HomeUploadUpload DirectHotlinkRandomAbouttheme toggle
Expand

The Dirty Pictures That Revolutionized Art

Views:874
@ReasonVids

Brian Doherty's history of underground comix chronicles how Robert Crumb, Art Spiegelman, and others challenged censorship and increased free speech.

https://reason.com/video/2022/06/29/the-dirty-pictures-that-revolutionized-art/
-------------------

Starting in the 1960s, a maverick band of young cartoonists like Robert Crumb, Art Spiegelman, Trina Robbins, and Gilbert Shelton starting churning out comic books the likes of which had never seen before. These "undergound" works definitely weren't aimed at kids and they didn't follow the exploits of costumed do-gooders or anodyne high schoolers like Riverdale High's Archie, Betty, and Veronica.

Drawing inspiration from Mad magazine and horror comics that had been subjected to congressional scrutiny in the 1950s, the new "comix" were filled with sex, drugs, and violence; ruthlessly satirized mass culture; and drew the ire of crusaders against obscenity and cultural decline. Yet within a decade, underground comix had become recognized as a vital artistic force in America whose influence is still massive and growing in art, music, movies, design, and more.

Brian Doherty's Dirty Pictures: How an Underground Network of Nerds, Feminists, Misfits, Geniuses, Bikers, Potheads, Printers, Intellectuals, and Art School Rebels Revolutionized Art and Invented Comix, is the definitive history of this vital yet underappreciated aspect of American popular culture. The artists Doherty writes about—many of whom whom went on to win Pulitzer Prizes, MacArthur "genius" grants, and both mass and critical acclaim—shook up popular culture and the high art world while fighting for radical, creative expression in an age of censorship. The lessons from their struggles are particularly prescient for a contemporary world beseiged by cancel culture and all manner of attempts to shut down speech deemed offensive, triggering, or morally suspect.

Doherty is a Reason senior editor and the author of books such as the This Is Burning Man: The Rise of a New American Underground, Radicals for Capitalism: A Freewheeling History of the Modern American Libertarian Movement, and Ron Paul's rEVOLution: The Man and the Movement He Inspired. Nick Gillespie interviews him about comix, their enduring relevance, and the surprising connections between alternative art and political movements such as libertarianism.

This interview was taped live on Monday, June 20, 2022, as part of the Reason Speakeasy series, held monthly in New York City. Go here for podcast and video versions of past events.

libertarian
,
reason magazine
,
reason.com
,
reason.tv
,
reasontv
,
comics
,
counterculture
,
libertarian history/philosophy
,
art
,
free speech
,
first amendment
,
capitalism
,
sex
,
drugs
,
reason speakeasy
,
brian doherty
,
nick gillespie
,
art spiegelman
,
robert crumb
    Thumbnail for Why We Drink7:02
    Why We Drink
    ReasonVids
    1096 views
    Thumbnail for Justin Bieber SCAMMED, John Wick Anime, A.I. Girlfriend Horror Story (W/ Phil Labonte) | Ep. 718 | Pop Culture Crisis2:29:19
    Justin Bieber SCAMMED, John Wick Anime, A.I. Girlfriend Horror Story (W/ Phil Labonte) | Ep. 718 | Pop Culture Crisis
    invidious
    204 views
    Thumbnail for “I enjoy looking like a clown” - no shit.0:34
    “I enjoy looking like a clown” - no shit.
    AOU
    6111 views
    Thumbnail for India? , nah a Flemish coastline0:45
    India? , nah a Flemish coastline
    x0x7
    4615 views
    Thumbnail for Gay shit0:30
    Gay shit
    TheodoreKent
    53 views
    Thumbnail for The "map" function in ClojureScript | J David Eisenberg0:18
    The "map" function in ClojureScript | J David Eisenberg
    invidious
    449 views
    Thumbnail for Final Fantasy Arrived And It is a MONSTER   Top Ten Selling Cards May 31st June 7th 2025 | MTG MOX MAN17:18
    Final Fantasy Arrived And It is a MONSTER Top Ten Selling Cards May 31st June 7th 2025 | MTG MOX MAN
    invidious
    70 views
    Thumbnail for Walking In Between The Twin Towers 😨 | Zack D. Films0:34
    Walking In Between The Twin Towers 😨 | Zack D. Films
    invidious
    195 views
    Thumbnail for Women when they get a man0:30
    Women when they get a man
    x0x7
    5037 views
    Thumbnail for FINAL FANTASY x MTG Commander Battle! | Cloud vs. Y’shtola vs. Celes vs. Tidus | EDH Gameplay1:01:15
    FINAL FANTASY x MTG Commander Battle! | Cloud vs. Y’shtola vs. Celes vs. Tidus | EDH Gameplay
    Invidious2
    6 views
    Thumbnail for Trump Set Up the New Bitcoin-Dollar Financial System in His First Term | The Solari Report | Catherine Austin Fitts2:23
    Trump Set Up the New Bitcoin-Dollar Financial System in His First Term | The Solari Report | Catherine Austin Fitts
    invidious
    218 views
    Thumbnail for Canada pledges to follow international court rulings says Trudeau | Middle East Eye0:51
    Canada pledges to follow international court rulings says Trudeau | Middle East Eye
    invidious
    161 views
    Thumbnail for Adding Sound Effects To The World Cup | Josh Harmon0:15
    Adding Sound Effects To The World Cup | Josh Harmon
    invidious
    323 views
    Thumbnail for 100+ Linux Things you Need to Know | Fireship12:23
    100+ Linux Things you Need to Know | Fireship
    invidious
    236 views
    Thumbnail for Stossel: A Better School4:53
    Stossel: A Better School
    ReasonVids
    976 views
    Thumbnail for Black Crime: Why Our Rulers Hide it.11:22
    Black Crime: Why Our Rulers Hide it.
    AmericanRenaissance
    931 views
    Thumbnail for "I Got No Time" Meal Prep for Muscle Gain Guide | Breakfast Lunch Dinner w/ Calories & Macros | Buff Dudes7:17
    "I Got No Time" Meal Prep for Muscle Gain Guide | Breakfast Lunch Dinner w/ Calories & Macros | Buff Dudes
    invidious
    427 views
    Thumbnail for 8️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ ASSISTS for Kaner! 🍎👉💣 | NHL0:13
    8️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ ASSISTS for Kaner! 🍎👉💣 | NHL
    invidious
    350 views
    Thumbnail for We can jump and we can run4:13
    We can jump and we can run
    bestofupgoat
    506 views
    Thumbnail for better carry johnny (be good)0:33
    better carry johnny (be good)
    AOUisgay
    498 views
    Thumbnail for Just toss it over the wall0:20
    Just toss it over the wall
    x0x7
    208 views

points

Permalink
Reply
libertarian
,
reason magazine
,
reason.com
,
reason.tv
,
reasontv
,
comics
,
counterculture
,
libertarian history/philosophy
,
art
,
free speech
,
first amendment
,
capitalism
,
sex
,
drugs
,
reason speakeasy
,
brian doherty
,
nick gillespie
,
art spiegelman
,
robert crumb
TOS  •  Add Keywords  •  Donate  •   Analytics  •   DMCA  •   Puzzle