Thursday 25 June 2015

Children's Nuclear Warning Poster (1979)


In the late 1970s the nuclear arms race was almost as popular as squash. 

On the face of it, Scarfolk council wanted to prepare children for the probability of a nuclear strike by Russia, China or the Shetland Islands without unduly frightening them with words and phrases such as 'apocalypse' and 'modicum of extinction'. 

In 1979 the council produced a poster campaign which substituted negative words for more pleasant, child-friendly ones. 'Flopsy Bunny', for example, became a euphemism for 'the complete annihilation of the known world'.

However, the government's true motive for the campaign became clear later that year when it adopted a cute, long-eared rabbit as its mascot in civic literature and public information films. It also vigorously promoted a soft-toy 'Flopsy Bunny', as well as a fluffy, nuclear mushroom cloud called Arthur. 

In the run up to Christmas children begged their parents and Santa Claus for the aforementioned playthings and there were even riots in Scarfolk toy shops.

This bait-and-switch permitted the council to take the population's desire for 'Flopsy Bunny' (or total annihilation depending on one's interpretation) as consent to proceed with its plans to build a nuclear missile silo cum leisure centre below Scarfolk primary school. The Parent-Teacher Association at first protested the project but withdrew when they were given free sauna passes.

14 comments:

  1. does scarfolk exist in the same dimension as night vale

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    1. I was just thinking exactly the same.

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    2. Will now be checking out Night Vale on YouTube

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    3. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153620916696575&set=o.248480688605432&type=3

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  2. Is there any way to get to Scarfolk? Please, please, please, say yes... if the answer is no... please do not reply, leave me with some hope....

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  3. No one has heard from Dave since this post. We must assume he made it to Scarfolk. Have fun, Dave!

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  4. Are you asking for yourself or for a friend? The answer will depend on your reply.

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  5. is there anywhere i can get this poster?! in real life. i need it!

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  6. I am with harrie kd on this one. Is there any way to buy this icon poster or get a high res version for a private print?

    Any hint and pointers would be most welcome.

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  7. I think it's a lot closer to Royston-Vasey(For more information,please Google League Of Gentlemen)

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  8. Gossip is that Dave was disturbed by his lovely young wife's sudden and unexplained marriage to "Pappa Lazarou". But he was shortly after a delici (pardon) DELIGHTFUL guest at the local char club and fry-up.

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