Have you ever noticed how movie posters make heads turn, especially when they are not displayed at a movie theater? Do you feel that movie posters somehow connect you to a certain period of your life when that movie was shown in the theaters?
Movie posters have always had a certain magnetism around them that sparks off memories of the movie it portrays and the symbolism of the movie itself. For example, the classical movie poster of Gone with the Wind resembles the romance and tragedy of its time. Many folks who watched this movie for the first time during the 60s now are reminded of their youth whenever they catch a glimpse of this poster. They reflect on the naivety of that time and how they had imagined themselves as Rhett Butler or Scarlett O’Hara. Perhaps they had watched this movie with their sweethearts and are reminded of the good times they had then.
If you observe each movie poster with care, you will also notice that they have all been carefully designed and put together with great creativity. Of course, before the launch of a movie these posters need to look interesting, attractive or mysterious in order to qualify as publicity material. However, in order to be all that, the theme of a design needs to reflect the elements of the movie, as well as to be authentic and original. Most importantly, it must appeal to the mass audience. People should want to say to themselves, “I wonder what this movie is going to be about” when they see a movie poster. If this reaction is successfully created, then the movie poster has achieved its objective.
People collect movie posters for various reasons. Of course there are the teenage collectors who put up movie posters to reflect their individuality. Some swoon over their movie star idols and therefore put their posters up to show everyone and themselves who they love. Whatever the reason is, teenagers make up the majority of movie poster collectors.
Some adults make it a hobby to collect movie posters too. It’s like collecting stamps, coins or baseball cards. They keep their posters safe and put up the ones that they love most. It may not bring much monetary satisfaction to them, but these posters are often an object of admiration. The way in which the elements within these posters are uniquely put together generates an enigma that no other item can.
Yet there are also those who frame up movie posters and use them as decorative pictures for their home. To them, the movie poster is a work of art and is to be admired. Also, to the romantics, movie posters remind them of a time in their lives which may have been enjoyable, happy or just memorable. Movie posters have a way of bringing us back in time, especially to a season when things were much less complicated, and movies were always great events to look forward to.
