Badge
mid-1980s (manufactured)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
These badges were worn by style icon, designer and club promoter Michael Costiff. Costiff was at the helm of the London club scene in the 1980s, running the Kinky Gerlinky nightclub with his wife Gerlinde. Their smiley faces are evocative of the late 1980s club scene and associated Rave culture, and one of the badges was produced from a flyer for a London night club of the time.
The smiley face icon has a history within subcultures since the 1970s, when it was associated with the anti-Vietnam hippie culture. Its peak in the British popular consciousness came later, when Rave culture developed in the late 1980s. This was a subculture that adopted the image as symbolic of the euphoria associated with the dance music, clubs and parties and their associated drug Ecstasy. It was recognised as emblematic of this scene in wider society through the symbol’s use in tabloid newspaper headlines, warning of the dangers of raves and drug taking.
The smiley face icon has a history within subcultures since the 1970s, when it was associated with the anti-Vietnam hippie culture. Its peak in the British popular consciousness came later, when Rave culture developed in the late 1980s. This was a subculture that adopted the image as symbolic of the euphoria associated with the dance music, clubs and parties and their associated drug Ecstasy. It was recognised as emblematic of this scene in wider society through the symbol’s use in tabloid newspaper headlines, warning of the dangers of raves and drug taking.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Small circular pin badge with a "Smiley Face" printed on fluorescent green ground; laminated paper, cardboard, metal |
| Brief description | Small circular pin badge with a "Smiley Face" printed on fluorescent green ground; laminated paper, cardboard, metal, by Button Up, New York, 1980s |
| Physical description | Large circular pin badge with a "Smiley Face" printed on fluorescent red ground; laminated paper, cardboard, metal |
| Dimensions |
|
| Production type | Mass produced |
| Credit line | Given by Michael Costiff |
| Summary | These badges were worn by style icon, designer and club promoter Michael Costiff. Costiff was at the helm of the London club scene in the 1980s, running the Kinky Gerlinky nightclub with his wife Gerlinde. Their smiley faces are evocative of the late 1980s club scene and associated Rave culture, and one of the badges was produced from a flyer for a London night club of the time. The smiley face icon has a history within subcultures since the 1970s, when it was associated with the anti-Vietnam hippie culture. Its peak in the British popular consciousness came later, when Rave culture developed in the late 1980s. This was a subculture that adopted the image as symbolic of the euphoria associated with the dance music, clubs and parties and their associated drug Ecstasy. It was recognised as emblematic of this scene in wider society through the symbol’s use in tabloid newspaper headlines, warning of the dangers of raves and drug taking. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.46-2014 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | March 12, 2014 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
