Speedway 1968

Robert McGinnis’s poster for “Speedway” is a dynamic composition of contrasting colours and stylized forms. The figures are depicted in bold, flat planes, with Elvis in a striking pastel jacket and black trousers, his pose echoed by Nancy Sinatra in a white dress and boots. The design cleverly uses a semiotic language of the era. Note the dancing figures above the title, frozen in moments of exuberance that capture the thrill of speed and performance. The vivid pinks and purples in the background clash with the cooler tones of the foreground, creating a visual tension that embodies the film's high-energy narrative. The figures are stylized as signs, embodying cultural codes of coolness, modernity, and speed which are heightened through the flat graphic style of the poster. McGinnis's design uses visual tension to create a dynamic interplay between image and text. This tension invites us to think critically about how art engages with our culture.