"The Ivory Trail" notes

The book cover to "The Ivory Trail" explores the concept of imaginative journeys by transporting the responder to an a-typical location where the composer challenges the dominant views that life has fixed certainties and journeys have ends. The composer conveys a visual message about the nature of imaginative journeys: it is a process which is unpredictable, mysterious and equivocal. This text demonstrates that more is learnt during the process of a journey rather than at its resolution. In particular, this text explores the way in which imaginative journeys can transcend physical boundaries to expose the power of the speculative mind that liberates individuals by unleashing infinite possibilities. This imaginative journey also demonstrates the minds capability to explore alternate worlds that expand the responders' horizons and enhance their knowledge.

How does it present the journey?

- orientalist view, exotic location, established by use of cultural artefacts, sphinx, deserts, pyramids

- contrast - light/dark.

The Ivory Trail

Imaginative (album)

Taj Mahal, Agra, India. Français : Taj Mahal, Agr...

Atmosphere generated by heat of day and dark of night, blurring distinction b/w two, use of reds, yellows and blacks

- setting sun implies end, "not all journeys have an ending", is the sun rising?

- Isolation of desert

- Collage, sand, ripples transversae

- Sphinx face is emblematic of mystery, androgenous

- Boys face in awe, seeking answer, where is he looking

- Mixed media; melange of photographs

- Foreground: featuring extreme close of an adolescent boy

- Middle ground: Egyptian pyramid, the sphinx, the books title, and the name of the author

- Background: showing an exotic eastern tableaux w/ Islamic architecture

- Extreme background: puffin logo, and "not all journeys have an ending" by line

- Ivory - elephants

- Sand time cliché

- Pyramid: contemporary or past setting?

- Light that bathes sphinx and boys eyes

- Trail journey

- Also implies...