signs of the times

This poster draws from the bold language of mid-20th century propaganda and the surreal edge of rubber-hose cartoons to confront the ongoing fight over punk’s identity. Punk, rooted in anti-authoritarian rebellion, has increasingly been co-opted by figures who mimic its style while siding with the very forces it was built to resist.

The puppeteer and boot-licking caricatures highlight that contradiction: people who dress like punks but act as mouthpieces for authoritarian power. By naming recognizable personalities, the work points to how mainstream voices can strip subcultures of their edge, turning rebellion into conformity.

It’s satire, but it’s also a warning — in an era where reactionary movements disguise themselves in countercultural clothes, the message is clear: punch up, not down. The slogan “ONLY YOU CAN STOP THIS!” is a reminder that punk only remains alive as resistance if we defend it against co-optation and keep its aim fixed on power, not the powerless.