On second thought, do something.
hether prompted by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the mudslinging during last fall’s presidential election, or Sarah Palin’s cringe-inducing voice, the poster bearing the saying “Keep calm and carry on” has made a resurgence this past year.
Image: http://paulvieira.wordpress.com/2007/03/29/
The perfect Father's Day gift
The poster, which harkens back to the WWII era and invokes the crown and message of King George VI, seems to be cropping up everywhere lately. It even has its own freakin’ website, for crying out loud. And, I have to say, I kind of resent it. In fact, I just found the poster reproduced on beautiful porcelain tiles that I posted on my other blog today, and I couldn’t help but highlight my disdain for the message. I understand that King Georgie meant to reassure his people that “all capable measures to defend the Country were being taken” (SOURCE; see below), but I fail to see how “keeping calm” and “carrying on” with one’s daily routine equates to an engaging, active people. Europe was being taken over by Naziism and fascist dictators. Genocide was occurring. Millions of people were literally going up in smoke in concentration camps. AND YOU’RE COMMANDING PEOPLE TO KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON LIKE NOTHING’S THE MATTER?!?!?!?
I’m not a licensed physician or anything, but I *am* almost a doctor (PhD, MD, same diff), and I deem Georgie a wee bit delusional.
So, the fact that this message is finding its way onto cufflinks, deck chairs, rugs, and children’s clothing (?!? aren’t “children” and “calm” sort of oxymorons?!? I mean that in a good way. Children should not just “carry on”… children should react and do the whole pleasure principle thing, damn it)… it disturbs me. I don’t like it one bit.
(Images above found HERE)
Which is why, when I found the following images, I smiled, clapped my hands, and acted like a general non-calm lunatic out of sheer happiness and comfort:
That's more like it.
How perfect is that?!? Olly Moss created the print above, and there are now t-shirts and mugs, too. Not sure about the cufflinks. I’ll get back to you.
I’ve seen this version around, too:
Found here: http://www.monster-munch.com/2008/08/
But I don’t get it. Cool guitar, but… keeping calm seems a bit counter-intuitive to “rocking on” as far as I’m concerned. How does one calmly rock? Headbanging while smoking weed? I don’t get it.
Oh, and then I found this version:
From here: http://www.notcot.com/archives/2009/03/make_things.php
That saying’s pretty cool, but it sort of ignores the politicality (is that a word? again, I’m almost a doctor, so please just accept it as real) of the “Freak out” poster. I think I’d like it better if the crown were still upside down and then the message said something like “BE PROACTIVE” or “ENGAGE” or “DON’T BE A COMPLACENT @SSHOLE” or something like that.
I’m not too picky.
[...] Maybe I’ll write more about it on my other blog. [...]
Oh, so that’s where that image comes from! I had no idea, and it was really bothering me because it’s been popping up all over the place for awhile now (especially on etsy).
But in spring 1939, the war hadn’t begun, nor had the “Final Solution.” I think you can argue that the idea of continuing to act normally shows a great deal of strength and resolve, as well as belief in the fundamental “rightness” of the nation’s way of life (it doesn’t mean I think that British life in 1939 was the be-all-and-end-all – just ask the residents of Britain’s colonies if they thought so, for instance – but I don’t think it’s just a head-in-the-sand attitude).
@Gareth: yes yes, very true: 1939 was the dawn of the War. I can appreciate the desire to “keep the peace” and NON-fear-based leadership (*cue W. with a look of utter delirium on his face… per usual)… but the message still bothers me. Particularly in light of its regained popularity lately, seemingly as an aesthetic that lost its historical base and has evolved into another poster on another bedroom wall. With all that’s going on right now???? Keeping calm makes me want to punch my pillows.
I do agree that it seems like a weird thing to have become so popular again, but in the context of Britain c. 1939 some part of me still finds it quite admirable (even at the risk of feeding into much-beloved British self-stereotyping of calm in the face of catastrophe!).
[...] 1. MUSTACHES???? Really??? Why is a fake mustache the latest fashion and party trend? Mustache-themed weddings, mustache parties, mustache jewelry, mustache hair pins, mustache hand towels… How has creepily tweaked facial hair become its own must-have party theme? When did it become a good idea to resemble the Pringles dude? I don’t get it. Holding a mask up to your face is one thing — still rather creepy, but not a gender-identified follicular occurrence. It might even annoy me more than the “Keep Calm & Carry On” craze. [...]