View source for Scarfolk

{{short description|Fictional northern English town}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox website
| name                 = Scarfolk
| logo                 = [[File:Scarfolk Council.png|frameless|center]]
| logocaption          =
| screenshot           =
| collapsible          =
| collapsetext         =
| caption              =
| url                  = {{URL|scarfolk.blogspot.com}}
| commercial           =
| type                 = [[Graphic design]]/[[internet humor]] blog
| registration         =
| language             = English
| num_users            =
| content_license      =
| programming language =
| owner                =
| author               = Richard Littler
| current_status       = Active
| footnotes            =
}}
'''Scarfolk''' is a fictional [[North West England|northwestern English]] town created by writer and designer Richard Littler, who is sometimes identified as the town mayor, L. Ritter. It is trapped in a [[time loop]] set in the 1970s, and its culture, parodying that of Britain at the time, features elements of the absurd and the macabre. It was first released as a blog of fake historical documents parodying British [[public information]] posters of the 1970s, and a collected book was published in 2014, and the ''Scarfolk Annual'' was released in 2019.<ref name="Annual">{{cite web|last1=Littler|first1=Richard|title=Scarfolk Annual|url=https://www.harpercollins.com/9780008307011/the-scarfolk-annual/|publisher=HarperCollins|accessdate=15 October 2019}}</ref> Scarfolk is depicted as a bleak, post-industrial landscape through unsettling images of urban life; Littler's output belongs to the genres of [[hauntology]] and [[dystopia]]n satire; his psychologically disturbing form of humour has been likened to the writings of [[George Orwell]] and [[J. G. Ballard]].<ref name="The Independent"/><ref name="The Daily Telegraph"/>
==Description==
Scarfolk, which is forever locked in the 1970s, is a satire not only on that decade but also on contemporary events. It touches on themes of totalitarianism, suburban life, occultism and religion, school and childhood, as well as social attitudes such as racism and sexism.
Scarfolk was initially presented as a fake blog which purportedly releases artefacts from archive of the fictional [[Local government in England|town council]], Scarfolk Council. Artefacts include public information literature, out-of-print books, record and cassette sleeves, advertisements, television programme screenshots, household products, and audio and video, many of which suggest brands and imagery recognisable from the period. Additionally, artefacts are usually accompanied by short fictional vignettes that are also presented as factual and that introduce the town's residents. The public information literature often ends with the strapline: "For more information please reread."
==Aesthetic==
The aesthetic is utilitarian, inspired by public sector materials in the United Kingdom such as [[public information film]]s and posters issued by the [[Central Office of Information]] and [[British Transport Films]] during the 1970s. [[Photo manipulation|Digitally altered photographs]] and illustrations parody publicity campaigns of the period such as ''[[Protect and Survive]]'', ''[[Charley Says]]'' and ''[[The Finishing Line]]'', as well as contemporary [[Penguin Books|Penguin]] and [[Pelican Books|Pelican]] paperback book covers and children's toys, such as [[Action Man]]. Images are altered to convey a sinister or potentially violent message and are deliberately [[Distressing|distressed]] to appear worn and [[Dog ears|dog-eared]].<ref name="The Daily Telegraph"/><ref name="The Independent"/><ref name="Dangerous Minds"/><ref name="comicsbeat">{{cite web|last1=Seven|first1=John|title=Syndicated Comics|url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/indie-view-the-scarfolk-annual-is-not-fiction-and/|website=The Beat|accessdate=2 May 2020|date=6 December 2019}}</ref>
Writing in ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' author Richard Littler stated that his Scarfolk style was the product of several influences, including [[George Orwell]], television programmes such as ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]'' and ''[[The League of Gentlemen]]'', satirist [[Chris Morris (satirist)|Chris Morris]], and the work of cartoonists [[Gerald Scarfe]] and [[Ralph Steadman]]. Littler considers Scarfolk as part [[hauntology]], an aesthetic movement that draws on "the darker aspects of the 1970s".<ref name="The Daily Telegraph"/> Littler also drew on the satirical 2002 television science series ''[[Look Around You]]''.<ref name="Dangerous Minds"/>
Littler has said "I was always scared as a kid, always frightened of what I was faced with. … You’d walk into [[WHSmith]]... and see horror books with people’s faces melting. Kids’ TV included things like ''[[Children of the Stones]]'', a very odd series you just wouldn’t get today. I remember [[The Finishing Line|a public information film made by some train organisation]] in which a children’s sports day was held on train tracks and, one by one, they were killed. It was insane. … I’m just taking it to the next logical step."<ref>{{cite web|author=Anorak|url=http://www.anorak.co.uk/395615/keyposts/inside-scarfolk-an-interview-with-the-mayor-of-dystopia-uk-richard-littler.html/|title= Inside Scarfolk: An Interview With The Mayor Of Dystopia UK, Richard Littler|publisher=Anorak.co.uk|date=25 April 2014|accessdate=14 October 2014}}</ref>
==Media controversies==
In January 2014, the ''[[London Evening Standard]]'' published an article<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imperica.com/en/news/saatchi-scarfolked-evening-standard|title=Saatchi is Scarfolked - Imperica - arts, technology, and media magazine|publisher=Imperica|date=30 January 2014|accessdate=14 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018035737/http://www.imperica.com/en/news/saatchi-scarfolked-evening-standard#|archive-date=18 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> by [[Charles Saatchi]], which accidentally included the cover of a Scarfolk book called ''Eating Children: Population Control & The Food Crisis'' instead of the intended [[Jonathan Swift]] publication ''[[A Modest Proposal]]'' ([[1729 in literature|1729]]).
