What is Illustration

This is a re-post as the original made very little coherent sense although it made sense to me, but thats not the point of a blog really is it, so here we go again..

What is an illustration? A question put to me while being interviewed for my place on the Illustration course.
'It's an image to accompany words' was my reply.
Now two and a half years on, I realise how much more I could have said after being asked a variation of the same question.
After nearly three years on the course I have been duly woken up and ceased to become a 'man at a bus stop with a narrow mind, brushing off that which I do not understand entirely, as 'crap'.

I am know of the understanding that illustration is far greater than a published image stood beside a blurb or a colourful hungry Caterpillar, more importantly it is the journey an idea takes from initial inspiration to becoming a finished piece of art.
How the illustrator nurtures an idea from seed to full grown and complete using unique research techniques, thought processes, ideas generation, experimentation, critique and evaluation, that is illustration.
Illustration is power also, used to incredible effect as propaganda during the two world wars by both Nazi Germany and The Allies.

The British Using children to Manipulate men in an attempt to shame them into signing up for war

A Nazi antisemitic propaganda poster from Serbia

Commercially, illustration is a heavy weapon.
Advertising can be illustration at its strongest, if you see 2 golden arches on a red background, as you hurtle past on the motorway, you think McDonalds, a thought created by an illustration in a millisecond.
If you see those familiar arches in Japan, Dubai or Guatemala you understand what it means, Illustration can defy language barriers. it is a communication device.
It has been relevant since its inception, since man rubbed resin onto cave walls it has survived and been adapted, it is a man made super tool for global marketing and manipulation of the masses, crafted and nurtured from a single idea in a creative mind.
Illustration is a unique skill set to possess as it comes with endless potential to inspire people and emotion.
Illustration is lots of things, with no one singular form it surrounds us crafted and adapted over millions of years without losing any of its importance.