With the World Cup about to start on Sunday, I thought that would be the perfect WOW starting point. Like many of you, I am excited about the World Cup. As always, I have that faint sense of dread and anticipation for England's performances, yet I am totally aware of the historic, political and moral dilemmas this World Cup brings to the fore. I don't want to support a World Cup that was gained through corruption and has tried to hide the horrendous worker's rights. A country where it is illegal to be Gay or Trans and women don't have the same rights as men. I have considered not watching at all, but I know that will be impossible. I am conflicted, as I assume many of you are too. I am also powerless, and the World Cup is happening whatever I do. So, this blog reflects those feelings and raises awareness of some of the issues that surrounds it, it's what I can do. I wanted to share the great activism that can go on when you make football a creative act and also showcase the great design needed to create iconic kits and stories that define, less controversial World Cups. Watched the clips, listen to the podcasts, read the articles and come to your own conclusions. Enjoy!
EXHIBITION: THE ART OF THE FOOTBALL SCARF GROUP SHOW
OOF gallery is part of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and it is currently hosting a show of political football scarves to show the different ways you can support. This is not a new idea, but it is not often that scarves are displayed together. Some are funny, some tell a political message but all are linked by their support of an important topic. Follow the link to find out more.
Could you appropriate an existing trope to create a new discussion, in your work? Do you know of other non traditional techniques people have used to raise awareness?
Here is an article about Football Scarves and political activism from Its Nice That!
The BBC have also noticed these two exhibitions and it features in their cultural radio 4 show Front Row. Discussions about art and sport as well as other cultural cornerstones such as Hayley Cropper from Corrie!
EXHIBITION: ART OF THE TERRACES
This new exhibition is a bit closer to home, in Liverpool, The Art of the Terraces at The Walker Art Gallery. It's great to see the different fashions, cartoons, kits, songs that define the tribal nature of fan culture. The focus here is football, but bands and other sports also have fans being creative about their support and raising awareness of the issues that effect them.
Football is very much part of culture, but in the 80s English clubs were banned from European Competition following a string of hooligan related issues. It wasn't until Italia 90 and then The premier League starting in 1992 that the gentrification, some would say, started and football began to grow into what it is today. The Power of a World Cup changes the mood of a nation! Amazing stuff! (Also it's the first World Cup I properly remember, so it is very close to my heart)
THE KIT BREAKDOWN
The Spark Academy is a Youtube channel where designer Craig Buglass discusses reasons for football kit design and the ideas that go into the kits. From collars to protect necks and colourful crosses that could be worn with jeans.
Craig Buglass comes over as a great guy and has worked with the biggest brands and designed some of the most iconic kits of modern times. The England Kit video is brilliant to help you think about the important design aspects. Even if you have no interest in football kits, the importance of the client and the context of the product is explored here.
Great to watch to see all the different aspects of the job. Travelling, meeting managers and FAs. Appearing on TV. Negotiating fabrics and changing the politics of a nation.
Umbro and Adidas both have Northwest bases and you can see what jobs are available on their websites. If you are happy to travel, there are even more globally. Click on the names to see what jobs are available and search your favourite brands and jobs to see how you can get involved.
WORLD CUP CREATIVE PROTEST
Many teams at the world cup will wear a form of protest to raise awareness of a range of subjects, most prominently LGBTQ+ rights and the Human Rights abuses and alleged deaths of thousands of migrant workers. Denmark's kits are plain and the colours are muted so they are less visible, much like the nameless workers who have died and they don't want to be associated with the World Cup as a whole.
"We've toned down all the details – including our own Hummel logo and chevrons – because even though we love football and the feeling of togetherness it gives us, we don't wish to be visible during a tournament that has cost thousands of people their lives," said Hummel.
8 European Clubs including England, Germany and The Netherlands will wear One Love armbands that share that it shouldn't matter who we love, as long we show love and respect for each others beliefs and choices.
“Wearing the armband together on behalf of our teams will send a clear message when the world is watching,” the England captain Harry Kane said in a statement.
Australia posted a message of support to make their stance clear.
FIFA have said we should forget about all the politics and concentrate on the football now. Do you think this is possible? Should FIFA be responsible for hilighting the plight of so many? Is it OK for western culture, to impress their moral standards on others? Should football and sports teams make political gestures? Why? How could you bring a cause into your work?
The LGBTQ+ section is in Part three of the Podcast, and there is an interview with a professor who fled Qatar because he was gay and testimonies from the LGBTQ+ living in Qatar now. It's powerful stuff. One of the main concerns is, what if all this awareness is raised in Qater, what happens after the World Cup. Will we all forget about it and leave then to it?
TIFO: THE QATAR WORLD CUP EXPLAINED
If you want to know about the history an d story of this World Cup with all its political elements, these Tifo youtube videos are a great place to start. Well explained and clear, with lots of great visuals too. Watch and make your own mind up.
These are great examples of a creative tool, sharing an important message they are rigorously explored and explained and it is clear the makers totally understand all aspects of their argument. You too should aim for your projects to be as indepth.