Study Task 1: COP 2 – Setting a Research Question

COP 2 rationale

1. Focus on a specific graphic design discipline
2. The question must be open ended.
3. The question must allow for suitable theoretical research as well as visual exploration.
4. Position your research within contemporary graphic design practice - make it work for you.
5. Do some quick preliminary research to gauge how much literature is currently available...do the same to explore what is currently happening within the industry.
6. Consider what primary research methods could be used to support your research.

What do I want to explore?

Popular culture in its broadest sense – what positive and negative effects is it actually having on society and could it be used as a tool for environmental and social change. With climate change becoming more and more of a significant issue, and with the rise of right in prominent countries like the USA disregarding environmental protection at the cost of economic gain, could the mass media and commercial culture be used as an outlet to promote change, as is already starting to happen. Moreover, in social terms, there is an enormous rise in mental health issues amongst the younger generation, and it would be relevant to investigate what popular cultures role, if any, has been in contributing to this. For instance, it has recently been revealed that the contraceptive pill has been linked to depression, or how mass media outlets promoting an ‘idealistic body image’ have spurred on anxiety and eating disorders.

Touched in towards the end of my COP 1 investigation, celebrity involvement has already contributed to raising awareness for environmental issues, as well as musicians who sing about it, and TV documentaries and films that expose it to a mass audience. In terms of social issues, the correlation already explored in COP 1 of the rise in the mass media with the rise in pop culture has made this area of study a relevant and pressing topic.

Investigation:

Can popular culture be used as a tool for environmental and social change?

With a focus on globalisation manipulating cultures, the mass media’s effect on body image ideals, technological advances in our society, and the ways positive agendas for climate change can be promoted through use of mainstream outlets.

With climate change becoming more and more of a pressing issue, and with the rise of the right in prominent countries like the USA disregarding environmental protection at the cost of economic gain; could the mass media and commercial culture that is so prevalent in society due to the technological age, be used as an outlet to promote change. Celebrity involvement has already contributed to raising awareness for environmental and social issues, through popular media outlets such as music, television and film. The level at which we are switched on is higher now more than ever, thus can the resultant mass audience be used as a device for positive collective developments.