Final 4 Images

Alexander Rodchenko

An artist I choose to produce work in the style of is Alexander Rodchenko .By using techniques technically and visually, I feel itwent quite well. I have a selected two images which I think are strong representations that reflect Rodchenkos techniques. Within my photo shoot  I wanted to use the theme of the body and city, and try to incoperate human forms with obscure geometric architecture. I used a 35mm, black and white film, Iso 400. I used a 35mm as I previously researched that Alexander Rodchenko used a 35mm film, and a medium format in a few of his works,and I wanted to capture accurate detail and more accurate light balance. I visited a variety of locations, within the city, where I choose unusual perspectives to shoot from, this including, off rooftops, birds eye view, or low angle looking up at ceilings. Due to these obscure perspectives it exaggerates the abstract forms and geometric shapes that Rodchenko captures. Unfourtunatley, my strongest images from this photo shoot  don’t incoporate any element of human form. However there are strong shadows within some of my images, due to the natural light and time of day. This was an advantage as I feel they refer to Rodchenkos work well.

This first image i choose works well, as the perspective is obscure and unusual which is a technique that Rodchenko does use. The geometric shapes work well, creating pattern and shape, and the image does play with your viewing of perspective. However i don't think it is as strong as my other final image, as it doesn't include any shadows that is another element that Rodchenko likes to follow.

These are the two Rodchenko images that i have been inspired by,looking into obscure and unusual angles and perspectives.

This is my final image, in response to Alexander Rodchenko. I have followed the style of Rodchenko technically and visually. This image, involves a lot of geometric shapes, that separate the images created an abstract form. The shapes within the image work really aesthetically  to create the pattern and repetition that we see throughout Rodchenkos work. The angle of the image is slightly tilted, which creates an unusual composition  I have then rotated the image 180' so it is completely upside down, which creates that obscure angle, changing our perspective of the image dramatically. There is a wide tonal range in this image , which is highlighted in Rodchenkos work. Due to the time of day and weather conditions, he creates harsh shadows. I feel that i have captured shadows and reflections carefully, and considered the composition, the shadow works as another geometric shape breaking up the segments in the image.

Eugene Aget

Eugene Aget is my other chosen historical photographer, that i have analysed  explore and worked in the style of. Agets approach to his work is very sophisticated  and he uses formalized compositions to allow the isolation of the main subject become greater presence than the location that it is in. The tonal range and shadows within his work is exceptional  therefore to create exaggerated shadows i shot my images before noon, early morning. Eugene Aget does use a large format camera, however i was unable to gain contact with one. Therefore i used the digital medium to create my image, and then used post production techniques to make my image have similar characteristics as a large format camera.

The location i used to shoot my images, where a small neat, preserved park, i feel the subject matter i used was very similar, i didn't want to take a literally approach however i felt to produce work in the style of his successfully i needed to use a similar subject matter, to create that grace beauty and sophistication.

This is my inspired image from the Saint Cloud series, Eugene Aget.

For my final image, i decided to isolate a tree, and photograph it using similar angles and techniques as Eugene Aget. I want to capture the vast variety of tones, and i feel i have captured the subtle details of highlights well. The dark shadows empathize the presence of the tree, which is the mood i was hoping to convey. I post produced this image, by increasing the levels slightly on digital manipulation  I then desaturated the image, and added a warming filter with a low opacity, so it was subtle. I then added a 8% grain to my image  giving similar characteristics of the film format. I choose to post product my final image like this, because the image i was inspired by has similar characteristics  As i didn't shoot on a large format camera, i feel the only way to gain the same characteristics of Eugene Agets style was to use post production. 

There are many way i could improve this image. There are human figures within the image in the background  and you can see many cars. I did go early in the morning to shoot, however there wasn't any other way this could be avoided. I do feel this ruins the authenticity of the image, in ways i am trying to reflect Eugene Agets work. If i was to improve on this image, i wouldn't of taken such a literal approach. I would've visited large preserved gardens, and maybe photographed other monuments, such as fountains, therefore it still had the statue importance presence however not as literal.

