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Punk: An Aesthetic
From posters for punk-rock bands and indie filmmakers to fanzines and other independent publications, the art of the punk movement revolutionized design in ways whose influence is still felt today, and reflected the consciousness of a counterculture with a clarity seldom seen since.
Drawing on private and public archives of rare material from around the world, this heavily illustrated book presents an unrivaled collection of punk art and ephemera that incorporates every aspect of the movement, from the earliest occurrences of punk symbolism in posters and flyers for underground bands to the explosion of fanzines and Xerox culture, and from rare photographs of musicians such as the Sex Pistols and the Screamers to the artwork of Crass, Jamie Reid, John Holmstrom, and the contemporary street artist Banksy.
With more than three hundred images and accompanying essays by Johan Kugelberg, Jon Savage, and William Gibson, this definitive visual narrative illustrates how the DIY ethic of the punk era inspired a movement in graphic arts and design whose influence is still felt among the most significant figures in the fields today.
Drawing on private and public archives of rare material from around the world, this heavily illustrated book presents an unrivaled collection of punk art and ephemera that incorporates every aspect of the movement, from the earliest occurrences of punk symbolism in posters and flyers for underground bands to the explosion of fanzines and Xerox culture, and from rare photographs of musicians such as the Sex Pistols and the Screamers to the artwork of Crass, Jamie Reid, John Holmstrom, and the contemporary street artist Banksy.
With more than three hundred images and accompanying essays by Johan Kugelberg, Jon Savage, and William Gibson, this definitive visual narrative illustrates how the DIY ethic of the punk era inspired a movement in graphic arts and design whose influence is still felt among the most significant figures in the fields today.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published April 10, 2012
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About the author
Jon Savage
64 books120 followersJon Savage (born Jonathan Malcolm Sage) is an English writer, broadcaster and music journalist, best known for his definitive history of the Sex Pistols and punk music, England's Dreaming (1991).
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 7, 2022
this review is specifically for will because i originally didn’t intend on writing anything lmao
this is a very interesting book in the sense that it is essentially just an archive. by looking at hundreds of posters and comics i was able to get a really good grasp of how the aesthetic of punk shifted over time. there were a few essays that were also very informative, but the main point of the book is just to represent the culture in the most objective way it can. i’m glad that i could draw my own conclusions instead of having it spoon fed to me. i wish there was more stuff in the post punk chapter on the rise of new wave (talking heads!!!) but i will somehow find a way to forgive the authors 🧘♀️
this is a very interesting book in the sense that it is essentially just an archive. by looking at hundreds of posters and comics i was able to get a really good grasp of how the aesthetic of punk shifted over time. there were a few essays that were also very informative, but the main point of the book is just to represent the culture in the most objective way it can. i’m glad that i could draw my own conclusions instead of having it spoon fed to me. i wish there was more stuff in the post punk chapter on the rise of new wave (talking heads!!!) but i will somehow find a way to forgive the authors 🧘♀️
January 17, 2013
"Punk: An Aesthetic" is a monumental curation of anecdotes, ephemera and photographs from the all-too-brief, yet white-hot punk movement of the mid-late 1970s. Music and other conventions - politics, social mores, etc. - were undergoing a sea-change, and the nascent punk movement pounded them into the public consciousness with the fury of a pile-driver.
Musically speaking, punk, which captured the imagination of youth on both sides of the Atlantic, was the boiling over of their intense feelings of helplessness and resignation - the "no future" crowd. But upon further examination, its development and rise to public consciousness was more complex than it appeared on the surface.
Musically speaking, punk, which captured the imagination of youth on both sides of the Atlantic, was the boiling over of their intense feelings of helplessness and resignation - the "no future" crowd. But upon further examination, its development and rise to public consciousness was more complex than it appeared on the surface.
January 11, 2013
A fascinating look back at the aesthetic that inspired and was used during the original punk rock movement in the United States and United Kingdom. There are a couple essays included in this, but the highlight is seeing the reproductions of the show fliers, fanzine pages, album covers, and so on that were a staple of punk rock. Everything is reprinted on wonderful glossy, heavy stock paper so you don't lose any details in the images. This is a must have for anyone with any interest in the history of punk rock or the art style of that era.
June 11, 2013
"The images remind me that feeling disenfranchised is part of me, its natural.
Sometimes its good to be ‘against’.
To stand in opposition.
Someone needs to protect the awkward and rejected.
Someone needs to be a defender of possibility.
Punk is something to DO with your anger.
It’s the direct life. Just living it.
Putting forward a belief, even if its a belief in nothing."
--Samara Golden on "Punk: An Aesthetic"
Read the full review here: http://theartbookreview.org/2013/01/1...
Sometimes its good to be ‘against’.
To stand in opposition.
Someone needs to protect the awkward and rejected.
Someone needs to be a defender of possibility.
Punk is something to DO with your anger.
It’s the direct life. Just living it.
Putting forward a belief, even if its a belief in nothing."
--Samara Golden on "Punk: An Aesthetic"
Read the full review here: http://theartbookreview.org/2013/01/1...
January 4, 2015
Excellent collection of zines, posters, photographs and notes especially by William Gibson. Definitely a book worth shelling out money for ( which probably defeat the purpose of the punk movement but whatever, if Johnny Rotten is selling butter on TV, I can feel guilt free with this purchase)
January 16, 2013
Excellent -- just what I want to see in a look back on the origins of punk: a couple expertly written essays and a deluge of gritty artifacts.
November 12, 2015
This magical compilation is everything you ever needed to see in terms of punk aesthetic, fashion, culture, and what punks have to say.
October 7, 2015
Astonishing. Not just the artwork but the essays and level of intelligence.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews