Analsysis on the Keep Calm and Carry On Poster

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The “Keep Calm and Carry On” poster is a simple yet compelling image. It has a bold attracting color and only consists of five words and an image of a crown on top. It has a deeper meaning than just the five words it includes. It can be influential in so many different ways to many people. There are a couple of reasons as to why I chose this image due to its message and background information. It has a direct approach and says what it means but still makes you think about what the artist is trying to portray. The poster originated in Britain in 1939, months before the Second World War began. It was created to help motivate and boost the morale of the citizens of Britain at that time. After the First World War, the British public was afraid of what the second war’s aftermath would leave behind. Therefore, the Ministry of Information came up with the idea to make a poster to keep its citizens calm and composed. The crown on top of the poster is called a “Tudor”; a symbolic crown of King George VI. It was a commonly used symbol of the government. There is no record of who originally came up with the idea of the poster. During the time of its release, it was never officially seen by the public and most of the posters created were destroyed. This poster in particular was one of three posters created for this time period but this one made a lasting impression. I chose this image because of its message and how it pertains to my life. I first came across the poster when I took a chorus trip to London for their New Year’s Day Parade back in 2011/2012. I saw it in a London souvenir shop and was immediately drawn to it. I really enjoy its overall message. When I look at it, I feel a sense of hope and calmness. The bold red colored background... ... middle of paper ... ... is still in existence, the “Keep Calm” legacy will continue. Even though the image is simple and consists of a few words, its message is still motivational and inspiring. The poster’s original purpose was to motivate the people of Britain during a time of need but today it motivates people through their own times of need. From its few details and color choice, a lot can be taken away from this image. It has a lasting impact that has lasted from 1939 to present day. The image has created so many other posters because of how people viewed it. They either embraced the original or expanded on the original idea to make it their own. The background of this image gives a great amount of insight on how it came to be and that its purpose was for the greater good. It’s a great feeling for citizens of a country to know that their government cares about how their people feel.

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