@mrjyn
March 9, 2011
Punk Dada
According to Polly Cantlon ‘The work of Jamie Reid was clearly influenced by the image and type collages of the Dadaists. These influences on Reid’s typography, with its deliberately erratic and eclectic mixing of fonts, sizes and styles, can be seen in many Dadaist artworks.’ Also, the idea of using reachable resources is shown through Jamie Reid’s artwork made for The Sex Pistols, this artwork was made from things such as defaced images, ripped up flags and was detailed with things like safety pins.
Reid’s work relates strongly to the Dadaist artist Raoul Hausmann in that they both feature defaced images, a strong personal message and both feature the ‘powerful ransom note and newspaper clipping style that became so iconic’. Sleevage For example, Reid’s ‘anarchy in the UK’ ripped up the British flag and his ‘God Save the Queen’ defaced her highness’s portrait.
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Punk Rock: High Versus Low
Punk Rock: High Versus Low
The often tense relationship between upper and lower classes has been a dominant theme in English culture for centuries. Many entertainers and designers have relished the act of thumbing their nose at a perceived snobbery amongst royalty and the upper class. No one did it better than the punk rock movement that blossomed in England during the 1970’s. The impact of punk has made an indelible impression on generations of designers that have come since. Acclaimed graphic designer Neville Brody said that punk was “the most influential thing that happened to me in London.”
Two Sex Pistols designs by Jamie Reid
Punk design was dominated by D.I.Y. (do it yourself) techniques, outrageous subject matter, collage, photocopied imagery, defaced images, and basically any technique that broke the rules or seized the viewer’s attention. Punk fanzines like Sniffin’ Glue empowered amateur designers and liberated audiences from the limitations of mainstream music media. Jamie Reid’s ‘ransom note’ typography for the Sex Pistols seemed to capture the spirit of the movement.
Elvis’ debut record; London Calling by The Clash
The cover of The Clash’s London Calling (1979) was partially based on the cover of Elvis Presley’s 1954 debut. The London Calling cover was designed by Ray Lowry with a photograph by Pennie Smith. The typography and colors of the two records are nearly identical, but Elvis is pictured playing his guitar while Clash bassist Paul Simonon is smashing his. The design pays mildly satirical homage to the Presley cover while signaling the change that London Calling represented in music: The Clash had come to destroy their audience’s perception of rock and roll.
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Is there a name for letters...
Is there a name for letters written using cut-up snippets from magazines and newspapers?
3 Answers
Jon Fulton, I currently have 5+ years of post-col...I currently have 5+ years of post-college GD experience. Graphic DesignI've heard this referred to as "ransom note" style before.
View 1 CommentCannot add comment at this time.Since the style pre-dates Punk by perhaps a century, I'd be inclined to stick with "Ransom Note" style.
Cannot add comment at this time.Andrew J. Young, 1st Class Honours in Typography & Gra...1st Class Honours in Typography & Graphic Communication, University of Reading, England TypefacesIt could be referred to as Punk graphic design. Jamie Reid designed some ground-breaking work for The Sex Pistols in the 1970s