| Inspirational posters decorate the walls, kiosks, and offices of most major American corporations. These posters have become cliches. They purport to advance community spirit by "sloganizing" about teamwork, ambition, and persistence. Typically, however, these inspirational posters offer bombastic platitudes overlain against pictures of natural landscapes. Cultural observers contend that inspirational posters represent a kind of propaganda, promising a perfect life to those who adhere to certain moral standards. However, ironies abound when it comes to inspirational posters. These posters, which feature gorgeous pictures of natural wildernesses, end up crammed inside stuffy, stale office buildings. The ironic juxtaposition of the posters with the sad reality of their settings tends to deflate, not inflate company morale. In reaction to the spread of inspirational posters across the land, several designers got together and created so-called "uninspirational" posters. These posters attempt to "de-motivate" people. Instead of sloganizing with words like "persistence," "triumph," and "serenity," they feature captions about "failure," "ineptitude," and "giving up." An inspirational poster might depict a skier making an impossibly graceful leap onto a glistening white glacier below. This poster's uninspirational counterpart, on the other hand, might feature that same skier crashing and tumbling down the hill. Whether you are looking to send up a bombastic superior or amuse a friend at the office, an uninspirational poster might be just the item you need. Collectors may also want to gather uninspirational posters while they're still relatively inexpensive. Every year, the original series posters appreciate in value by leaps and bounds. |
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