Hobo Subculture Essay
Hobo subculture as one of the examples of prehistoric visual communication
Done by Kadirzhanova Bayan
F.Y. Applied Art
Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Fine Art
Introduction
Visual communication is communication through visual aid and is described as the conveyance of ideas and information in forms that can be read or looked upon. Visual communication in part or whole relies on vision, and is primarily presented or expressed with two dimensional images, it includes: signs, typography, drawing, graphic design, illustration, Industrial Design, Advertising, Animation colour and electronic resources. It also explores the idea that a visual message accompanying text has a greater power to inform, educate, …show more content…
The main reason is the trucks. Trucks were the part of their lives, as they were travelling on it. But now with the developing of the transportation infrastructure, almost no one can cross the border of the city for free.
As any subculture, hobos had their own ethical code and own system of symbols. In spite of the fact that it might be seen very romantic and prosaic, their lives were full of danger. They developed a secret language, visual code to cope with the uncertainties of hobo life. Hobos would write this code with chalk or coal to provide directions, information, and warnings to others in "the brotherhood".
The whole language contained simple symbols. So, no one from the outside could read it. For example, the curve line in a circle meant that somewhere nearby is the prison or a court.
A symbol would indicate "turn right here", "beware of hostile railroad police", "dangerous dog", "food available here", and so on. Some commonly-used signs:
A cross signifies "angel food", that is, food served to the hobos after a sermon.
A triangle with hands signifies that the homeowner has a gun.
A horizontal zigzag signifies a barking …show more content…
A wavy line (signifying water) above an X means fresh water and a campsite.
Three diagonal lines mean it's not a safe place.
A square with a slanted roof (signifying a house) with an X through it means that the house has already been "burned" or "tricked" by another hobo and is not a trusting house.
Two shovels signify that work was available (shovels, because most hobos performed manual labor).
Another version of the hobo code exists as a display in the Steamtown National Historic Site at Scranton, Pennsylvania, operated by the National Park Service. There is an exhibit of hobo codes at the National Cryptologic Museum in Annapolis Junction, Maryland.
The Free Art and Technology Lab released a QR Hobo Code, with a QR stenciler, in July 2011.
Ethical code
An ethical code was created by Tourist Union #63 during its 1889 National Hobo Convention in St. Louis Missouri. This code was voted upon as a concrete set of laws to govern the Nation-wide Hobo Body; it reads this way:
1. Decide your own life, don't let another person run or rule you.
2. When in town, always respect the local law and officials, and try to be a gentleman at all
Done by Kadirzhanova Bayan
F.Y. Applied Art
Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Fine Art
Introduction
Visual communication is communication through visual aid and is described as the conveyance of ideas and information in forms that can be read or looked upon. Visual communication in part or whole relies on vision, and is primarily presented or expressed with two dimensional images, it includes: signs, typography, drawing, graphic design, illustration, Industrial Design, Advertising, Animation colour and electronic resources. It also explores the idea that a visual message accompanying text has a greater power to inform, educate, …show more content…
The main reason is the trucks. Trucks were the part of their lives, as they were travelling on it. But now with the developing of the transportation infrastructure, almost no one can cross the border of the city for free.
As any subculture, hobos had their own ethical code and own system of symbols. In spite of the fact that it might be seen very romantic and prosaic, their lives were full of danger. They developed a secret language, visual code to cope with the uncertainties of hobo life. Hobos would write this code with chalk or coal to provide directions, information, and warnings to others in "the brotherhood".
The whole language contained simple symbols. So, no one from the outside could read it. For example, the curve line in a circle meant that somewhere nearby is the prison or a court.
A symbol would indicate "turn right here", "beware of hostile railroad police", "dangerous dog", "food available here", and so on. Some commonly-used signs:
A cross signifies "angel food", that is, food served to the hobos after a sermon.
A triangle with hands signifies that the homeowner has a gun.
A horizontal zigzag signifies a barking …show more content…
A wavy line (signifying water) above an X means fresh water and a campsite.
Three diagonal lines mean it's not a safe place.
A square with a slanted roof (signifying a house) with an X through it means that the house has already been "burned" or "tricked" by another hobo and is not a trusting house.
Two shovels signify that work was available (shovels, because most hobos performed manual labor).
Another version of the hobo code exists as a display in the Steamtown National Historic Site at Scranton, Pennsylvania, operated by the National Park Service. There is an exhibit of hobo codes at the National Cryptologic Museum in Annapolis Junction, Maryland.
The Free Art and Technology Lab released a QR Hobo Code, with a QR stenciler, in July 2011.
Ethical code
An ethical code was created by Tourist Union #63 during its 1889 National Hobo Convention in St. Louis Missouri. This code was voted upon as a concrete set of laws to govern the Nation-wide Hobo Body; it reads this way:
1. Decide your own life, don't let another person run or rule you.
2. When in town, always respect the local law and officials, and try to be a gentleman at all