AB-GD: Keywords

Essay Briefing recap +

A is for Appropriation
Term 2, Week 8, VA4104
 Key dates

— Week 9: Lecture + seminar

discussion on essay topics
— Week 10: Mon 18 March, submit
essay draft (500 words) via Turnitin
— Week 10: Fri 22 March, one-to-
one tutorials to discuss drafts
— Week 11: Fri 29 March, hand-in
final essay via Turnitin
 Deliverables

— 750–1,000 word essay with

citations (using Harvard conventions)
— A reference list
— A list of figures (images)

Assessment weighting: 35%

 Deliverables
You will write a definition of a key word or term
commonly used in Graphic Design. This definition will
include:


— An etymology of the word/term


— The historical and cultural context (including
dates) for the time/industry that the word/term
came from


— Multiple visual examples that show the word/

term in application (and an explanation of how/why)


— Relevant quotations from researched sources

that include or describe the word/term
 A is for 

Appropriation
 Appropriation
(noun)

From Latin, meaning

‘make one’s own’
 Carte blanche
From the French, meaning
complete freedom to act as one
wishes, literally ‘blank paper’

Zeitgeist

From the German, meaning the


characteristic spirit or mood of a
particular historical period, 

literally ‘time spirit’

Examples of words/terms that have been ‘appropriated’ into the English language
 1. Pastiche

From the French, meaning an

artistic work in a style that
imitates that of another work,
artist, or period, literally ‘paste’

Important synonyms for ‘appropriation’

 1. Pastiche

From the French, meaning an

artistic work in a style that
imitates that of another work,
artist, or period, literally ‘paste’

Important synonyms for ‘appropriation’

Acropolis (460–430 BC)
Acropolis (460–430 BC) / Team Disney Building, Michael Graves (1991)
 2. Sampling

Meaning to take out a part of

something for reuse in another
composition, literally ‘take out’

Important synonyms for ‘appropriation’

 2. Sampling

Meaning to take out a part of

something for reuse in another
composition, literally ‘take out’

Important synonyms for ‘appropriation’

Labi Siffre, I got the… (1975)
Eminem My Name Is… (1999) / Labi Siffre, I got the… (1975)
Akira Ifukube, Godzilla v. Mothra (1992)
Akira Ifukube, Godzilla v. Mothra (1992) / Pharoahe Monche, Simon Says… (1999)
 3. Homage

Meaning a special honour or

respect shown publicly;
artistically, it is an allusion or
imitation of an existing artist or
work that you respect

Important synonyms for ‘appropriation’

 3. Homage

Meaning a special honour or

respect shown publicly;
artistically, it is an allusion or
imitation of an existing artist or
work that you respect

Important synonyms for ‘appropriation’

EminemMy Name Is… (1999) / Labi Siffre, I got the… (1975)
 Cultural
Appropriation
 Cultural Appropriation

The act of taking or using things

from a culture that is not your
own, especially without showing
that you understand or respect
this culture.
Cleveland Indians logo
Jenny Livingstone, Paris is Burning (1990) / Madonna, ‘Vogue’ (1990)
‘Chore jacket’, available from Topman (2017) / French workers (c.1900)
Marcel Duchamp, Fountain (as R.Mutt) (1917)
 Roy Lichtenstein, Drowning Girl (1963) / 

Tony Abruzzo, Run for Love!, Secret Love #83, DC Comics (1962)
Jenny Holzer (clockwise from top) Men Don’t Protect You Anymore (1993) /
Chicago (2007–8) / Untitled (Me Don’t…) (1983–85)
Oliver Laric, Versions (2010)
Peter Saville, New Order ‘Movement’ (1981) / 

Fortunato Depero, Futurist poster (1932)
Balenciaga, SS 2017 / Bernie Sanders campaign logo (2016)
 ‘Original design doesn’t
exist. Original contexts are
created with every design’

— Annelys de Vets, The Right to Copy (2000)

Sports Banger (2017) / Bristol Street Wear, Corbyn Swoosh (2017)
Barbara Kruger, Don’t Be a Jerk (1994/6)
— Barbara Kruger
 Draft due Mon 18 March
Must include:

—AAndictionary definition
—A description
etymology (origin of the word)
— the word derives
of the context from which 

(historical, contextual, 

social, technical, etc)
— At least one image that illustrates the word
— At least one quotation that shows the word 

in use

500 words minimum. Submit as .doc OR .pdf

 Submit via Turnitin
Must include:

—AAndictionary definition
—A description
etymology (origin of the word)
— the word derives
of the context from which 

(historical, contextual, 
 Click to

submit a 

social, technical, etc) .doc or .pdf

— At least one image that illustrates the word

— At least one quotation that shows the word 

in use

500 words minimum

Moodle page VA4104 > ‘Assessment’ folder > ‘AB–GD: Keywords essay’
 Submit via Turnitin
Must include:

—AAndictionary definition
—A description
etymology (origin of the word)
— the word derives
of the context from which 

(historical, contextual, 

social, technical, etc)
— At least one image that illustrates the word
— At least one quotation that shows the word 

in use

500 words minimum

Moodle page VA4104 > ‘Assessment’ folder > ‘AB–GD: Keywords essay’
 Submit via Turnitin
Must include:

—AAndictionary definition
—A description
etymology (origin of the word)
— the word derives
of the context from which 

(historical, contextual, 

social, technical, etc)
— At least one image that illustrates the word
— At least one quotation that shows the word 

in use

500 words minimum

Moodle page VA4104 > ‘Assessment’ folder > ‘AB–GD: Keywords essay’
 Click close!

