Brandon Johnson’s new book, entitled Thee Almighty & Insane: Chicago Gang Business Cards from the 1970s & 1980s, will surely catch the eyes of graphic designers and visual artists all over the world. The project involves “naive” graphic design that shows us how the elite gangs of Chicago back in the 70s to the 80s treated their business cards. Considered part of history, these business cards hold a lot of historical and cultural worth, too.
“The hand-drawn graphics, the ‘Old English’ typefaces, the outlandish names and clever slogans,” Johnson says, are the main elements that depict the particular timestamp that showcase the Chicago gang culture’s attitude and lifestyle.
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You can also feel the gang tension, racial profiling, and socio-cultural dynamics at the time. He says, “The Almighty Gaylords – a prominent White gang in Chicago during this time period – frequently utilized racist iconography and phrases on their cards. While these ideologies may have been half-baked and the rhetoric a form of posturing, demonstrations of racial pride (and hate) can’t be ignored.”
Source: designfaves.com