OUGD406 - Art Rock - Initial Research

OUGD406 - Art Rock - Initial Research

Art Rock is a genre of music which focuses on a more avant-garde and experimental approach to rock music. When the genre was created it was intended to be more intellectual and artistic then the current music of the time with more complex rhythms and melodies encompassing sounds classical music sometimes, and lyrics which often focused on social/political issues or imaginative concepts. 

The origin of the genre is somewhat questionable with some sources citing it as Rubber Soul by the Beatles, some saying it was The Velvet Underground’s debut album ‘The Velvet Underground & Nico’ and others saying it was Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys. Regardless of its origin, all of these albums contributed greatly to Art Rock’s popularity. Other notable albums include; Revolver by The Beatles, Freak Out! By Frank Zappa, Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd and Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles.

Visually Communicating Art Rock

Art Rock has a lot of ties to Pop Art, with notable artists being involved in then genre such as Andy Warhol producing and designing the cover for The Velvet Underground & Nico and Peter Blake designing the cover for Sgt Peppers. Taking this into account with the genres tendency for conceptualism, the visual style and theories of Pop Art could be employed in design aspects. Taking standard design of the era and subverting its rules would be a good representation of an avant-garde Art Rock approach. 

Postmodernist graphic design and the psychedelic style are also very representational of art rock with albums such as Rubber Soul and Forever Changes by Love utilising curved psychedelic type. Examples of postmodern graphic design from this era include the work of Milton Glaser and Seymour Chwast with Push Pin Studios and designers such as Victor Moscoso and Herb Lubalin.