“Radical! A Retrospective of Twentieth-Century Dissent” (Digital Exhibition From Marriott Library, University of Utah)

From the Marriott Library, University of Utah:

The literature of politics is multifaceted, filled with various genres that range from poetry to pamphlets, and novels to newscasts. Today, new methods of disseminating literature allow voices from all walks of life to be heard on major digital platforms. However, a century ago, these virtual megaphones were nonexistent, and if you wanted a voice, you had to make it from scratch.

Radical! A Retrospective of Twentieth Century Dissent, our newest digital exhibition, highlights those voices.

During the early part of the 20th century, many writers, activists, and artists had become closely linked to the Labor and Socialist movements that were growing inside the United States. Over the course of several decades, such social movements emerged in different areas around the country, and particularly through the work of independent, underground or alternative presses which published radical ideas in the form of pamphlets, posters and literary magazines.

Although unassuming in form, these materials created a cultural impact and developed intricate networks which continue to highlight issues of civil rights, censorship, and free speech today. From the Industrial Workers of the World to modern music magazines, Radical! not only tells the story of print (counter) culture, but also the government’s attempts to suppress it.

Direct to Online Exhibition

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