The Visual Language of Herbert Matter

Leftchannel's opening title sequence for Reto Caduff's "The Visual Language of Herbert Matter," establishes the circulation of a documentary profiling the remarkable creative variance in design, photography and film of the titular AIGA Medalist bringing an almost forgotten genius back into focus. It is a remix of Matter's remarkable creative variance that smartly retains the clarity of each medium giving the uninitiated a budding sense of the artist unbound.

The works include Matter's iconic Swiss travel posters, pavilion designs for the New York World’s Fair 1939, photographs for Condé Nast publications, corporate image programs for Knoll furniture and the New Haven Railroad, designs for the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum, covers for the legendary Arts & Architecture Magazine and imagery from his lesser known work in film, the prime example being a film on the works of Alexander Calder.

Watch the Main Title Sequence here.

All Creative Work is Derivative.

I'm all for Copyright laws, but there are limits, if you expand the concept too far, then no one would be allowed to create anything. You could find even the smallest evidence of plagiarism and copying in all writings, visual art and creative media in all forms... if you look hard enough.


Why: Copyright control extends not just to verbatim copies, but to "derivative works." This has led to censorship on a grand scale. For example, the seminal German silent film "Nosferatu" was deemed a derivative work of "Dracula" and courts ordered all copies destroyed. Shortly before his death, author J.D. Salinger convinced U.S. courts to censor another author who transformed his characters. And so on.

The whole history of human culture evolves through copying, making tiny transformations (sometimes called "errors") with each replication. Whether it's filmmaking, illustration, graphic design, typography, journalism, science fiction writing, photography, poetry, everything!... Copying is the engine of cultural progress. It is not "stealing." It is, in fact, quite beautiful, and leads to a cultural diversity that inspires awe.

The goal would be to find clear examples of visual language evolution, here's just one of many examples, Nina Paley's Flash Animation Short Film:

Japanese Robots are getting better every year

Best Toy Weapons Ever!

Via John K's 60s Weapons Arsenal.

Shooting 15,000 Fireworks at Once Looks Exactly How I Imagined It

Pure Genius

Rad Star Wars AT-AT poster design by Pacalin (Pac-Attack). Check out more of her work HERE

Rethink

Giant - Episodes 1 & 2

Joe Gerrits' 100 Movie Icons

My First Sony

Q&A Session

Jon Eisener's "Nunchucks!"