The "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster has become so popular that the slogan is seen all over, and not just on posters anymore. Many love the graphic imagery and positive message, but others have become fed up with this design trend. Regardless of your stance on this now iconic poster, its origins are rooted in history and are quite fascinating.
NOTCOT, a favorite source for all things creative and interesting, has featured the short "Story of Keep Calm and Carry On," which chronicles the origins of the poster and its subsequent re-discovery by the folks at Barter Books.
Barter Books is a secondhand bookshop located in Alnwick's old Victorian railway station in Britain. One of Flavorwire's 20 Most Beautiful Bookstores In The World, it is worthy of its own post dedicated to the gorgeous inner workings, preserved tea rooms and waiting rooms.
After winning an auction for a box of antique books, the owners of Barter Books found one of the original Keep Calm posters that the British government had printed during WWII. Thus began a design trend that has swept the world. Take a look at this beautiful video that tells all about the provenance of the iconic poster.
Images: 1. via I Watch Stuff 2. via Flavorwire Video: from BarterBooksLtd on YouTube, via Notcot)
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What a cool post! I know everyone is over these posters, but the "Keep Calm and Drink Wine" sign above the bar area in my house really makes me smile daily. :)
I would die for a print that says 'Keep Calm and Carry on My Wayward Son' with a classic Chevy impala somewhere on it. Points to anyone who gets the reference.
Still, the history of the original is really interesting. <3
Hey, TheTrickstr, try Kansas. They might have it. ;-)
I bought one years ago directly from Barter Books and still love it. It hangs in my office at work and when I am having a hectic day, it is a great reminder.
@TheTrickstr, you're not talking about the CW show are you? That series is the last thing that keeps you calm with all those damn cliffhangers.
You can make your own at http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/
Thank you for the post and the links. I love books and anything that has to do with them usually peaks my interest.
That is a great story. On another note I've just made a new goal for myself to visit this bookstore.
I recently wrote a post on it...had been seeing the poster and it's variations all over the place so I had to know where it came from...as all things turned classic, the quote is timeless, there's always something stirring and we mustn't forget to keep calm and carry on...an answer in times of distress-daily distress...but of all the variations the one i love the most is KEEP CALM AND WRITE A BLOG...I've got it pinned over my computer...it is the answer to my daily craziness..thanks for sharing the wonderful video: barter's books should be added to every England tour guide...
@THETRICKSTR - Will you please be my friend?
This is fascinating. I had NO IDEA the poster had such history; I sincerely thought it was the brainchild of some genius etsy seller.
I have tons of keep calm stuff now... I got "KEEP CALM (om symbol) CARRY ON" tattooed on my inner wrist, about the size of a deck of cards... and now everyone gets me Keep Calm mugs, shirts, posters, etc... but I'm telling you, some days when I want to kill people (thanks to living in an urban area with a billion people, some days I just can't cope!), seeing "Keep Calm" on my wrist chillls me out before I end up in jail. LOL
I knew the saying originated during WWII, but didn't know about the bookstore. What a bookstore!! It's now on my list of places I want to visit. Or possibly live. Yeah, I could live in that bookstore.
what a beautiful story!
This is beautiful. So these posters were never seen during the war? Maybe it's just as well. The sentiment they express -- and the crown above them, the comforting symbol of a stable monarchy -- seems so peculiarly British, yet I can imagine that if I were a British citizen trying to keep a stiff upper lip in war-torn London, the last thing I would want would be a heavy-handed reminder from the government not to lose it. "You want me to WHAT?" would be my response.
But while I don't own one of these myself, I actually like the meme. The actual message seems more relevant now, when most of the people displaying it have far less serious, but still occasionally overwhelming, concerns. "Keep calm"? Yeah, I can do that. And the history behind the poster reminds us that yes, it could be worse.
i think i like the poster a little more now that i know its history
I sell vinyl lettering and have sold many iterations of this, as well as the original image. Some of my customer requests: Keep Calm and Carry A Wand (for Halloween), Keep Calm and Bah Humbug, Keep Calm and Argh Matey. I can definitely do the Carry On My Wayward Sons one. I also get a lot of requests for sorority and fraternity versions. I blogged it here: http://pleaseuseyourwords.blogspot.com/2011/12/keep-calm-and-uppercase.html.
