For this piece, I decided on the following readings: The Medium is the Massage by Marshall McLuhan and Quentin Fiore to communicate the ideas of Metahaven’s Sealand: Uncorporate Identity. McLuhan and Fiore present a cacophony of images, bold typography, and provocative juxtapositions to embody the notion that the medium is not merely a vessel for content – it is the content, shaping perception and experience. I aimed to represent Metahaven’s analysis of Sealand’s identity, drawing attention to the idea that contemporary sovereignty and corporate branding are as much about perception as they are about territory.
Page 1: I captured the essence of Metahaven’s thoughts on identity and sovereignty through the sensory approach McLuhan and Fiore use. This method leans on McLuhan’s mixed typography and minimalist imagery to amplify the intangible nature of Sealand’s “floating” identity, forcing readers to confront its fleeting and constructed nature. I decided to use an image of the sea to highlight the absence of solid land in the background, connecting with Sealand’s concept of being a floating nation and mirroring McLuhan’s use of blank or minimal backgrounds to let words resonate.
Page 2: I emulated McLuhan’s collage-style text placements by centralising the passport and surrounding it with phrases in a different typeface or orientation. These scattered words created a layered, fragmented look, making the reader pause to interpret each piece individually and challenging the reader to consider whether symbols like passports inherently bestow authority or if they are simply representations waiting for validation.
Page 3: I concluded the argument by focusing on the theme of perception and recognition – the final step in understanding Sealand’s identity as presented by Metahaven and interpreted through McLuhan’s sensory, fragmented style. This page emphasises that Sealand’s sovereignty depends not on its physical existence but on how it’s perceived, recognised, or dismissed by others.
References
McLuhan, M. and Fiore, Q., 2001. The Medium is the Massage: An Inventory of Effects. Berkeley: Gingko Press. (Original work published 1967).
Metahaven, 2010. Sealand: Uncorporate Identity. Zurich: Lars Müller Publishers. pp. 6–49.
Leave a Reply