Daido Mariyoma

Daido Mariyoma is my contemporary styled photographer i choose to reflect his style. As a documentary  street photographer Mariyomas work is all about chance. His 'snapshot' styled images create that random , spontaneous feel to his images. There is a sensual theme that runs throughout his images which i was interested in trying to capture, as well as the busy city life. I used a compact film camera, same formatt camera as Mariyoma uses. I planned to shoot during the nighttime, as that is the time of day  where some of Mariyomas main iconic images are shot on. I also used a flash  as i felt it would reflect well through road signs, peoples faces and shop windows enhancing this 'snapshot' styled images.

Here is one particular image i was inspired by due to the sensual subject matter, and formal composition  This image doesn't have his usual random compositions, even if it was a spontaneous image, it certainly has a formal element to it.

These are my strong images from the photo shoot, which i feel reflect the style of Daido Mariomyas work well.

 This image works well because it looks like a 'Snap Shot' image. From the poor composition  this image looks rushed, creating a busy environment for the mood of the image  The flash involved has reflected off the reflective material on the traffic cone, and the road sign. This allows much brighter tones to be introduced, almost overexposing the lighter images, creating a harsh contrast. I post produced this image by increasing the levels, and increasing the contrast so there is a harsh contrast of lights to blacks.

 This image creates that spontaneous 'snapshot'element from the flash and the angle used. In the reflection, there is a really interesting reflection of a fair ground wheel, this fits well into the composition  allowing more visual aesthetics. Even though the composition feels 'snapshot' like, there is a small sense of formality to this image, because of the reflection. This makes me qeeurie on whether it is a good reflection of Mayiromas work because of the formality. However i have seen a couple of formalized composed images  i have listed one above that i have referred too. The flash in the window, creates overexposure in the lighter areas, this works effectively because it creates a harsh contrast of brightness to darkness, wich is a common characteristics within Maiyormas work.

 This is personally my strongest image. It has that 'snapshot' styled element to the image, as the background is quite blurred, creating a rushed busy mood. The subject matter of the sign post, has a female sat looking seductively. This refers to Mariyomas wok as most of his work, does have a sensual erotic element that is portrayed discreetly and sophisticaly. The flash of the image reflects off the poster well, creating areas of over exposure which again is an element in Mayriormas work.

The subject matter of this image i feel reflects off Mayriomas work well. He usually photographs inside of windows, to create the reflection of the flash in the glass. The subject matter here is of mannequins  and from the pose and stance of how they are positioned  creates an erotic sensual theme to the image. The overexposure in this image is highlighted in the window refection. I think this image does work well, however it is not one of my strongest, as it doesn't have that 'snapshot' element from the formal composer.

After struggling to choose which image i felt reflected Daido Daido Mariyomas style of work, i eventually decided this final image. The composition does look formally composed, due to the reflection and how easily is fits into the framing. However the image does still contain elements of the snapshot styled effect  as the camera is slightly on a tilt, the flash has been reflected into the window. The way the flash has been reflected, allows parts of the image to become over exposed, this creating the harsh contrasting tones in the image; a common style of Daido Mariyoma.  The subject matter is relevant, as Daido Mariyoma walks around the city, capturing everything he finds interesting  including inside of shop windows. I shot this image on a film compact camera, and then scanned it in, post producing it digitally  During post production i changed the brightness and contrast, to enhance that dramatic bold effect that Daido Mariyoma uses in his work.

 Rinko Kawauchi

My second contemporary photographer, i choose to explore an visually reflect their style is  Rinko Kawauchi.   The style of  Rinko Kawauchi is very delicate and elegant. She photographs mundane everyday objects, making the ordinary extraordinary  The softness to her images, and the muted pastel tones create a dream like, ethereal effect. When viewing her images you feel very calm and contained.  Kawauchi does use a medium format camera. However i was only able to access a digital camera when trying to shoot in her style.  

My subject matter i choose was flowers, as i felt this related to her themes, of life death and nature. Paticulary the life and nature theme. I photographed them on a very sunny day trying out different angles, from birds eye view to low angles. I wanted the background of my image to be over exposed, to created light leaks and gave that ethereal dream like effect.

These are 2 good examples of  Rinko Kawauchi that i have been inspired by. As you can see on the first image the pathway of bright light, almost overexposed. In this image there is small subtle light leaks, and it creates a dream like effect. 

With the second image, the subject matter is a bunch of flowers. I wanted to use flowers at it represents the themes of life, death and nature. However i didn't want to take it as literally as this image in paticular.t As you can see there are alot of muted pastel cooler tones that are used, this enahnces the mood of calm and peaceful.

