For my COP3 dissertation i looked at to what extent trends in wrestling reflect emerging political, social and cultural values.
It explores many different academic theories on wrestling; as
entertainment, as a reflection of society and as a consumer
driven ‘sport’ that challenges the establishment. It comments on how although wrestling is absurd and 'fake' it has consistently drawn record breaking ticket sales entertaining millions of fans and fans
worldwide; becoming a cultural and social phenomenon as well as a billion-dollar
entertainment, marketing and consumer giant (namely the WWF/E).
The practical half of the module the culmination of in-depth research into not only the history of wrestling around the globe, but also the history behind the history of the colourful characters who were performing inside the squared circle.
Using research in the form of online articles, books, magazines, and video footage from the time my rationale was to design a group of six mysterious masked characters based within the world of Mexican wrestling (Lucha Libre), who's in-ring alter egos were inspired by the ancient Aztec Gods, Creatures and art of South America - of whom many of the early Luchadores gained inspiration from.
The central task was to produce a set of art prints as well as a proposed collection of accompanying merchandise, that would appeal a wide age range, in the similar way that pro wrestling has done and still does today. Largely buoyed by the desire to avoid simply making 'tatt' that you would so often see amongst the pages of WWF magazine during their merchandising boom during the late 80's, i experimented with laser etching for the first time in order to create more 'quirky' collectable items along side the more staple sports entertainment products (posters, t-shirts etc).
Using research in the form of online articles, books, magazines, and video footage from the time my rationale was to design a group of six mysterious masked characters based within the world of Mexican wrestling (Lucha Libre), who's in-ring alter egos were inspired by the ancient Aztec Gods, Creatures and art of South America - of whom many of the early Luchadores gained inspiration from.
The central task was to produce a set of art prints as well as a proposed collection of accompanying merchandise, that would appeal a wide age range, in the similar way that pro wrestling has done and still does today. Largely buoyed by the desire to avoid simply making 'tatt' that you would so often see amongst the pages of WWF magazine during their merchandising boom during the late 80's, i experimented with laser etching for the first time in order to create more 'quirky' collectable items along side the more staple sports entertainment products (posters, t-shirts etc).
I used the same primary and secondary sources to inform the essay and the design work, and this common root connects them.I researched into the marketing and merchandising of the 1980s as a guide to what saleable form these characters should be in. I also used it as nostalgic visual 'nod' to the Golden Age of pro-wrestling in an effort to combine the retro with the contemporary tone of of my own illustrative work.
