Graphic & Print Inspiration: Archery

Words by MPDClick’s guest contributor Selena Marie Norris.

In a world where high tech weapons are commonplace in feature films, this year weaponry has gone back to basics. With so many films and TV shows featuring archery, it is no wonder that archery was the ‘it’ sport of the London 2012 Olympics. Here we recap the 2012 timeline of archery in films and television and discuss the influences on graphics and jewellery design.

Wrath of the Titans lead the way when it hit theatres on March 17th, 2012. British actress, Rosamund Pike plays a supporting role as Queen Andromeda, Warrior Queen of Argos, a beautiful human who leads her army into battle wielding a trusty bow and arrow.

The Hunger Games hit the bulls eye for costuming and social media marketing back in March 2012. American actress, Jennifer Lawrence plays the protagonist archery expert, Katniss Everdeen, a teenager in a dystopian future forced to participate in a twisted gladiator fight to the death.

On May 4th, 2012 Marvel Comics based film, The Avengers premiered. Clint Barton a.k.a. Hawkeye is played by American actor, Jeremy Renner. Hawkeye, a re-curve bow wielding, high-tech arrow shooting superhero, is known in the film as the greatest marksman alive.

Snow White and the Huntsman released to theatres June 1st, 2012. Australian actor Chris Hemsworth plays the huntsman hired to kill Snow White. Instead he becomes her trainer and mentor in the fight against the evil queen who seeks Snow White’s death. One of his weapons is indeed a bow and arrow.

On June 22, 2012 Disney Pixar released its animated film, Brave, about Princess Merida, a feisty female protagonist, voiced by Scottish actress, Kelly Macdonald. The independent Princess Merida accidentally curses her kingdom and is forced to go on a quest to dispel it, fighting evil and using her archery skills along the way.

On August 2nd, 2012 the Associated Press announced that NBC said that “archery was the most popular sport of any that it aired on its cable networks – bigger even than basketball. Archery averaged 1.5 million viewers when it came on TV for the London 2012 Summer Olympics”.

American television show, Revolution premiered on September 17th, 2012 with over 10 million viewers, setting an NBC ratings record. Revolution follows the story of Charlie Matheson played by Canadian-Greek actress Tracy Spiridakos. Set in a dystopian future where all electricity and machines have shut down, cross bow carrying Charlie sets out on an adventure to find the truth about why the power went out.

Arrow comes to America October 10th 2012 via the CW. Canadian actor, Stephen Amell stars as Oliver Queen a.k.a. Green Arrow in the DC Comics based TV show. After being stranded on an island for five years, Oliver transforms into a free jumping, arrow shooting, evil fighting billionaire super hero with a higher purpose and archery skills to boot.

With an echoing emphasis on archery and antiquity throughout a wealth of films in 2012 and the popularity of The Hunger Games iconic ‘Mockingjay’ pin, include bow and arrows in aged and tarnished metallic tones in trend reactive accessory lines. Expect some cross over into graphic prints, likely in the form of traditional tattoo flash shapes with combinations including bows, arrows, targets, and birds. With equal emphasis on both male and female characters, as well as a wide range of target audiences, we can expect to see influences in both men’s and women’s styles especially in the tween and young adult markets.

Photo sources as linked above.

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This post originally appeared on SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 in A/W 12/13, AW 12/13 on MPDClick.com, a leading trend forecasting company based in the UK.

Update: MPDClick.com and Mudpie Trend Journal were acquired by WGSN in 2013.  All Mudpie and MPDClick links are now void. A cached copy of the original post can be viewed here.

Words by MPDClick’s guest contributor Selena Marie Norris.