OUGD505 Studio Brief 02 - May 1968 street posters from the Paris rebellion (Research)

May 1968 street posters from the Paris rebellion (Research):

In the Paris of 68, pent-up frustration over poverty, unemployment, the conservative government of Charles de Gaulle, and opposition to the Vietnam war, gave rise to a mass movement for sweeping social change. In the month of May, workers and students took to the streets in an unprecedented wave of strikes, walkouts and demonstrations. By May 18th, 10 million workers were on strike and all factories and universities were occupied. During those days of turmoil the Atelier Populare (Popular Workshop) was formed. The faculty and student body of Paris' main art school, the Ecole des Beaux Arts, were on strike, and a number of the students met spontaneously in the printmaking department to produce the very first street posters of the revolt.

The posters of the Atelier Populare were designed and printed anonymously and were distributed for free. They were seen on barricades, carried in demonstrations, and were plastered on walls all over France.

(http://www.art-for-a-change.com/Paris/paris.html)

I really like simple graphic style of these posters that help to capture the anguish of the times. The use of single colour and bold forms makes a striking and memorable impact. The simple nature allows for them to be understood by a range of audiences. I want to capture this style to help portray my message effectively. I want the focus to be on the iconography and how these interpret to the audience.