I hate corporate memphis so much, what a shit aesthetic
its not just a shit aesthetic, though it is truly shit from a butt aesthetically.
but looking at the two messages, the one on the left is aggressive and hostile and my emotional response is to automatically resist it. the one on the right is sending the message that it’s all a wonderful party/eternal social event we just have to let go and join.
the one on the left inspires me to find friends and fight it.
the one on the right makes me feel like resisting is anti-social and that everyone else is already inside, having a good time, so why make trouble. it’s insidious and anesthetizing as hell.
aggressive and hostile
lmao i saw that the other day. theres something wonderfully jarring about a corporate memphis version of Goya’s Saturn Devouring His Son.
the one on the left is aggressive and hostile and my emotional response is to automatically resist it.
Yeah, but at the time, without the historical context, most people probably just thought it was inspiring badass futuristic shit. Maybe in a decade corporate memphis will be gone aside from neo-neonazi PFPs
Corporates could ruin any art style
(Though I agree entirely)
Love your avatar btw
Note: this is all pulled together from tangential knowledge- and could be way off base.
Given the timing of art deco’s emergence (pre wwi in France) and rise (post wwi worldwide) - I feel its intentionality is derived from colonialism and a portrayal of the “success” of the “developed” world. Materials were extracted with more regard to grandeur than to sustainability, and made use of the large post-war labor pool domestically, and slavery/coerced labor internationally, in order to produce “grand” structures celebrating the dominance of bourgeoisie decadence. In the US, given the presence of this style in urban areas, you’ll often see large art deco buildings overshadowing the decay in which the working class lives. I believe the messaging here is inherently white supremacist/classist, in presenting this notion of a “shining city on a hill” that the bourgeoisie benefit from and the working class support with their labor.
Now that many of the iconic art deco buildings are deteriorating -capital only knows build, not maintain - this messaging needs to be conveyed in another way. Which is where corporate Memphis comes in to portray a world where there isn’t an explicit “shining city” (because it’s now too costly/porky doesn’t want to build/maintain that image) the imagery instead becomes one where we are all currently living WITHIN the shining city - with a goal of the viewer internalizing this belief. There is no class conflict, there is no exploitation, we are all walking poorly-drawn-hand-in-poorly-drawn-hand forward together.
And so while art deco emphasized the dynamic of dominance vs subservience, corporate art presents this with the modern, liberal spin that a “rising tide lifts all boats”. But in the end both are alienating to those with class consciousness. Art deco is of course beautiful, because it represents the exclusive domain of a “superior” class who appreciates the “arts”; and if you’re a poor who works in those buildings you should be grateful for the opportunity to rise to their level. Corporate Memphis is ugly in its faux “common appeal” - essentially saying “there is no domination. We’ve bypassed the end of history into a blobby present where there’s no need to consider race or class; now get on the bus and get to work (or buy our product and get to work) uncritically.”
Essentially- Art Deco represents early 20th century French colonialism and Memphis represents early 21st century American “soft” colonialism turned inward. Both re-affirm a ruling class, but do so through the standards of the day
Lmao I think my adderall kicked in
I noticed “Discord Aesthetic” as well, which is close to Corporate Memphis in my opinion, but somehow targeted on children/ a cartoon of childishness somehow with its bright contrasting unreal colors.
- rounded corners, svg style
- always smiling little round chubby animals (they want to exploit you and buy nitro)
Yeah I mean im all for kitschy stuff, but it’s all so produced that it comes off as “sincerity camouflage” - to foster a nurturing/caring response to corporations. Like “tear-jerking” commercials
Does anyone even do this art style anymore? Can’t recall seeing it in a while other than people complaining about it.Whatever, I’m wrong I guess. Just not seen them in any of the corporate stuff I have to be involved with.
Yes, corporate memphis is still the default art style for corporate graphics and has been for like 15 years. I would argue it has also invaded a lot of graphic art today, walking around art booths at street festivals this summer it seemed like everything was touched by this style.
HR videos at work
There’s a lot of it in corporate contexts. They have realized it’s out of favor at this point I think, I’ve noticed a reduction of it in the last few years.
Is there any entertainment stuff that uses corporate memphis style in a Brave New World kinda setting?
There’s a pretty decent game that uses the style in an ironic sort of way: Going Under where you’re an intern at a soda company but your job mostly involves going into dungeons and fighting goblins with office equipment
It’s not dystopian though, it’s more light-hearted, but it does have a very negative view of corporate culture and style. It presents the job as gruelling, meaningless, and run by rich goofballs who are disconnected from the day to day operations. The gameplay is pretty fun and the storyline is cool. It gets into commentary about the nature of work and how passion gets sacrificed for profit.
GOING UNDER MENTIONED ＼(°o°)／
It’s a good game folks!
My city decided to stop pretending like it had a soul and has been using Corporate Memphis in all the local event billboards. Now I can really feel like I’m living in a propped up business experiment where art remains in spite of it, not because.