In July 2018, a parody Scarfolk poster was mistakenly featured in the UK government's in-house magazine ''Civil Service Quarterly'' as part of a serious article about the history of government communications. The inclusion of the poster, which bore the slogan "If you suspect your child has RABIES, don't hesitate to SHOOT", attracted some media attention.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-44911209|work=[[BBC News]]|title=Government admits rabies poster gaffe|date=21 July 2018}}</ref><ref name=skynewsgaffeart>{{cite news|title=Gaffe as civil service magazine prints poster telling parents to shoot rabid children|url=https://news.sky.com/story/gaffe-as-civil-service-magazine-prints-poster-telling-parents-to-shoot-rabid-children-11443626|accessdate=19 June 2022|work=Sky News}}</ref>
==Reception==
Scarfolk has received positive reactions from the public and media in the United Kingdom and abroad. ''[[GQ Magazine]]'' called it one of "The 100 Funniest Things in the History of the Internet".<ref>{{cite web|author=Jeff Johnson|author2=David Roth|author2-link=|author3=Drew Magary|author3-link=Drew Magary|author4=Mark Byrne|author4-link=|author5=Andrew Richdale|author6=John Surico|author7=Alex French|author7-link=|author8=Jennifer Schwartz|author9=Lu Fong|name-list-style=amp|url=https://www.gq.com/entertainment/humor/201306/100-funniest-things-on-the-internet-june-2013?currentPage=17|title=The 100 Funniest Things in the History of the Internet|publisher=GQ Magazine|date=May 2013|accessdate=14 October 2014}}</ref> Reviews and interviews with Littler have appeared in publications such as ''[[Creative Review]]'',<ref>{{cite web|author=Mark Sinclair|url=http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2013/march/scarfolk|title=Creative Review – Have you been to Scarfolk?|publisher=Creative Review|date=27 March 2013|accessdate=14 October 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427095725/http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2013/march/scarfolk |archivedate=27 April 2015}}</ref> ''[[The Independent]]'',<ref name="The Independent">{{cite web|author=Simon Usborne|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/how-to-wash-a-childs-brain-designer-richard-littler-creates-fictional-world-based-on-terrifying-public-service-films-8577418.html#disqus_thread|title=How to wash a child's brain: Designer Richard Littler creates fictional world based on terrifying public service films – Features – Films – The Independent|publisher=The Independent|date=17 April 2013|accessdate=14 October 2014}}</ref> ''[[Telegraph Media Group|The Telegraph]]'',<ref>{{cite web|author=Beverley Turner|author-link=Beverley Turner|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/mother-tongue/10016373/Its-time-to-toughen-up-kids.-Start-terrifying-them-Scarfolk-style.html|title=It's time to toughen up kids. Start terrifying them 'Scarfolk' style – The Telegraph|publisher=The Telegraph|date=25 April 2013|accessdate=14 October 2014}}</ref> ''[[Stylenoir]]'',<ref>{{cite web|author=Stylenoir|author-link=Stylenoir|url=https://www.facebook.com/stylenoirmagazine/posts/10152257835928401|title=Check out Scarfolk Council if you haven't already. – Stylenoir Magazine|publisher=Facebook|date=10 June 2014|accessdate=14 October 2014}}</ref> and ''[[The Honest Ulsterman]]'',<ref>{{cite web|author=Darran Anderson|url=http://www.humag.co/features/the-creeping-terror-of-childhood|title=The Creeping Terror of Childhood|publisher=The Honest Ulsterman|date=June 2014|accessdate=14 October 2014}}</ref> and have been featured by popular online sites such as ''[[Boing Boing]]''<ref>{{cite web|author=Cory Doctorow|author-link=Cory Doctorow|url=http://boingboing.net/2013/04/23/wyndhamesque-missives-from-sca.html|title=Wyndhamesque missives from Scarfolk, an English horror-town trapped in a 1969-79 loop – Boing Boing|publisher=Boing Boing|date=23 April 2013|accessdate=14 October 2014}}</ref> and ''Dangerous Minds''.<ref name="Dangerous Minds">{{cite web|author=Martin Schneider|author-link=Martin Schneider|url=http://dangerousminds.net/comments/welcome_to_scarfolk_the_most_twisted_english_village_of_the_1970s|title=Welcome to Scarfolk, the most twisted English village of the 1970s|publisher=Dangerous Minds|date=23 April 2013|accessdate=14 October 2014}}</ref>
