Idea One: Are you a feminist?
In the book Caitlin Moran has a section where she poses a series of questions to determine whether the reader is a feminist. The questions are: Do you have a Vagina? and Do you want to be in control of it? 'If you answer yes to both, congratulations you are a feminist!'. I wanted to reproduce this as a photographic or illustrative representation of these questions laid out on a piece of paper. The questions would be on the front cover and the the congratulations on the back. This idea not only links directly to the book but also sandwich's the content. A reader may take up this book questioning their opinions on feminism and so are posed the question 'Are you a feminist?' by the time they complete the book, absorbing Moran's ideas and close the final page they are faced with the congratulatory note on the back 'Congratulations! You are a feminist!'. This idea represents the power of Moran's humorous opinions to change or reinforce your own and so by finishing the book you can congratulate yourself on your new found super feminism based powers.
Idea Two and Three: The Abstract Lady
One of my first, but understandably, more obvious ideas. Abstract shapes that represent parts of the female form, the vagina, breasts or butt. The concept is simple, female stuff, female body. Also it has the shock tactic that can create an impact on the audience. However I do feel this idea is not only obvious, not only will be the likely choice of many others within this competition but also something that was done a lot last year. Oranges are not the Only Fruit was the choice of book in the fiction category last year, and as a book that explores sexuality within a strictly Christian upbringing there were a lot of religious and vagina based designs put forward. I've seen far too many vagina designs over the past couple of years so it's time to break out and find something new.
Idea Four: Vagina Names
The list of names for a vagina offered to Moran by the good people of twitter was immense, and immensely funny, and sometimes rather disturbing. It was a section of the book that I have quoted to most people for a good old giggle. I want to take those names and write them across the front and back cover. The personal touch will come from hand writing these names and hopefully it should be intriguing enough for a person to get closer and read them. Also if someone hasn't read the book this list of miscellaneous words is oddly confusing and, hopefully, intriguing. Once they get to the right section however, it will become obvious and funny, a little inside joke. This idea also links directly to a section of the book and displays it. Taking a bold, controversial image like a vagina and presenting it in a more subtle and humorous way.
Idea Five: Womanly Things
In a simplified vectorised style the cover will be covered in various items that one needs to be a woman. Some of them will be taken directly from the text, such as maxi pads, dangerous high heels, the £12 dress etc, and some added in of my own personal opinion of items that either make a woman or sarcastically 'make a woman'. This idea is a little plain but I think more appealing to a larger market with items that everyone can identify and engage with. Hopefully with bright enough colours it could really make an impact. However the question with this idea is do I want something with great audience pulling power, or something I feel is more a true representation of the book?
Idea Six: The 'Pube Garden'
This is quite a cheeky idea that only I, or others who know the concept may get. The cover would feature a bright stand out colour with the 'garden' drawn in a loose black ink illustration style. The wild savageness of the garden may seem pretty but it will based off of the look of pubic hair with the addition of little flowers. The idea is inspired by one of the nicknames mentioned for a vagina, the lady garden. It also relates to the chapter where Moran talks about her own hair muff and the satisfaction she gets from growing it long and looking like a woman, as opposed to a pre pubescent girl. I do like the concept, it makes me giggle and it's not too serious, however many people may not get it. Is it worth having a joke that only a few get, or perhaps is it better doing something that is more obvious and funny to a wider range of people.
Idea Seven: The Vagina Gallery One and Two
The vagina gallery is a more obvious interpretation of the vagina names idea. It would be a photograph of a gallery featuring illustrations of women's hips, each with a sticker covering the vagina area. Each sticker would be a literal interpretation of a vagina nickname, a tuppence would be a 2p coin, a muffin would be a muffin, each line art would have one sticker. This idea has some tongue and cheek about it but in a more obvious way. It also has the female form shock factor to catch attention but achieved in a new and different way. So far this idea is my personal favourite, although it will take considerably more work than the others it may be worth it.
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