Topic #2

Where does your art or design fit within the future of ecological aesthetics and sustainability?

In Communication Arts, it would be easy to incorporate ecological aesthetics because it is probably one of the more commercial majors. It would be easy to bring awareness of environmental concerns into public consciousness. Instead of fighting the environment, in a way, through placing advertisements on large billboards standing on their own, the advertisements could be placed more harmoniously with at least the surrounding buildings; at best, they could work better alongside the environment (ecological aesthetics) by possibly not relying so much on framing and be potentially interactive with people - another aspect that is considered a part of ecological sustainability. With my illustrations, maybe I could try and hint at a more sustainable lifestyle for people and get them to think about ecological issues and/or alternatives. Art has the potential to get public attention because of its "cultural capital." The materials used could be more easily biodegradable and use less manmade products. I try to recycle everything I can and purchase paper made from recycled material. When the companies know there is a supportive market for the goods, maybe more of them will turn to using recycled material in their papers instead of continuing to cut down trees. In the reading, it said that the future for art, architecture, and design is that they will all begin to blur together and that it is a cultural challenge. If Communication Arts can make people think about the environment and how they can try to be more ecologically sustainable, then slowly the culture's way of thinking can be changed. It is all co-dependent on the various industries and the consumer public.