Evolution - a film by Paul Witzig
Date1970
Object number00017307
NamePoster
MediumPrint on paper
DimensionsOverall: 379 x 227 mm, 0.009 kg
ClassificationsPosters and postcards
Credit LineANMM Collection
Purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds
DescriptionThis promotional poster for the movie 'Evolution' features a photograph of Australian Wayne Lynch surfing. This poster details the contents of the film and some information about its screening in Santa Barbara, California. The film was important in highlighting the first era of true Australian surfing dominance from 1967 - 1969.History'Evolution' was a 1969 surf movie featuring the Australian surfers Wayne Lynch and Nat Young as they travelled to France, Portugal, Italy, Morroco and to the surfing World titles in Puerto Rico. The film also featured slow motion footage of both surfers on their short boards. The film was produced by Paul Witzig an Australian filmmaker.
Hollywood began producing surf films in the late 1950s as the first generation of post-World War II War baby boomers reached adolescence. Surfing and the beach symbolised the idealism of carefree fun and freedom. Surfing films have been a critical ingredient in the popularity of surfing culture and have helped to popularised surfing and beach fashion. In the 1960s surf art moved off the covers of surfing magazines and onto film poster promoting movies featuring surfers riding large waves in exotic locations.
Surfing films provides an insight into the surfing lifestyle and have become part of surfing popular culture. They reflect the internationalism of surfing in their content an appeal. Surfing films provide the opportunity to watch talented and often high profile surfers catching waves that every surfer dream about riding.SignificanceThis poster is important in highlighting the screening of Australian surfing films in California.
