The picture above represents the USA in a visual way to tell the story of the country to an audience that may not be familiar with the country. Because there are so many elements and moments related to the United States and its history, I decided to focus on the theme of innovation and technology. I feel that this subject is often overlooked as the inventions and creations discovered in the U.S. help to build the country to where it is today and will continue for year to come. To begin this I first started with the U.S. flag as a basis for all of the pictures I included for the story.
The story of the flag is one that involves the effort of the thirteen original colonies and fifty states across America. Everything that has every happened in American history is because of the flag and the freedom that it stands for and the collective effort of everyone who lives there. That is why I also added in the famous moment from Iwo Jima when the U.S. soldiers are raising the American flag together after their victory in Iwo Jima and one step closer to ending World War II. The sacrifice and courage of these soldiers helped to keep America what is today by fighting for the same thing our forefathers fought for.
Within the fifty stars on the flag are moments of space travel in U.S. history. Amongst the stars and backdrop are famous moments in U.S. space travel history such as the first moon landing. This famous moment in U.S. history helped to give the U.S. a victory in the space race during the Cold War which had the entire country supporting the government in trying to get to the moon. There is also the Challenger Explosion and Apollo 13 shuttle. Although the Challenger was a tragedy, the entire U.S. mourned with the families as many watched the explosion live as well as the Apollo 13 shuttle stranding its astronauts in space for some time. Even though these were tragedies in their own way, the U.S. did not shy away from helping its citizens in need. Also pictured is the space station which is the current home to many U.S. astronauts as well as others from around the world which helps to act as an embassy of sorts.
There are many famous inventions and breakthroughs in U.S. history such as the invention of electricity and the lightbulb, but it was men like Rockefeller and Carnegie who helped to bring business back to the U.S. with their new business plans and visions for their company’s. That is why the oil rigs and steel mills sit next to each other and the city skylines and famous landmarks which were possible as a result of these economic successes. Coal and gasoline are becoming less apparent and needed too with the rise of solar and wind power.
But going back to the main theme of this piece with invention and innovation, there are a number of famous inventions that helped to shape the U.S. to what is it is today. But the important thing to note and see though is that just because these inventions were brand new and revolutionary for their time of release, does not mean that they haven’t been improved over the years. Transportation has gone from horse drawn carriages to assembly line automobiles and now electric cars and trains have evolved from steam power to electrical as well. The importance of the ocean has also changed as battleships and cargo ships now rule the seas to protect and improve the United States. Plane travel has also improved over the years allowing people to fly over the U.S. almost instantly and seeing all the states as opposed to driving.
And while phones have adapted from the telegraph, the process and discovery did not stop when wireless and touch screen technology became the new norm. Power lines and phone connectors ran across the entire U.S. and computers were limited to giant machines at work, but now everything has gone digital and more portable. And while the U.S. has gone through tough times and moments in its history, it is important to remember why the country is where it is today from the men and women who pioneered and changed the way people handle their business in a country that represents freedom.
Hey Bret!
At first glance, I can already figure out what is going on in your Bigger Story. You are telling the viewer about the technological advancements America has gone through in each century, and how America persevered through their hardships. We have gone from something like the invention of the lightbulb, to landing on the moon, and to igniting entire cities with technology. This collage takes us through invention history in a simple way, grouping up each invention with its beginning counterparts. For instance, all developments of car-type transportation are together. It goes from a horse-drawn buggy to a sports car in just three photos. Our inventions, our advancements in technology have shaped the country and our society into what it is today: the United States of America, land of the free, and home of the technologically advanced.
I also noted that all of these photos are lying underneath the American flag. I feel that one way you could connect it more to this transparent flag, is to line the photos up either in chronological order, or color order. If you had a bit more black and white photos, those could be the “white stripes,” and the photos in color could be the “red.” This would further drive home the American advancement in technology, and the progress we have made throughout the years to become one of the most powerful places in the world. It would also add the Gestalt theory of similarity and element connectedness between the foreground and the background.
I believe you did well choosing your images, as they offer graphical properties that propel the viewer into understanding what your Bigger Story is. I also believe you did a good job of adding reflection into your piece; the audience thinks back on when they either witnessed or learned about these significant advancements in history. We associate each of these inventions with the progression of the country and the world, which is why these photos click into place in our memories.
Furthermore, I can conclude that this collage of inventions is to signify how far we have come as a nation, and how much more advanced we are today than we were when we began. Our inventions have evolved over time, becoming more efficient and safer for users and creators. All of these advancements have formed the country in ways we would have never imagined.
**Updated, ignore the first comment!**
Hey Bret!
At first glance, I can already figure out what is going on in your Bigger Story. You are telling the viewer about the technological advancements America has gone through in each century, and how America persevered through their hardships. We have gone from something like the invention of the lightbulb, to landing on the moon, and to igniting entire cities with technology. This collage takes us through invention history in a simple way, grouping up each invention with its beginning counterparts. For instance, all developments of car-type transportation are together. It goes from a horse-drawn buggy to a sports car in just three photos. Our inventions, our advancements in technology have shaped the country and our society into what it is today: the United States of America, land of the free, and home of the technologically advanced.
I also noted that all of these photos are lying underneath the American flag. I feel that one way you could connect it more to this transparent flag, is to line the photos up either in chronological order, or color order. If you had a bit more black and white photos, those could be the “white stripes,” and the photos in color could be the “red.” This would further drive home the American advancement in technology, and the progress we have made throughout the years to become one of the most powerful places in the world. It would also add the Gestalt theory of similarity and element connectedness between the foreground and the background.
I believe you did well choosing your images, as they offer graphical properties that propel the viewer into understanding what your Bigger Story is. I also believe you did a good job of adding reflection into your piece; the audience thinks back on when they either witnessed or learned about these significant advancements in history. We associate each of these inventions with the progression of the country and the world, which is why these photos click into place in our memories.
Furthermore, I can conclude that this collage of inventions is to signify how far we have come as a nation, and how much more advanced we are today than we were when we began. Our inventions have evolved over time, becoming more efficient and safer for users and creators. All of these advancements have formed the country in ways we would have never imagined.
Sources:
– “Act 2: Emotion and Act 3: Sensation.” Design Is Storytelling, by Ellen Lupton, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 2017, pp. 59–150.
– Busche, Laura. “Simplicity, Symmetry and More: Gestalt Theory and the Design Principles It Gave Birth To.” Canva, Learn, 15 May 2019, http://www.canva.com/learn/gestalt-theory/.
– Mcleod, Saul. “Visual Perception Theory.” Visual Perception | Simply Psychology, 2018, http://www.simplypsychology.org/perception-theories.html.
– “Visual Mapping – The Elements of Information Visualization.” The Interaction Design Foundation, 2019, http://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/visual-mapping-the-elements-of-information-visualization.