Link between film and today.

Thoughts...
How can there be a link between graphic design and ideas of today and 'Back to the Future: part 2'?

• Same ideas, different design 
• What effects peoples ideas and design choices?
• Future ideologies 
• Specifics of future communication design 
• Little change causes massive effects in trends 
• Trends of 80s effect design and future predictions 
• 80s decade that made us 
• Sums up ideas of 1980s graphic design within styling of film and its promotion

Film- Back to the Future part 2.

Initial release: November 22, 1989 (USA)

Director: Robert Zemeckis

• Set in October 2015 
• Unrealistic skyway (theatrical effects) 
• Plastic surgery (realistic views) 
• Same ideas, different design 
• Ability to track everyone- similar to CCTV of today 
• Nike trainers (explosion of fashion seen at time film was made) 
• Nostalgic 80s cafes 
• Fast service law and punishment 
• Disposal of records 
• Over exaggerate image of future 
• Display ads- interactive 
• Antiques are seen as items from the 80s 
• Asian influences 
• Automated services 
• Games based on body movements
• Robotic arms- different use 
• Automatic drying 
• Flat screen TV 
• Touch control- such as payment with finger 
• Multiview channel/screens 
• Phone/video calls
• Fax machines everyday item for mass and homes
• Heavily tech based lives depicted in future 
• Handheld computers 

Initial ideas.

After the initial talks and workshops on CoP 3 my gut feeling was to look into social impact and the use/effect of technology on the mass. But on refection I want to focus this more specifically on the 1980s and the introduction of technology and how predictions of this in the future are similar but designed differently and why this is. Exploring how the 1980s was the decade that made us and ultimately graphic design of today through its influences and predictions. An area that has personally interested me but couldn't really explore in the old set modules.
A starting point for this and for general initial reference is the ideas of technology and their predictions shown with the film 'Back to the Future: Part 2' as this is an iconic film from the decade. But as it is set in 2015 this shows some of the predictions about technology of the future that were being discussed at the time and how it differs to actual reality of now in 2013.
From this I will devise my proposal form and see what direction to take from there from the feedback received as I am aware my ideas so far are very vague with no question in mind.

Dissertation or extended written piece- Library research.

• Chris Graham available to help at any time 
• Focus 
• Think about title or topic in detail- be specific 
• Clearly defined 
• Correlation with relevance 
• Clear focus more relevant research generated 
• Be particular 
• Choice of title is major! Be careful of the word 'and'- can cause more work and broaden topic too much- doubles workload 
• Use diagrams/brainstorms for working out topic 
• If brainstorm initially has more branches narrow down topic further 
• Don't think broad and shallow, think detailed 
• Can disagree with writings- still classes as a use of a source 
• Primary research can consist of- visual practice, experimentation, critical diaries, other interests, questionnaires (balanced and pilot first), interviews, case studies, site visits 
• Underpin with a literature search and secondary sources 
• Literature search or secondary sources can consist of- books, journals, blogs, online forums, videos/DVDs, CDs/tape/cassettes/vinyls, TV recordings, radio, newspapers, maps, reports, printed ephemera (printed for the moment) 
• Know where to look- specific areas for effective research
• Narrowing and broadening search terms or use related terms 
• Use contents page and index- make judgement of relevance this way- also read intro or abstract 
• Using books own bibliographies to inform further reading 
• LCA library
• Leeds Met library 
• University of Leeds- SCONUL needed to enter- fill in application from library to gain access- reference only 
• British library in Boston Spa
• COPAC- library catalogue- use " to ensure the search includes only the phrase 
• Journal search 
• InfoTrac- a store of online magazine articles- use in college network
• JSTOR- only available in college network
• Art Full Text- journal index and full texts 
• Athens- ebooks 
• WGSN- fashion based info and trends
• Google Scholar 

Two Tips

• Don't bite off more than you can chew
• Create a sense of momentum- get started!