Coffee brown section
Japanese battling franchises have elements of strategy, collectables and competition. While the most popular also produced spinoff anime and manga making the franchises extremely popular. This causes the franchise cards to become collectable purchases. For example, YU-GI-OH, pokemon and Digimon are some of the most popular and are based on fictional creatures that are pitted against each other so that the players can plan and strategise to outsmart each other. The most well-known games that include cards without fictional creatures are poker cards which consist of blackjack, five-card draw, texas hold'em etc. In these games, the player can trade cards with the dealer to improve their hand. Therefore poker cards can be described as being the foundation of how franchise card games came about.
However, the Japanese battling franchises are both traded and collected. the difference is trading cards are more or less used in gameplay as in card competitions. Whereas collecting prioritizes the aesthetic, uniqueness, rarity etc. Therefore accumulating a desirable deck. The original franchise that started both with their cards was the Allen and Ginter tobacco company. They are no longer still running yet in the late 1880's they started to place cards in their tobacco products such as cigarette packs to help generate sales. The cards displayed popular figures at the time including athletes, animals, historical places etc. By doing so the company grew massively and each collection of newly released cards became more and more desirable. The most popular was No.28 which consisted of 50 cards based on 7 sports. No.28 is now a rarity that is much sought after, drawing great interest from pawnshops and even museums. These cards were known to be extremely decorative, making them seen as pieces that could be displayed or saved due to their beauty. In some way or another, these cards reminded me of vintage tattoo flash. Due to the same similarities in historical significance and artistic value.
Vintage tattoo flash refers to distinctive styles developed during the early 1900s-1950s that became known as core tattoo designs. Due to the resurgence of tattooing during these 50 years, tattoo artists developed their styles independently thus creating a portfolio of work that would be distinguishable from one another. Due to these designs being considered core or original tattoos. As in birds, skulls, ships anchors etc. Many modern-day tattooists draw heavily from them for inspiration. Therefore vintage tattoo flash is much sought after. It creates a somewhat nostalgia due to the visual history each piece has. On the other hand tattoo flash is a border term that consists of various styles of artwork that have been designed as a stencil that can be tattooed quickly. As in there is no customisation as such but rather a quick selection from existing designs in the studio. One of the most prominent tattoo artists of his time was called sailor jerry. His work helped shape the traditional American tattoo style which contributed to the resurgence of tattooing at that time. His work can be described as being iconic which is why he has become worldwide known in the tattoo community for his renowned skill. The majority of his work is reused by other artists. The man who influenced sailor jerry was another tattooist called Christian Warlich. The distinctive bold and vibrant style found in Sailor Jerry's work can be attributed to Warlich's precision and detail. A sought of usual or common tattoo that is a Warlich original is called an impaled devil head or the other name being impaled orge head. Usually an ugly/horrid head with a knife going through it. In Japanese culture, there is another tattoo with a similar layout concept called a namakubi. It represents triumph over enemies. Due to Namakubi linking to combat, I can see a slight relation to the Japanese battling franchise because of the idea of players engaging each other. In yu-gi-oh there are many cards which imagery of heads but a well-known one in this instinct is called exodia the forbidden one. Which some people get tattoed due to it being a highly sought-after/ most desired card. Just like the tattoo flash and Allen & Ginter cards, playing cards like yu-gi-oh can hold historical significance.
Forms of visual communication refer to various methods and mediums used to convey information, ideas and messages visually. It relies on visual elements such as images. Tattooing is a form of this type of communication which is done by placing a (design created by a stencil transfer machine) on the skin and then using a tattoo gun. A stencil prints onto the skin before inking. Another machine which uses ink and pressure to create mass-printed designs is a printing press. Both have the same purpose but for totally different professions. In this case, a printing press would have been used for the cards of Allen & Ginter. The exact method is named chromolithographic/chromolithography. It involves the use of multiple lithographic stones or plates, each carrying a different colour, to create a full-colour image or print.
