The Transformation of Communication Approaches in Punk Zines, 1970s–2020s

Abstract

This article presents a study of marginal visual practices through the example of punk zine graphic design, a field that has long remained outside the focus of academic attention. The aim of this work is a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of the aesthetics and ideology of punk zines, beginning with their origins in the 1970s. The article examines the genesis of punk culture as a response to social stagnation and the commercialization of music, as well as the fundamental role of the DIY ("do it yourself") principle in shaping a unique visual language. The works of key figures such as Jamie Reid and Neville Brody are analyzed, along with characteristic techniques: collage, pastiche, and non-trivial typography. The main conclusion of the research is that a fundamental transformation of zines has occurred: from an initial text-centric form, where visuals were secondary, to a contemporary form dominated by an aggressive visual image. This evolution is explained by the subculture's adaptation to the "clip consciousness" of modern society, in which visual content is assimilated more effectively than text.