Here is my final image. I am pleased with my results from this image as i felt i created the calm, ethereal dream like effect, effectively. I used an aperture of a F20 and an ISO of 400. My iso was used because i was shooting outside, an that is a balanced ISO to use when shooting outdoors. My shutter speed was 1/125, therefore it was slightly fast, however i wanted to capture elements of light through the flowers that were only in the frame for a seconds. Advice i was given back, was to probably use an aperture of F8, when wanting to create light leaks  however it was a very sunny day, and i was directing the subject matter towards the light, so the light did fall through the flowers naturally. The over exposed background works well, as it doesn't give the image any context, which is a technique Rinko Kawauchi uses, by isolating her images from her backgrounds  Focusing on color  i feel i have done well, and captured some cyan, violet tones in the image. These colors are used in  Rinko Kawauchi series 'Illuminance'. 

As i shot digitally, i did post product this image. Firstly i cropped the image to a 6x7 format  as  Rinko Kawauchi does use a medium format camera. This eliminated most of my white space in the background, cropping the image slightly isolating it and taking it our of context, which is similar to what  Kawauchi does. I then added a new layer, and changed the color balance slightly to introduce the violets, and cyan's to create this pastel looking image. By doing this it made the image look deffinatley more poetic and dreamlike.

If i was to redo this image, i would probably use different colored flowers. As in most of the series 'Illuminance' the tones are muted pastel colors of blues and purples, creating connotations of calm and relaxing. I feel in my image the reds and yellow don't work as well, and it i used a more muted color of flowers, i may not have to post product this image as much as i should have.

Overall i feel i have captured successfully  Rinko Kawauchi style in the series 'Illuminance' as it reflects the themes she works in, and differently the mood she conveys.

Photographic Styles, Daido Mariyoma, Rinko Kawauchi, Alexander Rodchenko, Eugene Aget

26/11/12

DAIDO MORIYOMA

Daido Moriyoma is a Japaneses photographer, who works in a street documentary style. He approaches his practise by being spontaneous with his images, and no planning to shoot at a certain time of day or place. Just wondering around the city, all day everyday, like 'a stray dog' photographing what he sees in front of him. His images are described as sensual and dramatic and he does this through technical choices and subject matter.

 He works in black and white, and uses a high ISO which affects the grain of the image. The subtle grain within his image is very distinctive within his work, an works effectively  making it a more 'snaphot' styled photograph. His use of flash  creates a harsh light, which is also very distinctive through his work, as it is this harsh contrast of tones in his work making it his significant style.

Through Dadio Moriyoma's work you can see a close contact with him and his subject matter (the city) and it creates a sense of realism within his images. When photographing he acts like an outsider or tourist, and to do this without being queried on the streets he uses a Leica compact camera, very small and subtle and this is what makes him fit in to the public. He is not intimidating so his shots are natural and exposed. He simply acts as an observer of the city, observing the simple things that trigger his inspiration.

Concluding Daido Maoriyoma's style i would say it is very busy and dramatic with a lot of use of high grain and high contrast. To approach his photographic style, i would use the same technical choices as he does, compact camera and flash to ensure i create the same effects as he does. Taking into consideration of the subject matter, i would approach it by using his technique and go out all day every day, observing the town and city, however trying to photograph on the busiest days, therefore i know there will be more people and more events happening, trying to create the same atmosphere as he does.
Making sure i am brutal when photographing, and exploiting my subject matter in such a exposing manner.

Riko Kawauchi

Rinko Kawauchi is a contemporary, Japanese  fine art photographer who creates soft, delicate images that are dream like and poetic,  the inspiration of these images  have been triggered by her subconscious mind as a photographer. In her work, she captures mundane objects in extraordinary ways, by celebrating the tiny gestures and unexpected patterns of everyday life by interpreting them in a dream like way.   Her work can be reconsigned by the use of her soft, translucent focus and  subtle colours that make her work so precious and delicate. The tones within her image, paticulary in the 'Illuminance' series are very muted pastel tones, which create that calm relaxing mood when viewing her images.
Technically Riko Kawauchi uses a medium format  which she has been currently using for over 10 years. She uses this 6x7 format , very neutral shape which i feel directs the focus on her close up images drawing attention to detail. This use of cropping, also isolates the images from there contextual surroundings  which again makes them more objective.

