Passivism Resulting in Revolution

I got all “hot and bothered” today.


Let me begin by saying that this, however, will not become a complain-and-cry blog entry.

A few weeks ago, during my typographic design class, my professor was strolling around the room gazing upon the varied level of skill and different styles of every student’s logo designs (Now, I’m sure you can imagine the difference of skill and style that would appear in a computer lab at Amarillo College. You’ve got your lovers of the font “Papyrus” coated in a vomit colored yellow with a thick purple stroke all the way to the designer with gauges in his ears that a baby could stick his fist through who loves any font that resembles Nine Inch Nails’ album art). Upon arriving at my computer and taking a gaze at my monitor, my teacher announces: “You don’t need that part there. It is too odd, and doesn’t go along with what is popular right now. You can have your own aesthetic, but you need to stay within the bounds of what works today.” (Another side note: this is the same professor who proclaimed his love for pushing students out of their box (design-wise), daring us to be different from what we see today). I responded that I was in a state of trying to develop my art in a way that is progressively different, but not so far out of reach of today’s style.”

Today, the class gathered around, and critiqued each other’s designs. The professor selected four students to pick their favorites out of the twenty-four presented. Three out of five of my designs were picked as a “favorite.” During the course of the critiques, many of my peers exploded with critical responses to my designs, claiming that it was too experimental. My teacher also added: “Some of you are too interested with being new and innovative when I think that you need to look at what is working today, in our world, and copy that. What’s wrong with two words placed together in the font Helvetica? After all, you are students, not professionals. You should be copying what you see is successful.”

Needless to say, this struck me as quite offensive, but at the same time, quite revelatory. This situation, I theorized, mirrors our world and society. We, as Americans (I cannot speak for another nation which I have not experienced the culture) are taught to love revolution. George Washington, a hero, father of the American revolution. Martin Luther King Jr., a hero, revolutionary voice of equality. Jesus Christ, our savior, revolutionary in the concept of who God is and religion throughout the world. After we are taught to idolize these figures, we are also taught to be nothing like them. Our society professes it’s love for these figures of our past and the benefits they bring, but shuns any innovation that surfaces today.

In no way am I considering myself to be revolutionary in my design of logos for my class at the local community college, but I am saying that I wish people would catch onto more of a passionate and progressive mindset that says: “Our world doesn’t have to stay in a state of Helvetica, dark and unchanging.”


I would like to thank Amarillo College for everything I learn about our world.


God help us.