Spitting Image: A Controversial History
30 September 2023 – 17 February 2024
The satirical television show Spitting Image first aired in 1984 and went on to become a cultural phenomenon. In this exhibition, we explore how the show was made and how it shaped society’s view of royalty, politicians and celebrity.
Through the collections of the University Library and other institutions the exhibition will explore the show's development and impact. Visitors will see how Peter Fluck and Roger Law’s ‘cartoonist eye’ used puppets to satirise life in the UK and how few in British public life were left unscathed. Get up close and personal to some of the show’s iconic puppets.
The exhibition explores the ongoing relevance of satire, the use of art to speak truth to power, and questions if mocking those who seek to rule really does make a difference.
Curated by Dr Christopher Burgess.