Her current book 'Illuminance' is a document of real life in a glowing perspective, exaggerating mundane objects making them beautiful.  The book is set out with two images juxta positioning each other, which opens up imagination of the viewer to different ideas and perceiving of the images.

From looking closely into Riko Kawwauchi works, i would firstly consider the subject matter very carefully. I would look for small subtle everyday fantasies that are not easily reconsigned, and convey them in a soft delicate manner. I would take into consideration color pallet and direct framing of the subject matter which is most recognizable in her work. Technically i would use a medium a, to create the same framing, preferably looking at a Rollerflex camera. However i dont think i will be able to access one, therefore i plan to use a digital camera, then post producing digitally to create similar characteristics. I would also look carefully into use of lighting, in her images there are many lens flares, or this glow which radiates off her images, i would need to recreate similar circumstances to create this.

ALEXANDER RODCHENKO

Alexander Rodchenko (1891-1956) was a Russian  painter, sculptor, designer and photographer, experimenting with each different medium throughout his career. Rodchenko work began to become iconic in the 1920's where he was influenced by the German  dadaist, creating photo montages. Photo montages where very similar to collages, as they included a combination of images that would be hand manipulated in some way, to create abstract aspects to the collage. Photo montages concentrated mostly on composition, where the focus would be carefully considered to introduce geometric shapes, breaking up the collages with lines and patterns to create the abstract theme. 

However Alexander Rodchekno was a big part of the constructivism movement, where he focused his main area of work to be around solely photography. During the constructivism movement, artist's focused on the 'pure and straight' side to photography, where their images would have the exact 
characteristics as a photograph. This including technical skills, of depth of Field, angle, composition and accurate light exposures. 

Through this movement Rodhcenkos work reflected off his previous photo montage techniques. 
He made careful considerations to make the image as realistic as possible, with no manipulation of the image, however he used techniques which  manipulated viewpoint and angle. He always took his images from a strange/peculiar perspective, for example birds eye view, low point of view and instantly this would make his images look abstract. He was also particular with composition, and would use lines and shapes to separate components of the image , making it look abstract. He did this by including shadows and parts of buildings or objects that would create this geometric shapes. Linear lines was also popularly used, and he used this again to involved shape, and usually pattern. Another aspect of his work, was including block figures into his images, which would relate to the idea of the body and technology during this era of new and inventive technological creations.

'' One has to take several different shot of a subject, from different points of view and in different situations, as if examined it in and round, Rather than looked through the same key hole, again and again'' His use of using different angles and creating new perspectives to the viewer, creating pure and straight imagery, that fitted into abstract themes from this viewpoint manipulation.

Eugene Agete

Eugene Aget (1857) started taking an interest into painting and photography, however his painting techniques failed miserably. His interested in photography began to widen, and he started to use the medium, specializing himself as a ''Commercial photographer'' His focused on subject matters with meaning in certain locations, for example monuments, gardens and architecture.

In 1989, Aget gained an interested in Paris, France. He began to document and record the streets of Parid, picking out minute details of timeworn streets, and old fashioned architectural techniques. This series he called 'Old Paris' and he continued to document pairs untill the 1920's. The name of the series 'Old Paris' demonstrated exactly what he photographed. He captured paris through the lens, before the Baron Haussmans  renovation plan. This began in 1853-1870 by  modernizing Paris and the out districts  Aget wanted to capture traditional Paris before the modernization, with this series he created a visual Map of Paris.
He interested in Paris grew fonder, and he also photographed gardens and monuments in Paris. These gardens in particular being Versailles and Saint Cloud. I want to focus on this series in particular, as it varies from his conventional work, Old Paris.

These particular images are from the series taken in 'Saint Cloud'. Taking into consideration subject matter of these images, it is a well preserved garden. He focuses on the integration of nature and the man made  documenting its beauty  and presence. All of his images have a sense of sculptural quality, from the angles he photographs he always makes the subject matter, look like a sculpture. Wether it being a staircase, a tree or even a sculpture in particular. This is because his compositions are very formal, where he will isolate the main subject matter making it have a strong presence within its location.  Within his image he gains accurate detail on quality and the tonal range used. This deep tonal range is due to the natural light, which introduces harsh shadows within the imagery  These shadows allow his images to have a mood, reflecting an emotion and a personal response to how we view the images.
Selecting a few of his images  there are discreet enfolding shadows in the corners, which frame the image. Aget started experimenting with this during this time, as it was very popular and essential to the picturequse tradition and technique of images. He created this shadows due to the technical choices he made, sometimes he used a wide angle lens which would give some of his images this effect.
He would choose specific times of the day, to avoid people in his imagery, either early in the morning, or late afternoon, this choice of tie of the day also empathized the shadows in his work.