''[[Design Week]]'' called ''Scarfolk'' "a queasy, unsettling provincial place".<ref>{{cite web|author=Angus Montgomery|url=http://www.designweek.co.uk/we-like/discovering-scarfolk/3039188.article|title=We Like: Discovering Scarfolk|publisher=Design Week|date=6 October 2014|accessdate=14 October 2014}}</ref>
==Associated works==
===''Discovering Scarfolk''===
{{Infobox book
|italic title = no
|name = Discovering Scarfolk
|image = Discovering_Scarfolk_front_cover.jpg
|caption = Front cover
|first = Richard
|last = Littler
|illustrator =
|cover_artist =
|country = England
|language = English
|series =
|subject = Scarfolk
|genre = {{Flatlist|
* Guide
* Satire
}}
|publisher=[[Ebury Publishing]]<ref name="Amazon.co.uk">{{cite web|author=|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Discovering-Scarfolk-Richard-Littler/dp/0091958482|title=Discovering Scarfolk: Amazon.co.uk: Richard Littler: 9780091958480: Books|publisher=[[Amazon.com]]|date=|accessdate=2 November 2014}}</ref><ref name="The Bookseller">{{cite web|first=Caroline|last=Carpenter|url=http://www.thebookseller.com/news/ebury-publish-scarfolk-story|title=Ebury to publish Scarfolk story|publisher=[[The Bookseller]]|date=25 November 2013|accessdate=2 November 2014}}</ref>
|release_date=16 October 2014<ref name="Amazon.co.uk"/>
|media_type = Hardcover
|pages = 192<ref name="Amazon.co.uk"/>
|isbn = 0091958482
|isbn_note = <ref name="Amazon.co.uk"/>
|preceded_by =
|followed_by = Scarfolk Annual
}}
A book called ''Discovering Scarfolk'', which tells the story of a family trapped in the town, was published in October 2014 by [[Ebury Publishing|Ebury Press]].<ref name="The Bookseller"/><ref name="Digital Arts">{{cite web|author=Neil Bennett|author-link=|url=http://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/news/graphic-design/discovering-scarfolk-is-mock-70s-guidebook-with-creepy-funny-posters-book-covers/|title=Discovering Scarfolk is a mock 70s guidebook with creepy, funny posters and book covers|publisher=[[Digital Arts]]|date=13 October 2014|accessdate=14 October 2014}}</ref> It is a guide to all aspects of Scarfolk and covers the "frenzied archive of Daniel Bush, whose sons 'disappeared' in Scarfolk in 1970."<ref name="The Bookseller"/> Littler has said that the book "attempts to guide you through the darkness by making light of the contradictions and it promises not to unnerve you. Well, not too much anyway."<ref name="The Daily Telegraph">{{cite web|first=Richard|last=Littler|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/11164727/Why-the-1970s-was-the-most-terrifying-decade.html|title=Why the 1970s was the most terrifying decade - Telegraph|publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=16 October 2014|accessdate=2 November 2014}}</ref>
''[[Boing Boing]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s co-editor [[Cory Doctorow]] said "[''Discovering Scarfolk''] looks to be absolutely genius."<ref>{{cite web|author=Cory Doctorow|author-link=Cory Doctorow|url=http://boingboing.net/2014/08/14/scarfolk-creepy-blog-will-be.html|title=Scarfolk: creepy blog will be an amazing book - Boing Boing|publisher=Boing Boing|date=14 August 2014|accessdate=2 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Cory Doctorow|author-link=Cory Doctorow|url=http://boingboing.net/2014/08/14/scarfolk-creepy-blog-will-be.html|title=Scarfolk: creepy blog is now an amazing book - Boing Boing|publisher=Boing Boing|date=16 October 2014|accessdate=2 November 2014}}</ref> ''Digital Arts'' reviewed ''Discovering Scarfolk'' favorably with "We've seen so many blogs turned into books that it should probably be its own genre, but ''Discovering Scarfolk'' is one of the few to stand on its own and deserve to be more than a [sic] ill-conceived Christmas present."<ref name="Digital Arts"/> ''[[Starburst (magazine)|Starburst]]'' gave ''Discovering Scarfolk'' nine out of ten stars, calling it "a hilarious novel filled with so-creepy-it’s funny illustrations and a relentlessly silly back story."<ref>{{cite web|first=Ed|last=Fortune|url=http://www.starburstmagazine.com/reviews/book-reviews-latest-literary-releases/9794-discovering-scarfolk-book|title=Discovering Scarfolk|publisher=Starburst|date=22 September 2014|accessdate=2 November 2014}}</ref>
