Flyers: Its Colorful and Almost Musical History

A variety of changes and trends have helped shaped the flyer as we know. Among these, are the pulls of the market, the emergence of consumer goods and of course, popular culture.

In popular culture, flyers played a huge role in the promotion of various bands or DJs. These small printouts were handed out or glued to strategic locations in public places such as subways, bus stations and busy streets.

Then, these flyers usually indicate the time and place of an event – be it a gig, a performance in a dance club or a concert. These flyers can also serve as teasers to plant seeds of curiosity and coax people to come and take part in the event.

One good example could be seen in the music video “Where is the Love?” by the Black Eyed Peas. Their flyers were handed out, pasted on walls, and put in the most prominent places. At the same time, these flyers were intriguing, attention-grabbing and aesthetically pleasing.

HISTORY BITS
However, long before flyers became a highly recognizable medium, it was its more popular predecessor who made it all possible..

The poster is the flyer’s early ancestor. Both were aimed for promotional use as visual materials. It can be said that a flyer is a poster that had shrunk in size. It was in the 60’s that the flyer actually came to be. Smaller pieces of paper were used for low budget mass advertising. Flyers became increasingly popular as it made use of contemporary designs.

Some of the designs were influenced by various changes, including but not limited to socio-political upheavals and trends that were fashionable at the time. Psychedelic prints were used to promote bands such as The Rolling Stones, The Doors and Pink Floyd.

In the United Kingdom, black and white flyers took hold of the music scene where punk and underground culture were the rage. These, in turn, promoted bands like The Sex Pistols and The Buzzcocks.

It was the 80s that gave shape to the modern flyer. Getting inspiration from the rave scene and flyers employed hedonistic and surreal imagery. It also used a great deal of colors and introduced something seemingly spiritual in its entirety.

MODERN
Contemporary flyers now make use of a fusion of traditional and modern art. Some flyers are even displayed in the different galleries and exhibits worldwide. These purely promotional and advertising materials are now also classified as modern, experimental or postmodern art.

Although flyers are promotional materials, its affinity to the music culture is hard to ignore. The Xerox art of Raymond Pettibon, Randy “Biscuit” Turner and Shawn Kerri are monumental to punk culture. What started out as punk flyers now became part of counter culture art.

Punk flyers are monochromatic to reflect the tradition of the handmade, do it yourself and self-taught punk culture. The colors black and white are also used to show resistance to the mainstream and serve as a reminder of a subculture that exists not far from the conventional. Although Randy Turner’s work uses a lot of colors, they remain a part of punk culture for what they communicate to the viewer. They still reflect going against the grain and the assertion of a culture other than the mainstream.

Flyers nowadays makes use of a variety of resources for inspiration. Many movements in art and trends in marketing have been adapted and employed in flyer printing. Sometimes, the rule with flyers are that there are no rules.

Everyday, you can explore and experiment with your own flyers. They say everything has been done. But they also say, “You’ll never know until you try”

More on flyers printing jobs can be seen at catalog printing experts.

 

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