Technically, Aget used a large format camera, 18 x 24. Looking into his work, you can see carefully why he choose to use a large format camera, as there is immense detail within the subject matter and the lighting, that he has captured accurately and beautifully. A wide angle lens was used in some of his work, however it wasn't over  exaggerated  This was what created the subtle vignette like shadows, around the framing of his images. A technique he used was long exposure, this was due avoid any human form in his images. It also helped create the quality of detail within his images.

Overall i feel his images are very sophisticated, mysterious images that create a presence when you view them, this is from the way he has captured the subject matters in such a isolated way it creates importance and a statue like replica.

When creating images in the same style as Eugene Aget, i feel i need to use a similar subject matter, to try and create that importance and presence he has in his images adapting them to my own. I technically want to use a large format camera, to create that immense detail however i am unable to access one. Therefore i am going to shoot digitally, and hope to recreate his images using post production digitally. I do want to experiment with using a 35mm camera, to get the quality in the film and challenge myself with the lighting and atmosphere  I plan to shoot early in the morning, to gain those shadows that Aget does carefully. Subject matter wise, i want to visit some small persevered parks, and try and capture that beauty that has been neglected by the public.

Photographic Styles

26/11/12

Photographic Styles

For our Context of Practice module, there is a photographic brief that we need to respond to, this brief demonstrating differences of photographic style and our understanding and knowledge of other photographers work and styles.

Photographic Style; Is a the unique look and approach to photography. It is a way of defining and branding someones technique and way of photographing, making them have a significant style.

Unique; Different and unique subject matter
Technological approaches  This is a massive influence on the outcome of work, can be used to advance or manipulate your style, however can be limited
Technological changes; This advancement in technology can change your significant style in photography through time.

Paraphrasing - Doucemntary Photograph, Graham Clarke ''The photograph''

19/11/12

Documentary Photography has dominated the photographic history, and has created some iconic names  Eve Arnold, Henri Cartier-Bresson and Sebasito Salagado and many more. The term document, means 'to evidence' and evidence being a truthful account/information that can be relied on. Documentary Photography as a genre, is a process of this documentation of evidence, recording experiences/events in periods of time which can be used as a truthful and objective account.

The documentary photograph, is one of the most personal and intimate forms of the photographic practice, exploiting poverty,social, political injustice, deprivation and disaster, these creating emotion responses to how the photographer approaches the subject matter. However from the way the photographer approaches the situation can show different interpretations of how audiences can read the documented photographs, which can introduce false accusations of the truth, making some documentary photography unreliable.From the twentieth century documentary photography had visualized history as a series of images which exploit and show the complexities of human experiences.

This idea of how the photograph can be manipulate fro the photographers interpretation of the scene, can be argued from the cliche saying  ''the camera does not lie'' It has the technical ability to record and scene, in an objective way, however it is how the image is read by the viewers which can make it subjective. The documented  evidence through photographs are 'windows in the world' and it is a privileged to modern readers as we have this technology and ability to record detailed events.

Because as modern day photographers, we have an advantage to photograph these events, which introduce all the moral implications. This was of exploiting the suffering of poverty, or the crime in war, can be seen as an art form through the camera, however there is no personal attachment to the subject matter and the photographer which can create this social and moral implications.

Havard Referencing

In this lesson, we learnt how to Harvard reference, as it will be a technique we need to learn and use from our chosen essays.

The bibliography should be in alphabetical order from A-Z

This is my example of Harvard referencing:

As Liz Wells states 'A simulacrum is a copy for which there is no original it is, as it were a copy for which there is no original;it is, as it were, a copy in its own right' [Wells, 2000]

Bibliography;
Wells,Liz, [Second Edition][2000] Photography: A critical introduction, USA and CANADA, Routlege

Surrealism In Photography

12/11/12

The movement on surrealism photography based in and around Paris, began around 1920's- and is a continuous movement which occurs around today. Surrealism photography was an expression of truth trying to reach the unconscious mind through rational ways presented in a abstract and 'dream' like style.

