Chapter 8 The Third Dimension

Here I would like to talk about some interesting questions discussed in this chapter:

1. The role of sculptures’ modality in presentation

Example: colors and details of toys

According to the chapter, more realistic and more naturalistic the colors and details are represented, the less pleasure and opportunities of creation children get when they play with the toys. As a result, those toys designed for little children tend to use pure colors and less details, which leaves children more space of imagination and creation.

Similar modality is also used in cartoons designed for children, which use more pure color and less realistic details. For instance, most of Disney cartoons are like this:

On the other hand, cartoons designed for adults can also use pure colors and less realistic presentation. For instance:

Though that cartoon is definitely not suitable for children, but it shows similar mode can also be used to adult audience. It is like a clue. The semiotic modes of colors and brushstrokes can tell people whether the object is designed for pleasure or for other things. When we walk into an art gallery or turn on TV and see images with bright pure color, characters with abstract appearance, we will know it is just for fun. And if it makes a joke about women(Fig 8.5, 244), don’t be mad on the designer, because that is a joke. To the contrary, this sculpture is not joke. We can tell that from its color and realistic details.

2. Is fashion ideological?

Since “toys for young children are abstract, the designers apply a “reduced” the subjectivity of adult world to children’s toys. (254) Here the point is which parts to reduce? In the case of “ethnic family,” the hair difference of “family set” is presented. On the other hand, the ethnic family could have slight difference in the color of their skins, but the toy designers omitted that possible difference, and made the members identical.

However, in the case of French toys, more realistic details are reserved, which is criticized as “action without adventure, without wonder, without joy.”(254) Meanwhile, we have to admit that young children can learn more truth about the “reality” when they play with more naturalistic French toys.

I think of another example, political caricature. On one hand, people know it is just for fun, because it reflects a reduced reality for its pure colors and simple brushstrokes. On the other hand, it is highly subjective and ideological, since it usually carries some critical opinion on social news and political events. And again, it is relatively safer to criticize politicians through caricature, but people know the author says "it is a joke."