Two notable figures in this field of printing were called Louis Prang and Henry Bufford, both were known for creating prints that were mass-produced, used as greeting cards and doing work that is similar to the cards in the cigarette packets of Allen & Ginter. Apart from the popularity of the cards, there was also a consumer choice due to the various blends of tobacco they supplied thus most customers rolled their cigarettes. Another product that copied or used the same method of attracting customers is candy stick sweets. They are a confectionary that resembles small, white thin sticks or rods. they are usually wrapped in thin paper to resemble cigarettes and come in various flavours. This product contains stickers. The product is targeted at children hence the stickers are based on comic/superhero characters. Candy sticks are more modern but another company that did a similar method was called bowman gum which used Superman on the packaging. Just like Allen & Ginter they supplied cards, primarily baseball players. Next, I'm gonna explain the connection between sailor Jerry and baseball on the word map. Most tattoo shops back in Sailor `Jerry's time were found in difficult areas. As in a shady part of town that has been populated by vagrants. These areas were known as skid roads (another term for skid row). The term can also refer to roads that are made by laying logs against each other (side by side) to create a path. Note these were more common in the 19th century and could also be called corduroy roads. Corduroy is more known to be a name of a fabric. This type of fabric has vertical ridges, which are often wide and raised, giving it a ridged texture. As it happens due to its toughness and durability it is used in sports like baseball for their caps ( not the batters but the field players). Another connection is that corduroy trousers can be named matchstick pants. Matchsticks were also one of the products sold by Allen & Grinter.
While looking for a final connection to finish up the word map, I had this image in my head of Damien Hirst's photo of himself posing with a human head. The reason being the impaled devil head made me think of so. The photo known as with dead head is one of the following artworks done by Hirst which I thought fitted into the themes already on the map. A recurring theme or subject that is in hirst work is the use of perceiving in the formahdlye inside a glass case. Another work which does so and is also a dead head is called Philip (The Twelve Disciples). The case has inside it a bullhead. This piece was part of a bigger work called the twelve disciples. A topic that is related to this is the last supper which is a name of work also done by Hirst. This time round the work instead, consists of minimalist packaging that is based on pharmaceutical labeling. The layout of the packaging, as in shape/concept reminded me of the Bowman gum packaging. Spot paintings are probably the most well-known work that is associated with hirst and because the spots reminded me of gumballs therefore bowman fum again I thought it would be relevant to include it as well. The last and final connection is called a candy stick. the art is what the name describes it as but it is a large sculpture of a white cylinder shape structure that Hirst collaborated on with Felix Gonzalez-Torres.
However, the Japanese battling franchises are both traded and collected. the difference is trading cards are more or less used in gameplay as in card competitions. Whereas collecting prioritizes the aesthetic, uniqueness, rarity etc. Therefore accumulating a desirable deck. The original franchise that started both with their cards was the Allen and Ginter tobacco company. They are no longer still running yet in the late 1880's they started to place cards in their tobacco products such as cigarette packs to help generate sales. The cards displayed popular figures at the time including athletes, animals, historical places etc. By doing so the company grew massively and each collection of newly released cards became more and more desirable. The most popular was No.28 which consisted of 50 cards based on 7 sports. No.28 is now a rarity that is much sought after, drawing great interest from pawnshops and even museums. These cards were known to be extremely decorative, making them seen as pieces that could be displayed or saved due to their beauty. In some way or another, these cards reminded me of vintage tattoo flash. Due to the same similarities in historical significance and artistic value.
