Class War of the Worlds

Here's my proposal for the negotiated project, due for completion by the end of April:

James Mullett

Fine Art & Illustration Level 3

Proposal for Negotiated Project

"Class War of the Worlds"

The aim of the Class War of the Worlds project is to reinterpret the illustrations from the record sleeve of "Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds" (CBS Records, 1978), recreating the images in a contemporary setting & placing an emphasis on radical activism. This will create a narrative which is distinct from the story of 'the War of the Worlds' but pays homage to its ethos, albeit with an element of humour in the content. The project is intended to appeal on several levels, to persons interested in radical politics & humorous imagery associated with it; to fans of WotW who will appreciate the nostalgic aspect of revisiting a classic source

The project will take into account the text of HG Wells' original novel and works derived from it, such as films, graphic novels, book illustrations & works influenced by it in some way.

It will also take into account radical political material including literature such as the Class War newspaper and other notable publications, and acknowledge visual political messages, especially of the 'agitation propaganda' genre, also political cartoons, protest & activism in photography.

The format will replicate that of the 1975 album, a 12" double gatefold card sleeve with accompanying inlay booklet. Illustrations will therefore be either 12x12" or 12x24" in their finished state.

For those of you unfamiliar with the classic album, info about it can be found here: [link] - the record was a favourite of mine as a child & I loved the paintings. I rediscovered WotW last year, I listened to the recording a few times & found that in many ways it still has the same thrill now as it did when I was a kid, though I do find bits of it quite silly. I got an old copy of the 12" for £6 from the Back to Mono record shop in Lincoln & I'll be dissecting the individual illustrations in due course. Suffice to say, when you've been painting for a while you spot the technical shortcomings. I'll do them better.

It struck me a while back that the Uni Lecturers (Hello!) have rarely seen my work at its peak, for one reason or another. With CWotW I will be doing what I do best on a project I feel genuinely excited about, so I fully intend it to be the best illustration work I have ever done.

Under my narrative, the Martians that invaded England in 1896 have been ousted by revolutionary anarcho-communist Martians, & to make up for massacring us in the last years of the 19th Century join forces with the proletariat to overthrow the capitalist-imperialist oppressors & liberate humankind forever.

ULLA!
WHOSE STREETS?!
ULLA!
OUR STREETS!!