Dirty Pictures: How an Underground Network of Nerds, Feminists, Misfits, Geniuses, Bikers, Potheads, Printers, Intellectuals, and Art School Rebels Revolutionized Art and Invented Comix
$20.78
Description
Book Synopsis: Journalist and comic book critic Brian Doherty’s Dirty Pictures is the first complete narrative history of the weird and wonderful world of Underground Comix—”a welcome addition to an under-analyzed legacy of the free-spirited 1960s” (San Francisco Chronicle). In the 1950s, comics meant POW!BAM! superheroes, family-friendly gags, and Sunday funnies, but in the 1960s, inspired by these strips and the satire of MAD magazine, a new generation of creators set out to subvert the medium, and with it, American culture. Their “comix”—spelled that way to distinguish the work from their dime-store contemporaries—presented tales of taboo sex, casual drug use, and a transgressive view of society. Embraced by hippies and legions of future creatives, this subgenre of comic books and strips often ran afoul of the law, but that would not stop them from casting cultural ripples for decades to come, eventually moving the entire comics form beyond the gutter and into fine-art galleries. Brian Doherty weaves together the stories of R. Crumb, Art Spiegelman, Trina Robbins, Spain Rodriguez, Harvey Pekar, and Howard Cruse, among many others, detailing the complete narrative history of this movement. Through dozens of new interviews and archival research, he chronicles the scenes that sprang up around the country in the 1960s and ‘70s, beginning with the artists’ origin stories and following them through success and strife, and concluding with an examination of these creators’ legacies. Dirty Pictures is the essential exploration of a truly American art form that recontextualized the way people thought about war, race, sex, gender, and expression.
Details
Discover the untold story of an underground network that revolutionized art and invented comix. Dirty Pictures, by acclaimed journalist Brian Doherty, dives into the world of Underground Comix, shedding light on the incredible journey of a generation of creators who dared to challenge societal norms and redefine the medium.
This fascinating narrative history takes you back to the 1960s, a time when comics were filled with superheroes and family-friendly humor. Inspired by the satire of MAD magazine, a group of misfits, rebels, and visionaries set out to subvert the medium and reshape American culture. Their comix broke all the rules, exploring taboo subjects like sex and drugs, and offering a transgressive view of society that both shocked and enlightened.
Embraced by countercultural movements and future creatives, this subgenre of comic books and strips pushed boundaries and faced legal challenges. But despite the obstacles, these renegade artists continued to make waves for decades, eventually transforming comics into a respected fine-art form exhibited in galleries.
In Dirty Pictures, Brian Doherty paints a vivid picture of the individuals behind this artistic revolution. From the legendary R. Crumb to Art Spiegelman, Trina Robbins, Spain Rodriguez, Harvey Pekar, and Howard Cruse, their stories come to life through interviews and archival research. You'll be captivated by their origin stories, their triumphs, and their enduring legacies.
Uncover the power of comix to challenge and reshape the way we think about war, race, sex, gender, and expression. Don't miss out on this essential exploration of an art form that changed the course of American culture. Grab your copy of Dirty Pictures now!
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