Surrealism photography was majorly orientated around Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) theory of the consciousnesses  He believed that you could access someones unconscious mind through everyday thoughts, proposing different methods, such as free association and the sequences of words and ideas and how this can be interpreted in your unconscious mind.  

Through photography, photographers expressed this visually, by approaching it in the similar ways of psychoanalysis  For example they would maybe point there camera irrationally recording everyday life to try and access the unconscious mind. Lee Millers approach to surrealist photography  was very similar to this method as he would constantly photograph everyday life, this element of freezing chance in an everyday world was a explorative way to surrealism. 

As you can see here the image,  Untilted (exploding hand) 1930 appears very naturalistic however can be interpreted very mysterious and 'dream' like. From the repetitive scratches in the window, and the link with the caption 'exploding hand' we associate the two together which relates very abstract imagery. The simple shapes within the image also make it very delusional appearing to also be abstract. 

Similarly, to these ways of photographing everyday life Brassia (1899-1984) photographed everyday objects, but he did this in a complimentary artistic way which represented these everyday objects to be sculptures/works of art. This way of approaching everyday objects, was to explore the different ways our minds work, and how our unconscious mind and thoughts can influence to create this 'involuntary sculptures'. 

This image here 1993 Involuntary sculpture' explores the way how our unconscious mind has creatively ripped up this bus ticket to create this 'work of art'.

Surrealism can also be defined by making no social message, but just photographing the 'ordinary next to the extraordinary'. For example Brassai did another series of work, this photograph here of what appears to be an old woman looking at lingre. The stereotype of what we see elderly people to be, and the association of the lingre is very unusual and weird. This everyday actions, which is captured to be unusual can be seen as surrealism. 

Surrealism can also be used as a way to communicate representations of signs and symbols. For example Renne Margritte was a belgian surrealist painter who explored the differences between representations and reality. An example of this he used was where he painted a pipe, he argued ''This is not a pipe, its a painting of a pipe' .

Constructivism, Dada and the Bauhaus

Constructivism was the artistic and architectural movement of this era, that emphasized art as a practice for social purposes. It reflected architecture, graphic and industrial design and other cultural aspects.

AAn example of a constructivist artist was Alexander Rodchenko who was a main part of this movement ad in 1921 h exhibited work of paintings that declared and confirmed ''the end of painting''.

In 1923 and 1924 Rodchenko was influenced by the German Dahdasits, which inspired him to use his own images and recreate and collage together to make a 'photo montage'. Dada in 1918 was focused around Cabaret Voltaire, in Zurich and writers,artists and poets would meet up together to make art which objected to war. This create these similar styled propaganda poster images, which were very collaged, abstract to grab attention.


Here is a good example of Alexanders Rodchenkos work from the constructivism era. As you can see, the ladder is much darker against the mid tone background (sky) which allows the ladder to be very prominent. The ladder is in the center of the image, and it leads our eyes to look further into the background of the image, creating a large depth of field. This is a technique of leading lines which draws audiences attention. The ladder creates repetitive lines within the image, which have this abstract theme within the image. There is also a repeated use of geometric shapes, from the darkened windows that are very formatted squares, adding to the abstract and linear style. We also see an outline of the figure, who seems to be a working class man from the shape of his flap cap and the reasons why he could be on a ladder. This integrating political and social issues within Rodchenkos image. The use of using an outline of a body, and the outlines of the geometric shapes intertwine to create this abstract imagery that fits into the constructivism era.

Key features of Constructivism would be the context and themes within the imagery. For example the body in the city was a main aspect of this era, and linear lines and the integration of the architecture and outlines of the body would create abstract imagery. Celebration of technology and science and political statement from the time would also be expressed through constructivism.
Visually, most of the image are in black and white, which creates simple tones, however harsh contrasts allowing the image to look more dramatic and straightforward. This allows the geometric shapes to stand out a lot more also. Usually a photo montage image would include some for of text or type, which would help add to the collage of other and used manipulated images. These images would create a scrapbook like theme, or look very similar to propaganda poster imagery, and this way of photo montage became very popular as it was a dramatic and abstract way of expressing.