'The Spun' and 'Gift of Masks': Spoof Newspapers for 'Not for Profit - Designing Across the Social Divide'

'The Spun' and 'Gift of Masks'are two spoof newspapers shown in the exhibition 'Not for Profit - Designing Across the Social Divide'. The research field is graphic design/creative writing as political activism.

‘The Spun’ is a spoof newspaper which was part of the activities of an artists’ collective called ‘Reclaim the Streets’. A spoof on the Sun, and employing the ‘phwar!’ journalese associated with it, ‘The Spun’ critiques a number of newsworthy subjects such as the Iraq War and the anti-terror laws.

‘Gift of Masks’ was a street based project and was a reaction to the decision by the Saint-Foy and Quebec City councils to ban the wearing of masks in public. The research consisted of devising a bandana to be distributed free at the time of the Free Trade Agreement Summit in April 2001. One side of the bandana had a smiling face, the other a face strangled and gagged. A flyer was produced to help the public understand the protest.