extravagant, romantic designs – Examples to support

2.       Its identity

3.       Its common attributes

4.       Its bias towards the elite

Victoria and Albert Museum (2008) Art Deco around the world  

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/art-deco-around-the-world/

Eva Weber, E. W. (2003) Art Deco.  JG Press.

THE INSPIRATIONS OF ART DECO – Now that art Deco has been defined as a movement with its key designers and explained as a part of culture, this section will discuss its first influences, its on-going influences and what it influenced.

1.       Considers everything that preceded it – discuss similar movements

2.       Art Nouveau Forerunner – Its Main Inspiration, comparison and differences

3.       Infusing jaded traditions to bring new life

4.       On-Going Cultural Influences - Babylon, Ancient Egypt, Aztec Mexico and Africa

5.       The Avant Garde – its new visual language and it's inspirations

6.       How it inspires other movements

Eva Weber, E. W. (2003) Art Deco.  JG Press.

Carolyn Mcdowall, C. M. (2010) What is Art Deco?  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amVvYPU4Gw8

Victoria and Albert Museum (2008) Art Deco: Design Influences 

 http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/art-deco-design-influences/

ART DECO TODAY – Now that the history of Art Deco has been covered, its influences, those responsible for its resurgence and its identity, the essay had led to the modern day. The only aspects of Art Deco’s journey left to discuss is where Art Deco lies today.

1.       Societies that help retain the movement.

2.       Examples that still stand today

3.       Influences on Modern Architecture

4.       Resurgence of interest with interior design

5.       Personal example – the cinema

Olsen. D. (2009) Retro Is Back – Art Deco Today  

http://www.articleonlinedirectory.com/208687/retro-is-back-art-deco-today.html

Art Deco Society of Boston (2010) About Art Deco  

http://bostonartdeco.org/about_art_deco.html

CONCLUSION – By the end of the essay, the history of art deco, its key designers, influences, cultural identity and where it is today has been discussed. Pretty much the entire story and journey of Art Deco has been told. Here I will summarise the points and give my own opinion on the movement.

• The global effect it has today
• Opinion on movement
• Conclusive statement

NEXT POST: ART DECO ESSAY (DRAFT ONE)

ART MOVEMENT: ART DECO

     Art Deco is a heavily influenced movement that, unlike most movements, wasn't a political response to the great war of the 30's. In fact, Art Deco existed long before the war under a different identity - the 'Modern Style'. As a result of the harsh cultural conditions during World War II, it lost it's popularity due to it's bias towards the rich. It was only until the late 60's (Post World War II) that Art Deco experienced a resurgence and flourished in the 60's, where it's name "Art Deco" was coined in 1966 after an exhibition in Paris and it's first book by Bevis Hillier in 1968 was released. Since then it has gone on to globally influence all areas of design, such as Architecture, Interior Design and Film - its most famous example in the UK is the Midlands Hotel in Morecombe (seen below).

  Famous for it's mathematical and elegant geometric shapes, Art Deco became heavily influenced over the early 20th century by various different ancient cultures, such as the art of Babylon, Ancient Egypt, Aztec Mexico and Africa. From this culmination of cultural influences manifested the common household image of Art Deco and without realising it, we as a modern society are exposed to it's massive influence to this day. In the UK you have the Midlands Hotel in Morecombe inspired by the geometrical focus Art Deco adopts and in the US you have the Chrylser Building (Shown below) that was inspired by the trademark Sunburst Motif (seen below) and the Golden Gate Bridge that focuses on mathematical shapes to facilitate function (also seen below).

    As a lover of art that can be appreciated at face value, Art Deco is a movement that, although abstract in it's design, appeals to me through it's elegant and aesthetically pleasing visuals. It's the type of art style that I would personally adopt if I was an architect or artist and through research, I have begun to realise the actual extent such a movement has influenced countries around the world. This is a realisation not spawning just from research,  but from personal experience. After being told that Cinemas are probably the best example of Art Deco's influence on interior design I was dumbfound as to exactly how this was the case, until I went to the cinema and took the picture below;

   Instantly you can see the Sunburst Motif created by the use of light and shadow - in this case it is actually used to present light rather than to represent an ideology or symbol like the Chrysler Building succeeded in doing with it's sunburn motif peak as if to say "Look at this, look at what our country has accomplished". This Cineworld in Didsbury, like many others around the country, simply used it for effect - understandable considering its magnificent effect. 

    All in all, Art Deco's influence has been felt globally, and through the images above it's clear its legacy has been solidified. However, although used in many forms of art, 'art' itself is the best example of what Art Deco represents.

NEXT POST: ART DECO: HISTORICAL DESIGN ESSAY PLAN