Huh, I always thought the history of the poster was common knowledge... I actually thought that's why it was so popular, because of it's history.
It's lovely to read about it's re-discovery, and how it came to be in the 21st Century. I do, though, hope the trend comes to an end soon. It's a little blah to see them in all the cafes/shops at the moment - "Keep Calm and Drink Coffee" etc.
Also would like to be friends with the trickster and think that is the coolest "keep calm" poster idea EVER. A little irritated with the person that thought you ment some show. Deffinately don't hate these signs anymore and kinda like 'em. I too thought it was some thing from etsy. foolish foolish me.
Another example of something meaningful that is now regarded as kitch. However I do love THETRICKSTR's idea. I live in Kansas and I love the band Kansas (have a VERY complicated relationship with The Wizard of Oz). Will have to look out for that poster!!!
What a wonderful video! I do believe Hugo lives in that bookshop! I would love to give it a try. Full disclosure: I have a red one right by my desk and I love looking at it. There, I said it.
Ugh, I HATE all the stupid iterations of this out there these days. I'm with thorndale and hinmelb.
LOL, Hi new friends!
@Kayloco, it definitely is about both a show and the band. Kansas' 'Carry on my Wayward Son' features heavily in all seven episodes of Supernatural on the CW. If it lends into my cred in any way, I got into the show for the music first (Metallica, AC/DC, Kansas, Led Zep, on and on!), monsters second. :P
nope, still hate it. but i like a lot of the spoofs.
I appreciate the history but enough all ready. The first time I saw one I thought, "oh that's cute." Now, I want to poke my eye out every time I see one (or the different variations).
It's funny. I just wrote a post on my blog last week about how over this trend I am. Etsy has a MULTITUDE of people who sell posters, etc., including "Keep Calm and Chewy On" which is a very non-hilarious Star Wars reference. It all just makes me want to keep calm and murder everyone around me...
I've had one on my living room wall for a while now... I realise it's been done to death, but it's in such a nice shade of blue I can't get rid of it.
And I think a weekend trip to that bookshop is in order.
Very cool! ^_^ @Thorndale, I also wonder about what the designer of the original poster would think of all this. My father-in-law enlisted in the Army at the start of the Vietnam war (so he could choose a job that did not involve combat; hooray pacifist!), and while he started in building maintenance, someone noticed that he could draw and recruited him to draw propaganda. I've never seen any of his propaganda, nor does he like to talk about it...but how weird would it be to have what was just an ordinary work assignment go viral like that?
I've always known the history of it, and I'm still annoyed by everyone who is annoyed by "too many of them" "done to death".
I've said it before and I'll say it again... even though I've seen the signs all over AT and all over the blogosphere, I have never seen one in the home of anyone I have ever met.
When I do, or when I discover more than two of them... maybe I'll agree that they're overdone.
Meanwhile, I would love to have a "Freedom is in Peril" one!!
@trickster LOL - I love it! If you find one, please let me know where i can get one of my own.
I'm so glad to know the history of this iconic image. Like many others, I had grown sick of seeing it everywhere, but now I have a new appreciation for it. It truly is a timeless phrase and one that really resonates with me.
I like the original poster, but hate, hate, HATE the myriad spoofs. I didn't know it had never been seen by the British public, but it's probably just as well. I read recently that the reaction of British citizens to the rather heavy-handed and paternalistic propoganda of the British government during WWII wasn't the most enthusiastic. Especially not after the Nazi bombing raids. It is a bit paternalistic, but only if you think of it as someone else telling you to keep calm and carry on. If you tell that to yourself it's rather galvanizing.
I just saw one in a dorm window - keep calm and chive on - what?! what?! I'm missing something...
I was there last May and took a similar picture. That is a gorgeous bookstore!
the poster is great, but CAN WE TALK ABOUT THAT BOOK STORE?!! Holy amazing. I mean, that place looks like heaven. I want to go to there.
THETRICKSTR:
I love you so much. I hope your character gets brought back.
I'm hoping the concludes "THE END" because I am firmly in the "never want to see this again" camp.
Thank-you. It's so cool to know the background. I like the posters even better now, though I am tired of seeing them everywhere.