In his review of [[The Advisory Circle]]{{'}}s ''[[From Out Here]]'' ([[2014 in music|2014]]), musician [[DJ Food]] remarked both ''From Out Here'' and ''Discovering Scarfolk'' define "a good portion of the visual stimulus associated with the hauntological genre."<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|title=The Advisory Circle’s ‘From Out Here’ album|url=http://www.djfood.org/the-advisory-circles-from-out-here-album/|work=[[DJ Food]]|date=15 December 2014|accessdate=20 February 2015}}</ref>
===''Scarfolk Annual''===
{{Infobox book
|italic title  = no
|name          = Scarfolk Annual
|image         =
|caption       =
|first         = Richard
|last          = Littler
|illustrator   =
|cover_artist  =
|country       = England
|language      = English
|series        =
|subject       = Scarfolk
|genre         = {{Flatlist|
* Guide
* Satire
}}
|publisher     = [[HarperCollins|William Collins]]<ref name="Scarfolk Annual">{{cite web|author=|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scarfolk-Annual-Richard-Littler/dp/0008307016/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=scarfolk+annual&qid=1571436065&sr=8-1|title=The Scarfolk Annual: Amazon.co.uk: Richard Littler: 9780008307011: Books|website=Amazon.co.uk|date=17 October 2019|accessdate=18 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="Scarfolk Annual publication">{{cite web|title=Sanctioned "Scarfolk Annual" On Its Way |url=https://downthetubes.net/?p=109835|website=downthetubes.net|date=8 August 2019|accessdate=18 October 2019}}</ref>
|release_date  = 17 October 2019<ref name="Scarfolk Annual"/>
|media_type    = Hardcover
|pages         = 136
|isbn          = 978-0008307011
|isbn_note     =
|preceded_by   = Discovering Scarfolk
|followed_by   = Scarfolk & Environs
}}
A follow-up book to ''Discovering Scarfolk'' entitled ''Scarfolk Annual'' was published by [[HarperCollins]] on 17 October 2019. It satirises the British [[Annual (comics)|comic annual]] format and the cover resembles the [[BBC Publications]] annual based on the children's TV show ''[[Play School (British TV series)|Play School]]''.<ref name="comicsbeat"/>
===''Scarfolk & Environs: Road & Leisure Map For Uninvited Tourists''===
{{Infobox book
|italic title  = no
|name          = Scarfolk & Environs: Road & Leisure Map For Uninvited Tourists
|image         =
|caption       =
|first         = Richard
|last          = Littler
|illustrator   =
|cover_artist  =
|country       = England
|language      = English
|series        =
|subject       = Scarfolk
|genre         = {{Flatlist|
* Guide
* Satire
}}
|publisher     = Herb Lester Associates Ltd<ref name="Scarfolk & Environs">{{cite web|author=|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scarfolk-Environs-Leisure-Uninvited-Tourists/dp/1838216707|title=Scarfolk & Environs: Amazon.co.uk: Richard Littler: 9781838216702: Books|website=Amazon.co.uk}}</ref>
|release_date  = 17 October 2019<ref name="Scarfolk & Environs"/>
|media_type    = Paperback
|pages         =
|isbn          = 9781838216702
|isbn_note     =
|preceded_by   = Scarfolk Annual
|followed_by   =
}}
A folded map entitled ''Scarfolk & Environs: Road & Leisure Map for Uninvited Tourists'' was published by Herb Lester Associates Ltd on 2 November 2020.
===Unproduced television series===
A ''Scarfolk'' television series, co-written by English writer and comedian [[Will Smith (comedian)|Will Smith]], was described as "in the works" in 2018,<ref name=skynewsgaffeart /> but ultimately did not enter production.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/scarfolk/|title=Scarfolk – TV comedy drama that was never made – 2018|accessdate=19 June 2022}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[Welcome to Night Vale]]
==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=35em}}
==External links==
* {{Official|scarfolk.blogspot.com}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1t7KxXy44QC5qC1R0h53Mg Scarfolk] on YouTube
[[Category:2014 books]]
[[Category:2019 books]]
[[Category:British satirical websites]]
[[Category:Dystopian fiction]]
[[Category:Fictional populated places in England]]
[[Category:Hauntology]]
[[Category:Works set in the 1970s]]