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Punk iconography: Scott King

Professor Matthew Worley discusses punk art and the style of fanzines with Scott King, a graphic designer informed by Punk.

How did punk influence art and design? Listen to Scott King explain how ransom note lettering – one of punks major contributions to graphic design – can still evoke a suggestion of anarchy and youth.

In the video, Matthew and Scott discuss various designers, artists and events of the time. We’ve included links to their sleeve designs and to find out more about them here:

Jamie Reid sleeve designs. And Taking Liberties – an exhibition of his political work.

Peter Saville.

Mark E Smith: Totale’s Turns (It’s Now Or Never), Totally Wired, Room To Live.

Baader Meinhof was a far-left militant organisation associated with bombings, assassinations and kidnappings in the 70s and Patty Hearst was an American author and actress kidnapped by another far-left militant group called the Symbionese Liberation Army.

Scott mentions Jamie Reid’s ‘politics of protest’ and the development of his iconography in line with that. What kinds of art and design would you choose to reflect causes that are important to you?

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Anarchy in the UK: A History of Punk from 1976-78

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