- Anarchy had deeply negative connotations since the 19th century, suggesting hollow eyed bomb throwers pledged to violent disorder.
- Anarchisms rejection of controlling authorities, its commitment to self-determination and faith in peoples ability to help themselves and organise fair, open networks and structures, are peaceful and natural. - unrealistic to cynical minds
- Colin Ward's 'Anarchy' had a goal of 'applied anarchism' - this was printed onto the cover of early issues.
- Raphael Samuel - "Philosophically minded, practical people" were behind 'Anarchy's' group of writers.
- 'Anarchy practised what is espoused' - (It believed what it was saying, Ward and Segar fully believed and supported what they were trying to put across, they were taking action in a number of ways - Segar remained an Anarchist throughout his life)
- 'Seen from a design purists points of view 'Anarchy's' covers were all over the place' (the pages inside were book-like with occasional illustrations)
- 'Anarchy's' early covers inevitably look most dated now.
PERSONAL RESPONSE -
- Poynor believes that Richard Hollis observes the covers of 'Anarchy' with 'designery unease', "it is hard to discern only consistent patterns in the deployment of drawings or photographs" Hollis spoke of the covers, though this inconsistency is something that lead designer, Rufus Segar aimed to achieve, saying that he wanted "Not to reapeat the previous one. Each different. I saw no reason why they should be the same" this mind-set and graphic system is in-keeping with anarchy's ideals and messages.
- Segars illustrated wraparound covers for 'Anarchy' feature his 'sketchy hatched' style, within these he looked at all manor of things including cultural, social references, using imagery from popular tv and advertising, but only for parody and effect, not for style or identity purposes.
- Poynor - "Less taken by Segars simpler drawings, which can look a bit cheerfully cartoonish, but the jumble of hand-drawn, rose-tinted spectacles for the 'How Realistic is anarchism' issue in 1967 is another perfectly illustrated idea.'
- Poynor is critical of some of Segars work for 'Anarchy' particularly the later issues, calling out Segar for 'losing enthusiasm and his touch' Poynor says his work must be interpreted giving the example of Anarchy 113 from 1970 where Segar uses collaged photography of nude women behind bars, Poynor critices the cover claiming the women are 'Apparently loving it' and going on to try interperet the cover as "an early feminist image - women locked into the sexual identity that society foists on them" then concludes his critique by questioning "but without a cover line who can tell?" (Poynor, R. (2017). An applied anarchism. Autonomy: The Cover Designs of Anarchy - Creative Review. [online] Creative Review. Available at: https://www.creativereview.co.uk/an-applied-anarchism/ [Accessed 13 Feb. 2017].
- Poynor believes Segar was 'not a great innovator in graphic design, though he 'makes no claim to be'. Poynor believes that the monthly publications now 'serve as nuance' to our understanding of graphic design in the 1960's and little more. This is contrary to the beliefs of social and marxist historian Raphael Samuels, who believes 'Anarchy' 'represented better than any any other publication, the cultural revolution of the 60's and it did so far earlier than anyone else and ... more thoughtfully' (Poyner, D. (2012). Autonomy. 1st ed. London: Hyphen Press, p.257.) These two opinions on 'Anarchy' contrast, one side being from a contemporary designer (Poynor) and the other from a social historian (Samuels), with Poynor looking at the inconsistencies and un-literal covers as bad design styles. Samuels discusses the individuality and strong messages that were put across in each cover, looking at the combination of radicalism and spontaneity that made 'Anarchy'
Samuels believes that Ward and Segar's combined work on 'Anarchy' as a key figure in the changes which occurred through the sixties, not just the politics and culture which was discussed in each issue of 'anarchy' but also huge changes to graphic design.
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