“Wacko Art” [Reflections On Book - 100 Ideas That Changed Graphic Design Stephen Heller and Veronique Vienne - #83]
The wackos, high on LSD,
Designer drugs, would claim to be
Enlightened in their graphic art,
So to each other would embark –On in-group chatter, seen in spades
In graphic output that was made;
Co-opting by the mainstream press
Then rendered use quite meaningless.Pig-Latin for the ten-year-olds
Serves role like that – the in-group knows
The coded message kept inside
The boundary-lines – an open-hide.Such is one use of languages
Since Babel times – the stranger is
Not welcome – kicks an allergy
Into effect so all can see –“This is a private party, bub,
So move along”; they give the snub
To all who happen on their world;
So too with hippie psycho-swirl.The key was letters – space between
Was “whited out” so neg. was seen;
Together with stuffed chesterfields
As models for their typeface – yields –A careful crafting of each sheet,
Encoded – inner-message sweet
Would be accessible within
A sub-group’s fellowship – like kin.Well, some of this rose over chaff,
Remains today – to some a laugh,
But it embodies “60s” craze
Of heady, druggy, steamy, days.Thanks Lord for this.
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