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Xerography: Art and Activism in the Late Twentieth Century

David Peterson

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Published in Adjusted Margin: Xerography Art And Activism In The Late Twentieth Century

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Xerography: Art and Activism in the Late Twentieth Century offers a comprehensive analysis of the artistic and political impact of xerography, a reprographic technique that emerged in the mid-twentieth century. This groundbreaking book explores the ways in which artists and activists harnessed the unique capabilities of xerography to create innovative and socially engaged works of art.

Adjusted Margin: Xerography, Art, and Activism in the Late Twentieth Century

by Kate Eichhorn

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	11755 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	216 pages

Xerography, also known as photocopying, is a dry printing process that uses electrostatic charges to transfer toner particles to paper. This technology was first developed in the 1930s, but it was not until the 1960s that it became widely available to artists and activists. The affordability and ease of use of xerography made it an ideal medium for creating and disseminating art and political messages.

Artists such as Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, and Ed Ruscha were among the first to experiment with xerography. They were attracted to the medium's ability to reproduce images with a high degree of fidelity, as well as its potential for creating multiple copies of a single image. Xerography also allowed artists to manipulate and distort images in ways that were not possible with traditional printmaking techniques.

In addition to its artistic applications, xerography was also used by activists to create and distribute political messages. Xerox machines were used to produce zines, posters, and other forms of ephemera that were used to promote social and political causes. Xerography was also used to create protest art, such as the iconic "War is Over!" poster created by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

Xerography: Art and Activism in the Late Twentieth Century is the first book to explore the full range of artistic and political uses of xerography. This groundbreaking study provides a new understanding of the impact of this important technology on art and activism in the late twentieth century.

Xerography and the Avant-Garde
Xerography and the Counterculture
Xerography and Political Activism
Xerography and the Digital Revolution

Reviews

"Xerography: Art and Activism in the Late Twentieth Century is a groundbreaking study of a fascinating and underappreciated medium. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of art, activism, and technology."

—Leah Levy, author of The Archive: A History of Collecting and the Politics of Memory

"Xerography: Art and Activism in the Late Twentieth Century is a richly illustrated and meticulously researched study of a medium that played a pivotal role in the development of contemporary art and activism. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of art, politics, and technology."

—David Joselit, author of After Art