Aesthetics and Politics

Aesthetics and Politics

October 4, 2024 - November 8, 2024

 Aesthetics and Politics delves into the visual language and political imagery that defined U.S. presidential campaigns before the rise of mass social media. This exhibition examines a pivotal period in American history, before the digital age transformed the crafting, dissemination, and reception of political messages.

From iconic flyers and posters to campaign buttons and banners, the artifacts in this exhibition showcase the design strategies, symbols, and aesthetics that shaped public opinion. By featuring material from both national campaigns and local politics—with a special focus on California and Los Angeles—Aesthetics and Politics provides a window into how political narratives were created, conveyed, and contested before 2008.

For many of our students—most of whom were born after 2008—this exhibition offers a unique opportunity to explore a political landscape they have only encountered through history books. It invites reflection on the evolution of political communication and challenges viewers to consider what has changed, what has stayed the same, and how the past continues to shape the present political landscape.

This collection of memorabilia, contributed by members of the community, reflects stories that are both personal and political. These objects serve as testaments to the enduring intersection of design, politics, and culture in shaping the American electorate.