Dazed magazine is British Fashion publication documenting arts and culture directed mainly at a youthful audience but not exclusive of other age brackets. In The editors letter of the Spring 2017 explores a range of issues effecting minority groups of America post Trump election, but looks to celebrate the subcultural movements that have been created out of reaction to a global crisis in order to band together and form an active revolution. I also found it interesting that in this current political climate, a resurgence of both punk values and aesthetic has been adopted by designers, brands, artists and musicians. This latest issue of Dazed pays homage to the chaotic of visual language as individuals form their own resistant movements. A nostalgic, black and white ad for Dior on the inside cover features Icon Boy George, in a suit adorned with a clutter of buttons on his lapels and across his oversized hat. It reminds me of a photograph I’ve seen by British sub culture photographer Derrek Ridges.
On another spread, a band of New York young guns are jiving through a dirty street. Captured on a black and white film, the young kids are styled with a nod to the nostalgia of DIY. Studs, denim, layering, button badges and tee shirt graphics that don’t sit central. The characters themselves are all young creative working in street culture. Photographers, stylists and designers all creating a shift in the industry with new ideas and new aesthetics. The images chaotic ’in relationship to the development of a graphic language of resistance [1] and similar to like the layouts of Punk fanzines. The magazine design itself clean and organized.
Another feature captures portrait shots of activists that are not only styled in a punk fashion, but also capture the essence of resistance in their practice. An emphasis on the working class ‘ credibility’ and a belief in various hues of class politics. [2] In particular the blurring of the lines of masculine and feminine and the move to de-sexualize the subject is also extremely punk.
An advertisement for Fashion brad MSGM features a protagonist who remarkably resembles Lead singer of The Sex Pistols, Sid Vicious. With his short spikey hair, donning an argyle knitted jumper, white pants with oversized keying’s through the belt loop. He steps forward towards the camera in his dirty ripped shoes, swinging a baseball bat.
It only makes sense that a resurgence of punk aesthetic and attitude is coming to front given the current political climate of the world and a general feeling of disconnect between youth and government. Punk is raw, aggressive, jarring and demands attention.
[1] Teal Triggs, Scissors and Glue: Punk Fanzines and the Creation of a DIY Aesthetic. Page 2
[2] IBID
Documenting Design 