Women in Film // Research: Feminist campaigns

Guerrilla Girls'

I found 'Confessions of the Guerrilla Girls' in the library.

"Guerrilla Girls repackaged feminist anger using mass-media techniques and advertising world savvy, taking their message straight to the public."

They are a group of anonymous women who formed in the 1980's to shed light on the fact that women aren't represented enough in the world of artists (yet most portraits are of women).

Guerrilla Girls website - http://www.guerrillagirls.com/posters/index.shtml

1985/86

1989

The designs are very bold and eye-catching, as the same loud font is used throughout - Futura Bold. It goes strongly against feminine stereotypes and gets the point across clearly without many other features other than the facts.

The type hierarchy is used effectively by headlining in large letters the most important aspect. This is mostly to make people curious, so they look closer and read the details.

The Guerrilla Girls definitely have a direct and no-bullshit approach, rather than aesthetically attracting people. Their tone of voice is aggressive and assertive, so that their passion for equality is communicated (which it successfully is).

Their campaigns make the viewer realise how ridiculous the facts are.

Women's Action Coalition

I have looked at some of WAC's  campaigns using graphic design as a clear communication method as it will help to inform how I communicate my feminist content.

The Women's Action Coalition (WAC) is an open alliance committed to DIRECT ACTION affecting the rights of all women. We are witnesses to the current economic, cultural and political pressures that limit women's lives and to the horrifying effect of these limitations. As current legislation fails to reflect the experience of women, we support the immediate enactment of an ERA initiative.

We will exercise our full creative power to launch a visible and remarkable resistance. WAC is watching. We will take action.

By creating a poster this simple, the message has become very straightforward and hard hitting. Included is a short and snappy quote from a Cardinal to drive home how a lot of people in power -or that we look up to- think about women. What makes him so sure that God is male?

We as women do not want people like this to influence others in society - this is the message I very clearly hear from this poster.

The bold WAC logo is also straightforward and doesn't have any frills. It comes across as a menacing stamp of justice that reflects their determination. 

The sans serif capital letters create a harsh and angry tone of voice. Approaching the content any other way wouldn't be successful... campaigns like this work because they are loud and need to be heard.

Hear we can see how their protesting has been cut down to as little imagery and text as possible, so that their messages are quick and easy to read and can stand out in a crowd.

Their approach to design is very tailored to activism and protests - something that does not suit all forms of feminist communication.

http://bethanyjohns.com/Women-s-Action-Coalition-WAC
http://www.uic.edu/depts/lib/specialcoll/services/rjd/findingaids/WAC-Chicagof.html

Stop Telling Women to Smile

http://www.tlynnfaz.com/Stop-Telling-Women-to-Smile

This campaign is very simple and to the point - it seems to come from a place of anger and that creates a strong message. It is direct and confrontational; the women are looking the viewer right in the eye. They are cleverly placed perfectly on the streets where harassment happens - men will pass and know exactly what the signs mean, and hopefully it will affect them.

I think illustration is very effective when paired with strong statements, as it keeps the viewers attention.

Who Needs Feminism?

http://whoneedsfeminism.tumblr.com/

This campaign is quite similar to the last, in that real women are used to make it hit harder. The experiences are real, and it adds an emotional level because they are personal and written out individually and each is unique to the person. It makes you realise how ridiculous these little inequalities are and how they affect people every day.