Blast

The first thing I noticed in the first edition of Blast was the use of space. In a magazine today, there is not space left anywhere on a page. Space if filled with words or pictures. In Blast, especially in the first few pages, you notice the amount of white space on each page. It is very straight forward and simply, it seems that there is no need to sugar coat or add what is not necessary.

I found the Manifesto interesting because it goes through Blast, Curse, and Bless, and really lays out what this first edition is about and who it is for. In addition, several of the things they blast or curse, they also bless; England, France, humor, etc. I found the Manifesto humorous because it was so straightforward. Wether this was the point or not, I believe that this helps set the reader up, today or during the 1900s, to enjoy reading this magazine. As the reading goes on, I enjoy the fact that the magazine is full of stories, poems, and art as opposed to today's magazines which are full of basic nonsense. Also, the visual art throughout is very abstract. I particularly like "Head" and "Dancers".

The second edition of Blast is quite different than the first. The Editorial discusses the war and positions the magazine in support of the war effort. The majority of the Editorial discusses Germany's romanticism. However, they make sure to discuss it and explain it in full so that the reader does not think they are in alliance or support with Germany. The article "Artists and The War" is interesting to me because it seems to be discussing how artists have no means or reason to make art during the war because they cannot be paid (?). This article is also interesting to me given the amount of visual art throughout both the first and second editions. I really enjoyed the poem "Rhapsody of a Windy Night" by T.S. Elliot. To me, I see this poem as discussing the view of a neighborhood, even a street, by a lamppost. I thought that perhaps this is how an unlikely person, possibly a civilian, may be viewing the war; an outsider looking in. I believe the visual art stayed the same between both editions in terms of abstraction. However, the art titles such as "War Machine" "Progression", and "Combat" seem to be leaning towards the idea of war, which is clearly what the second edition is invested in.