Statement of intent

Summative Statement

I have focused my attention for my COP3 to an area that I have never really understood before but always intrigued me, the use of imagery in heavy metal counterculture. I have noted that often religious group’s get offended by images used in counter cultures particularly those that resemble the images used historically by the Christian Church. Heavy Metal has used these type of images and therefore been labeled as Satanic since its birth in the 60s/70s.

When looking into why these images are used a number of things became clear. I found that historically these religious images were used to provoke a sense of fear into people in order to show them what will happen if they commit sin. All of this was done in order to control them, they have been continued to be used until the present day a few hundred years later however now are used as a visual with a transgressive meaning.

By decrypting the reasons and meanings of the semiotic values of the paintings done in the 16^th/17^th century’s I have been able to understand the full meaning behind the images. The paintings that I looked at were done or commissioned by the church but featured scenes of torture and mutilation and images that would be seen as very anti-religious and barbaric today.

By looking at the semiotic meanings that objects hold I have been able to inform my practice more and better understand why these images are seen as transgressive by understanding why they are used in heavy metal counterculture, as a way to kick back against society and give people who do not identify with the general culture a voice .

This has given me the confidence to carry on looking at this area of my practice and I feel better equipped in knowing and understanding the true origins of the fabricated fear associated to the Heavy Metal counterculture.

I created artwork for the bands that demonstrated the best used of the transgressive attitude. This has been done through the use of semiotic value.