The Student Pocket Guide | What Do Posters Say About Us?
by Nathan Wadlow

Posters are underrated symbols of our livelihood. They are expressions of who we are, collectively as humans, but also as individuals. For decades they have defined the progression of our modern existence and to this day remain an integral part of portraying different cultures, politics, art and our personal interests. They communicate, explain, explore and tantalize our attentions, bringing people together yet dividing them apart.

But what do your posters say about you? We’ve all had them. Our childhood bedroom walls may still be stained with the bluey residue that once held up our worshipped icons. Girls, maybe your walls were papered over with pop culture and boy bands, or the latest heartthrob of a blockbuster movie about vampires (a certain Mr Cullen no doubt). Boys, maybe yours were slap dashed with posing Baywatch stars, cars, footballers or a cheesy ‘funny but not funny’ chess piece reading ‘Pawn Star!’. Stereotyping, I know, but so many personal traits can be established through which artistic sheets of shiny paper we have placed on the walls of homes.

There are some which have more than stood the test of time; ones which most of you will be familiar with. The black and white ‘Lunch atop a Skyscraper’, with the 1930’s New York construction workers casually eating lunch on a scaffolding beam has resonated through time. War time propaganda, including the infamous ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ have equally survived the years. Of the modern day, movie posters stand tall, with the likes of Trainspotting, Pulp Fiction and Scarface becoming iconic cult symbols whilst current bestsellers include everyone’s favourite Canadian, Justin Beiber, and boyish console games.

So, there you have it. Posters explain our history and are our history. Why don’t you tell your own story today and check out GB Posters. Who knows what you may find…