Elements and Principles of Design

Sporting home video production values, this no-budget production purportedly offers an introduction to the elements and principles of design. In reality, the program is little more than a strung together series of static scenes meant to illustrate shape, form, space, texture, color, tone, and so forth. Non-narrated static shots of fishing poles, a mailbox, a tire swing (which--for some reason--depicts "tone"), and the sky are held for as long as 30 seconds. Paired with the images are mechanical and animal sound effects (again, the point is somewhat unclear). Near the end, viewers are instructed to create a collage out of magazine images using the principles named in the video. Although viewers are told they're watching a college level art course suitable for the public, the tone of voice suggests that the narrator is talking to toddlers. A strictly home video effort. Not recommended. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)