Socially-conscious posters

John Martz | June 16th, 2006

The Graphic Imperative is a collection of posters for peace, social justice, and the environment ranging from the years 1965-2005. In addition to a showcase of wonderfully smart poster design, each poster offers up information on its history. This fantastic Godzilla/King Kong poster has this to say:

The image encourages reconciliation between two “giant” nations, the U.S. and the U.S.S.R., symbolized by Godzilla and King Kong. The poster was designed to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. It was included in the “Images of Survival” exhibition project organized by the Shoshin Society, Washington, DC.

Thanks, Al!

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  • Anthony
    I remember listening to Steff Geissbuhler talk about when he made that poster. It always makes me laugh because he couldn't think of how to do it, and then his wife said, "Just make Godzilla and King Kong hold hands or something!" and it turned out to be a perfect solution.
  • Cool, my old college professor, Cedomir Kostovic, has a poster in that.

    http://www.cedoposter.com/
  • Christopher
    USSR, as in "United Soviet Socialist Republic"? To say that this poster is meant to encourage reconciliation between the US and the USSR on the 40th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima is confusing to me. How does the USSR figure into this image? I would have guessed that this image was intended to encourage reconciliation between the US and Japan. The United States bombed Hiroshima, which is in Japan, not the USSR. King Kong is certainly not associated with the USSR, and Godzilla is a Japanese creation. The Japanese Red Sun is clearly visible in the center of the image, and at the bottom I see the Japanese characters that mean "peace". Is it possible that the artist was misquoted? If not, then I just don't understand how this could be intended to represent the US and the USSR.
  • nourbese
    socially-conscious anything sucks... peace is only achieved thru war. in order to appreciate freedom there must be oppression.
  • Anthony
    I'm pretty certain the designer was misquoted. It should be Japan, not USSR.
  • Linda
    In response to "nourbese":

    Tell that to the millions burned, raped, tortured, incarcerated, crippled, incinerated, divested of home
    and property and orphaned through the brutality of
    war for centuries. You probably took pleasure burning
    ants from the sun under a magnifying glass as a child.
    Oppression? Well the thought of YOU being tyranized
    under the threat of nuclear annilation must give you
    hope for a new tomorrow. Tell me, how long must
    one be "oppressed" in order to appreciate freedom?
  • nourbese
    dear linda
    In the United States alone not all of it's citizens bask under the banner of freedom that is flown high. Within the confines of this country and thru the application of the foreign policies of this country thru out the planet, you can truly understand who pays for our freedoms. Take a close look at how farm subsidies affect everyone in the world. "Divested of home and property" you say?
    I agree. Fraudulently lower prices of commodoties wreak havoc in the US and thru out the world.
  • Eep op ork ah ah! that means I love you!
  • I aways assumed Godzilla was a stand-in for Douglas MacArthur.
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