A Study on the Cover of the Magazine, The Deep Rooted Tree : A Focus on Photography Direction

Abstract

Background This study examines South Korea’s 1970’s magazine, The Deep Rooted Tree, with a focus on the cover’s photographic design. Although the magazine is appraised as a pioneer of South Korean modern graphic design, only a few studies have been conducted. Especially, photography has played a key role in The Deep Rooted Tree. However, there is no significant research on this topic. This study focuses on the cover design and how the photography approach for message delivery and vision has been practiced by the magazine. The Deep Rooted Tree is the first magazine in South Korea to have imported an art director system. Therefore, this study hopes to look into the meaning of the art director system in a cultural and social context. Methods Based on several documents and articles on The Deep Rooted Tree, this study applies theories of design and photography in order to examine the methodology of photography direction and its meaning. Results A total of 53 covers were studied. First, traditional and modern Korean items were photographed. Second, these photos were boldly cropped. Third, criticism and vision were functions of the cover photography. Cropping was a useful tool that can enhance the ambiguity of the original photography, which was critical in the time of an authoritarian regime. Also, cropping opened a new vision for deserted traditional Korean values, which can lead to a new interpretation and acceptance of Korean culture and nature. Conclusions The Deep Rooted Tree was the first magazine to successfully adopt the art director system in South Korea and the first to not use the photographic design as a plastic language. The photographic design under the art director system in itself was a social and political statement.