Vintage tattoo flash refers to distinctive styles developed during the early 1900s-1950s that became known as core tattoo designs. Due to the resurgence of tattooing during these 50 years, tattoo artists developed their styles independently thus creating a portfolio of work that would be distinguishable from one another. Due to these designs being considered core or original tattoos. As in birds, skulls, ships anchors etc. Many modern-day tattooists draw heavily from them for inspiration. Therefore vintage tattoo flash is much sought after. It creates a somewhat nostalgia due to the visual history each piece has. On the other hand tattoo flash is a border term that consists of various styles of artwork that have been designed as a stencil that can be tattooed quickly. As in there is no customisation as such but rather a quick selection from existing designs in the studio. One of the most prominent tattoo artists of his time was called sailor jerry. His work helped shape the traditional American tattoo style which contributed to the resurgence of tattooing at that time. His work can be described as being iconic which is why he has become worldwide known in the tattoo community for his renowned skill. The majority of his work is reused by other artists. The man who influenced sailor jerry was another tattooist called Christian Warlich. The distinctive bold and vibrant style found in Sailor Jerry's work can be attributed to Warlich's precision and detail. A sought of usual or common tattoo that is a Warlich original is called an impaled devil head or the other name being impaled orge head. Usually an ugly/horrid head with a knife going through it. In Japanese culture, there is another tattoo with a similar layout concept called a namakubi. It represents triumph over enemies. Due to Namakubi linking to combat, I can see a slight relation to the Japanese battling franchise because of the idea of players engaging each other. In yu-gi-oh there are many cards which imagery of heads but a well-known one in this instinct is called exodia the forbidden one. Which some people get tattoed due to it being a highly sought-after/ most desired card. Just like the tattoo flash and Allen & Ginter cards, playing cards like yu-gi-oh can hold historical significance.
Forms of visual communication refer to various methods and mediums used to convey information, ideas and messages visually. It relies on visual elements such as images. Tattooing is a form of this type of communication which is done by placing a (design created by a stencil transfer machine) on the skin and then using a tattoo gun. A stencil prints onto the skin before inking. Another machine which uses ink and pressure to create mass-printed designs is a printing press. Both have the same purpose but for totally different professions. In this case, a printing press would have been used for the cards of Allen & Ginter. The exact method is named chromolithographic/chromolithography. It involves the use of multiple lithographic stones or plates, each carrying a different colour, to create a full-colour image or print.
Two notable figures in this field of printing were called Louis Prang and Henry Bufford, both were known for creating prints that were mass-produced, used as greeting cards and doing work that is similar to the cards in the cigarette packets of Allen & Ginter. Apart from the popularity of the cards, there was also a consumer choice due to the various blends of tobacco they supplied thus most customers rolled their cigarettes. Another product that copied or used the same method of attracting customers is candy stick sweets. They are a confectionary that resembles small, white thin sticks or rods. they are usually wrapped in thin paper to resemble cigarettes and come in various flavours. This product contains stickers. The product is targeted at children hence the stickers are based on comic/superhero characters. Candy sticks are more modern but another company that did a similar method was called bowman gum which used Superman on the packaging. Just like Allen & Ginter they supplied cards, primarily baseball players. Next, I'm gonna explain the connection between sailor Jerry and baseball on the word map. Most tattoo shops back in Sailor `Jerry's time were found in difficult areas. As in a shady part of town that has been populated by vagrants. These areas were known as skid roads (another term for skid row). The term can also refer to roads that are made by laying logs against each other (side by side) to create a path. Note these were more common in the 19th century and could also be called corduroy roads. Corduroy is more known to be a name of a fabric. This type of fabric has vertical ridges, which are often wide and raised, giving it a ridged texture. As it happens due to its toughness and durability it is used in sports like baseball for their caps ( not the batters but the field players). Another connection is that corduroy trousers can be named matchstick pants. Matchsticks were also one of the products sold by Allen & Grinter.
While looking for a final connection to finish up the word map, I had this image in my head of Damien Hirst's photo of himself posing with a human head. The reason being the impaled devil head made me think of so. The photo known as with dead head is one of the following artworks done by Hirst which I thought fitted into the themes already on the map. A recurring theme or subject that is in hirst work is the use of perceiving in the formahdlye inside a glass case. Another work which does so and is also a dead head is called Philip (The Twelve Disciples). The case has inside it a bullhead. This piece was part of a bigger work called the twelve disciples. A topic that is related to this is the last supper which is a name of work also done by Hirst. This time round the work instead, consists of minimalist packaging that is based on pharmaceutical labeling. The layout of the packaging, as in shape/concept reminded me of the Bowman gum packaging. Spot paintings are probably the most well-known work that is associated with hirst and because the spots reminded me of gumballs therefore bowman fum again I thought it would be relevant to include it as well. The last and final connection is called a candy stick. the art is what the name describes it as but it is a large sculpture of a white cylinder shape structure that Hirst collaborated on with Felix Gonzalez-Torres.
