“McDUbya” 2004
BY REBECCA JOHNSON
“Others took a more direct approach, creating realistic facsimiles of popular ad campaigns that actually subverted the message of those campaigns. A poster designed by Rebecca JOHNSON rotated McDonalds’ iconic golden arches to create a “W” and replaced the “I’m lovin’ it” slogan with “I’m bombin’ it” — a pointed jab at George W. Bush’s scorched earth tactics in the Iraq War. In all of these images, the activists’ underlying assumption was that, by adopting these well-known visual frameworks, they could effectively disseminate their message because the public was already receptive to those images.”
— excerpt from The Evolution of Instagram Activism by Jonah Kay for Hyperallergic
“By flipping one of the most recongnisable logos upside down, the designer relates George ‘Dubya’ Bush’s tactics in promoting his wars to McDonalds relentless marketing to sell it’s burgers. McDonalds tagline ‘I’m lovin’ it’ has been changed to ‘I’m bombin’ it’ posing the question; are consumers willing to buy a war if it is marketed as ambitiously as our manufactured goods?”
HND Blog | Graphics Critical Theory
AS SEEN IN THESE PUBLICATIONS
THE DESIGN OF DISSENT
The Design of Dissent is a global collection of socially and politically driven graphics on issues including Black Lives Matter, Trump protests, refugee crises, and the environment.
Dissent is an essential part of keeping democratic societies healthy, and our ability as citizens to voice our opinions is not only our privilege, it is our responsibility. Most importantly, it is a human right, one which must be fervently fought for, protected, and defended.
Many of the issues and conflicts visited in the first edition of this book remain vividly present today, as simmering, sometimes throbbing reminders of how the work of democracy and pace of social change is often incremental, requiring patience, diligence, hope, and the continuing brave voices of designers whose skillful imagery emboldens, invigorates, and girds us in the face of struggle.
yo! what happened to peace?
Edited by John Carr
This book catalogs the 220+ handcrafted anti-war and pro-peace prints by 120+ artists that have come to define the touring Yo! What Happened to Peace? poster exhibition. The Yo! show is composed entirely of prints made with a commitment to old-school printing techniques such as screen print, letterpress, stencil, linocut and others. Featuring 144 pages of color images with an introduction by punk art legend Winston Smith. Printed in Italy with a special die-cut stencil cover. Edited by artist and curator John Carr, the book includes work by Ames Bros., Jesus Barraza, Chaz Bojorquez, Robbie Conal, 3D, Eric Drooker, Emek, Shepard Fairey/OBEY, Karen Fiorito, Firehouse, Brandy Flower, Forkscrew Graphics, Futura, Gustavo Alberto Garcia Vaca, JK5, Kayrock & Wolfy, Josh MacPhee, Mear One, Favianna Rodriguez, Seripop, Yuri Shimojo, Winston Smith, Seth Tobocman, Mark Vallen, Voodoo Catbox and MANY others. The Yo! show had its beginnings in 2002 during the march to war in Iraq. Starting originally with 14 posters, it has since grown into an international exhibition, featuring work from a growing roster of over 120 artists. Past shows have included Tokyo, San Francisco, New York, London, Stockholm, Milan, Rejkyavik, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Boston and Chicago. The book is a complete companion catalog to the stunning exhibitions!
Yo! What Happened to Peace? artists and activists
Continental Gallery, Los Angeles, 2007
paper politics
Edited by Josh McPhee
Paper Politics: Socially Engaged Printmaking Today is a major collection of contemporary politically and socially engaged printmaking. This full-color book showcases print art that uses themes of social justice and global equity to engage community members in political conversation. Based on an art exhibition that has traveled to a dozen cities in North America, Paper Politics features artwork by over 200 international artists; an eclectic collection of work by both activist and non-activist printmakers who have felt the need to respond to the monumental trends and events of our times.
Paper Politics presents a breathtaking tour of the many modalities of printing by hand: relief, intaglio, lithography, serigraph, collagraph, monotype, and photography. In addition to these techniques, included are more traditional media used to convey political thought, finely crafted stencils and silk-screens intended for wheat pasting in the street. Artists range from the well established (Sue Coe, Swoon, Carlos Cortez) to the up-and-coming (Favianna Rodriguez, Chris Stain, Nicole Schulman), from street artists (BORF, You Are Beautiful) to rock poster makers (EMEK, Bughouse).
