Street Graphics India

Rating:
Summary: Reinforces stereotypical image of India.Book not recommended
Review: India is a colorful country. A myriad of colors can be seen in the clothes people wear, product packaging, architecture, designs on vehicles and many other places. This book purports to have captured the essence of Indian advertising but ends up shocking the reader, even those who have lived in that country all their lives. It is true that the advertising there comprises of large billboards, generous use of colors and use of every available inch of space. It is indeed more colorful than anyone in west would have ever seen or imagined. That being said, it should also be pointed out that the garish advertisements pictured in the book are seen more in the southern part of India and are not representative of the entire country. The author seems to have concentrated his picks on certain regions, selected the gaudiest images he could find and ignored the tasteful advertisements that now dot the Indian landscape. Every country has its pros and cons. Selectivity of the author tends to strengthen the stereotypical image of India as a rural third-world country. To be fair to the author, his book does highlight the individuality and skills of the artists but even that would not encourage recommendation of this book. Whether you are an Indian or someone looking to visit India, money spent on this ugly book would be well spent somewhere else. Artists and art students may want to thumb through the book. Not recommended for other folks.

Rating:
Summary: Reinforces stereotypical image of India.Book not recommended
Review: This book is fascinating on several levels. As a photography book of the street advertising in India; great photos of the very colourful and strange ads found there. As a graphic design book; creative inspiration for advertising in ways not done here in the U.S., using materials and styles we don't see here. As an insight into Indian culutre; symbols, colours, methods that make sense to them, seem wonderful and exotic to us. Keep this handy as the kind of picture book you like to look through occasionally; it is fascinating, creative, inspriational, and a good buy for the price.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating
Review: This book is fascinating on several levels. As a photography book of the street advertising in India; great photos of the very colourful and strange ads found there. As a graphic design book; creative inspiration for advertising in ways not done here in the U.S., using materials and styles we don't see here. As an insight into Indian culutre; symbols, colours, methods that make sense to them, seem wonderful and exotic to us. Keep this handy as the kind of picture book you like to look through occasionally; it is fascinating, creative, inspriational, and a good buy for the price.

Rating:
Summary: Very enjoyable trip
Review: This book really conveys a feeling of what it is like traveling through India. For me, is really allowed me to reminisce about my trips with my parents to Madras. I can't think of a better book that gives the feel of what traveling through India is like. The colors and creativity are really special. I think this book makes a great gift and coffee table reading.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic StreetGraphics from India !!!!! (- 5x dope)
Review: This is realy the best and also the-one-and-only book that i know of this kind of ("ugly":) graphic designs. I have been in India and also in Africa and you see this beautiful -mostly by hand painted- grafic designs everywhere !!! I realy LOVE IT ! The letters and figures are mostly out of proportions, but just that makes it so beautifull ! In this book there are a lott of photo's from the very big Bollywood signboards/posters to the little packaging-designs. There are also religious motifs and and politic symbols in this book. If you also like graphic design that is not produced by the Mac, than you MUST have this one !!! If somebody know more grapicdesign-books like this (from Africa or Indonesia or South America, MAIL ME ! [e-mail] - Thanx, Johan Manschot (Holland)