January 24th, 2011

Typography II

I decided to choose

John Livingston Seagul

Richard Bach- a pilot and aviation writer, achieved success as a new age author with the publication of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a novel that Bach maintains was the result of two separate visionary experiences over a period of eight years. Bach's simple allegory with spiritual and philosophical overtones received little critical recognition but captured the mood of the 1970s, becoming popular with a wide range of readers, from members of the drug culture to mainstream Christian denominations.

Other works- Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah, There's No Such Place as Far Away

Summary- It is the story of a spirited bird who by trial and error learns to fly for grace and speed, not merely for food for survival. When he returns to his flock with the message that they can become creatures of excellence, he is banished for his irresponsibility. He flies alone until he meets two radiant gulls who teach him to achieve perfect flight by transcending the limits of time and space. Jonathan returns to the flock, gathering disciples to spread the idea of perfection.

Feeling- Freeing, encouraging, exciting, epic story, uplifting, spiritual, new age, multiplication, contrast, different

Message- That anyone can escape the mundane of everyday life by seeking truth and the true meaning to life.

Protagonist- Escapes his meaningless life and through seeking truth finds it.

Antagonist- Continually bashes John and banishes him from the flock

Quotes:

"Most gulls don’t bother to learn more than the simplest facts of flight – how to get from shore to food and back again. For most gulls, it is not flying that matters, but eating."

"As he sank low in the water, a strange hollow voice sounded within him. There’s no way around it. I am a seagull. I am limited by nature. If I were meant to learn so much about flying, I’d have charts for brains. If I were meant to fly at speed I’d have falcon’s short wings, and live on mice instead of fish. My father was right. I must forget this foolishness. I must fly home to the Flock and be content as I am, as a poor limited seagull."

"How much more there is now to living! Instead of our drab slogging forth and back to the fishing boats, there’s reason to life! We can lift ourselves out of ignorance, we can find ourselves as creatures of excellence and intelligence and skill. We can be free! We can learn to fly!"

I chose to redesign this book because it is a childhood favorite. I have positive memories of the story and think it has some fun design solutions. John was a seagull that stood out from the pack some contrast could be a fun to design with. Seagulls provide strong imagery that is recognizable enough to abstract. Flight and sea coast could also provide strong imagery.