DS1 Group Assignment : Song Interpretation

November 23, 2017

DS1 Group Assignment : Song Interpretation

5/9/17 - Week 2

DST60103, Yip Jinchi

Design Studies I: Communication Theory

Group Assignment

It was the second week and we were given our first assignment which was a group assignment. My group mates were Shania and Randy, and for our first group assignment, we had to interpret a song which we got “Sit Down” by a band named James. Thus, we had to do some research and sketches in our sketchbook, and weekly Ms. Jinchi looked around us for our progress also she gave feedback.

Module Assignment Briefs

Continuous Assessment – Assignment (Group) (20%)

Assignment Brief

Communicate with a target audience, in a visual form, the emotions or the message in a song or a poem.

Requirements

In this group work, you are to decipher the meaning or emotions of a given song or poem. Utilising the elements of design and the principles of organisation, create a work of design that communicates the message or emotions of the given song or poem. The work of design can be in any form, deem fit by you, in the context of the song or poem. However, do consult in your lecturer the size of the design work before finalising your idea.

Each member of the group must contribute to produce a collective sketchbook that records everyone’s research, ideas, opinions and sketches.

The final outcome is to be accompanied by a rationale of about 250 words, stating what you understand from the song or poem (your deciphering) and explaining about the idea behind your final design. You are to present your work on the submission day.

Duration

4 weeks (Briefing: Week 1; Deadline: Week 4).

Submission Format
Digital submission (in one PDF file) through TIMeS:
Assignment cover sheet, image(s) of the final design work, idea sketches, rationale and reference list.

Assignment Goals

Students to demonstrate research skills.
Students to employ effective visual communication skills.
Students to solve problems with relevant design solutions.

Research (Sit Down by James)

This song "Sit Down" by an English Band name James was originally released in 1989 by Rough Trade Records. The song's Lyrics were written in the autumn of 1988 as a homage to author Doris Lessing and singer Patti Smith, who has inspired Tim Booth. A new version was released in 1991 after the success of the Madchester music scene. However, the song was shorter and it has some different lyrics. The song reached number 2 in the Singles Chart, spending three weeks there.

Sit Down - James (Original Version)

Now I'm relieved to hear

That you’ve been to some far-out places

It’s hard to carry on

When you feel all alone

The wisdom that I seek

Has been found in the strangest cases

Feels a lot like love

That I feel for you

Drawn by the undertow

My life is out of control

I believe this wave will bear my weight

So let it flow

{Reff:}

Oh sit down

Sit down next to me

Sit down, down, down, down , down

In sympathy

Swing from the high to deep

Extremes of sweet and sour

Hope that God exists

I hope I pray

Now I’ve swung back down again

It’s worse than it was before

If I hadn’t seen such riches

I could live with being poor

back to {Reff:}

Those who feel the breath of sadness

Sit down next to me

Those who find they’re touched by madness

Sit down next to me

In love, in fear, in hate, in tears

In love, in fear, in hate

Oh sit down

Sit down next to me

Sit down, down, down, down , down

In sympathy

Interpretation

From the song itself, it shows that the writer used to be, or is in a place where he suffers from depression. Then, he tried to reach out to his listener who might be suffering the same as him through the music itself that's why the music tends to be cheerful because it supposed to make sad people feel better. In the song, the writer's trying to confront his listener to sit down with him and to let them know that they're not alone.

In our opinion, the end of the song is the part where the writer wants people to understand what he's saying and feeling. Moreover, slowly reaching out to him because finally, they understand that it is not only him who are trying to confront others but also him hoping to be confronted.

Our Concept

We decided to make something digital to interpret the song by making a GIF. Our work process was :