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The Elections Don't Mean Shit

Poster
1968 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Students for a Democratic Society was a radical political student organisation active in America during the 1960s and early '70s. It advocated 'participatory democracy', arguing that the American political system was only a democracy in name. The composition of the poster is carefully balanced, but the home-made 'cut-and-paste' style gives the protest energy and sincerity. The motif of the clenched fist was a widely recognised symbol of left-wing protest at the time.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Elections Don't Mean Shit (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Offset lithograph
Brief description
SDS anti-American government protest poster, United States. A Yale University student activist poster
Physical description
Black and white photomontage consisting of images of soldiers, police officers and protesters assembled from various conflicts. The central image is an illustration of a raised fist.
Dimensions
  • Height: 56cm
  • Width: 43.2cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • THE ELECTIONS/ DON'T MEAN SHIT/ VOTE WHERE THE POWER IS/ OUR POWER/ IS IN THE STREET (black block letters printed on white)
  • sds (lower right corner. black on white)
Credit line
Gift of the American Friends of the V&A; Gift to the American Friends by Leslie, Judith and Gabri Schreyer and Alice Schreyer Batko
Subjects depicted
Summary
Students for a Democratic Society was a radical political student organisation active in America during the 1960s and early '70s. It advocated 'participatory democracy', arguing that the American political system was only a democracy in name. The composition of the poster is carefully balanced, but the home-made 'cut-and-paste' style gives the protest energy and sincerity. The motif of the clenched fist was a widely recognised symbol of left-wing protest at the time.
Other number
LS.1090 - Leslie Schreyer Loan Number
Collection
Accession number
E.308-2004

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Record createdJuly 2, 2004
Record URL
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