Submit via Turnitin

Must include:

—AAndictionary definition
—A description
etymology (origin of the word)
— the word derives
of the context from which 

(historical, contextual, 

social, technical, etc)
— At least one image that illustrates the word
— At least one quotation that shows the word 

in use

500 words minimum

Moodle page VA4104 > ‘Assessment’ folder > ‘AB–GD: Keywords essay’
 Submit via Turnitin
Click on the

Must include: ‘similarity’ 

report

—AAndictionary definition
—A description
etymology (origin of the word)
— the word derives
of the context from which 

(historical, contextual, 

social, technical, etc)
— At least one image that illustrates the word
— At least one quotation that shows the word 

in use

500 words minimum

Moodle page VA4104 > ‘Assessment’ folder > ‘AB–GD: Keywords essay’
 Submit via Turnitin
Must include:

—AAndictionary definition
—A description
etymology (origin of the word)
— the word derives
of the context from which 

(historical, contextual, 

social, technical, etc)
— At least one image that illustrates the word
— At least one quotation that shows the word 

in use

500 words minimum

Moodle page VA4104 > ‘Assessment’ folder > ‘AB–GD: Keywords essay’
 Submit via Turnitin
Must include:

—AAndictionary definition
—A description
etymology (origin of the word)
— the word derives
of the context from which 

(historical, contextual, 

social, technical, etc)
— At least one image that illustrates the word
— At least one quotation that shows the word 

in use

500 words minimum

Moodle page VA4104 > ‘Assessment’ folder > ‘AB–GD: Keywords essay’
 Submit via Turnitin





—You may need to ‘enrol’ on the page before 


you can upload any documents
—Test the upload BEFORE the draft hand-in
—Name your document after your word/term
—Only upload documents as .doc OR .pdf
—You can submit as many drafts as you like 

(they save over each other)
—Review your similarity report to check that 

you have properly cited your references
 RESEARCH & BELOW 35%: FAIL BELOW 40%: POOR 40–49%: D 50–59%: C 60–69%: B 70–100%: A
CONTEXTUAL STUDIES ASSESSMENT CRITERA AND ACHIEVEMENT INDICATORS

SUBJECT KNOW-
No evidence of re- Some understanding Indeterminate aware- Satisfactory aware- Sound awareness or Thorough aware-
LEDGE search, little under- of subject but little ness of subject and ness of subject resources, evidence of ness and extensive
standing of subject. evidence of research sources of reference, through research, independent research independent research
Where and how your There may be signs of supporting work. basic understand- general understanding at a good level (be- drawn from a wide
look for academic and plagiarism. ing of ideas, little of underlying ideas yond general or su- range of reading/re-
cultural sources that evidence of ideas and evidence some- perficial) and demon­ sources. Clear evi-
applied to work. where in the work stration of some key dence of ideas being
support your work,
of the application of ideas applied to the applied to the work
and your application/ ideas. work. consistently.
understanding of
these sources and
their underlying ideas.

ANALYSIS BELOW 35%: FAIL BELOW 40%: POOR 40–49%: D 50–59%: C 60–69%: B 70–100%: A

Your examination and No interpretation of Research elements Interpretation of re- Some accurate in- Accurate interpreta- Accurate and perhaps
interpretation of re- research elements are incorrectly identi- search elements lack terpretation of some tion of relationships personally-based
search material. has been attempted, fied and examination consistent accuracy research elements, between research combinations and
there is no evident does not fully support and has been exam- examined at a satis- elements, examined interpretation of
examination of sourc- interpretation. ined below a satisfac- factory level. in some depth with research elements,
es. There may be tory level. evidence of some per- which have been
signs of plagiarism. sonal concepts drawn examined at a con-
between elements. ceptually high level
throughout.

COMMUNICATION BELOW 35%: FAIL BELOW 40%: POOR 40–49%: D 50–59%: C 60–69%: B 70–100%: A

How well and clear- The needs of the au- The needs of the Most of the audience’s Aware of the needs Appropriate media The content/message
ly you present your dience have been ig- audience are not fully needs are met, pres- of the audience as has been selected and form/medium of
research and analysis, nored, no attempt has accounted for, pres- entation of research is evidenced by how the and with some style your research is fully
taking into consid- been made to present entation of research adequate though the research is presented, that aids communi- unified with personal
eration the require- research clearly. It is not clear, style is format is inconsistent i.e. in a format that cation; the message style so that the com-
ments/needs of your may be evident that basic and impersonal. and some communi- shows good judgment, has been presented munication is persua-
audience. i.e. Aca- this work is not the cation is lost in the but perhaps lacks clearly and selectively sive and interesting;
demic conventions student’s own. process. personal style. demonstrating a good it takes full account
(for written texts). awareness of the au- of diverse audience
dience’s needs. needs.

Moodle page VA4104 > ‘Assessment’ folder > ‘Contextual Studies Marking Criteria’