Guglielmo Rossi

My research examines the relationship between political ideology and printed publications through a study of the radical press in 1970s Britain. The text focuses on published material, social relationships and the political context surrounding the publications, in order to examine different ways in which political thought influenced the production of printed material. 

The narrative argues that democratic and non-hierarchical organisation and production practices, frequently adopted by groups of the libertarian Left to operate consistently with their political values, determined experimental approaches to writing, editing, and design. 

The research presents different ways in which ideology, group organisation and the form and content of printed publications are inextricably linked. These relationships emerge from an analysis of journals and pamphlets published by the political group Big Flame and sample issues of the radical magazine The Leveller. Internal documents produced by the groups, as well as oral interviews with former members, were also explored, and provided further insights.

Crucial to the development of the radical press in the 1970s was increasing access to printing technology, thanks to the availability of small-scale offset lithography and electric typewriters, and the emergence across the Left political spectrum of a range of autonomous groups active outside political parties. Looking at two histories continuing side by side, one of publishing and one of political activism, this dissertation intends to offer an original contribution to the history of graphic design — a history characterised by participation and non-professionalism, and therefore located outside the territory of traditional graphic design histories.