Xerographic Band Flyer – “Elks Lodge, 1988 January 02”

Chester Carlson's invention of xerography in 1938 revolutionized photocopying, as the xerographic method was dry and didn't require the use of liquid chemicals. The Haloid Photographic Company obtained the rights to market the new technology, rebranding to Xerox and releasing the extremely successful Xerox 914 photocopier in 1959. 

Though intended to be a commercial office product, the 914's ability to accurately reproduce text and images made it an attractive medium for personal expression. The slightly grungy, distressed “Xerox” style soon became associated with the punk movement; band posters and flyers advertised upcoming shows while purveying countercultural messages centered around issues of social and political unrest.

The typographic style of these xerographic flyers is eclectic, often comprising elements of messy hand-written lettering, collaged fonts from other media, and the “ransom note” style of type which soon became a visual representation of the movement. This poster, advertising a concert featuring multiple bands in Santa Rosa, California, embodies many of the visual traits seen in xerographic band posters during this era. A diverse variety of  bold and experimental typefaces are used, in addition to informal lettering and zine-like cutouts of quotes and images.

By breaking typographic standards in print media, young and disaffected designers and artists engaged in tangible acts of reclamation, creation, and destruction.

Xerox and Roll: The Corporate Machine and the Making of Punk - JSTOR Daily, daily.jstor.org/xerox-and-roll-the-corporate-machine-and-the-making-of-punk/. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.

https://daily.jstor.org/xerox-and-roll-the-corporate-machine-and-the-making-of-punk/