What are Posters?
A poster is a large print
(sheet of paper on which text and/or graphics have been transferred
by mechanical means) with text and with or without graphics intended
for display and used to convey a message. The message is usually
informational in nature and meant to be easily understood and
may include a call for action. For example, a poster
with the text "CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING MATCH - Friday Night
at The Arena - Get your tickets now!" and a picture of two
boxers in a ring conveys a two-part message: (1) information
about a particular boxing match and (2) a call for action
from the viewer to see the event at the establishment whose name
is on the poster. A print with a picture but no text would not
qualify as a poster (as defined above) because there
is no obvious message being conveyed. A painting that has been
reproduced on paper is a print but if a message is attached
it becomes a poster. As long as a print is made for
display with a line or lines of text intended to convey a message,
it doesn't have to be actually put up or displayed to qualify
as a poster.
What are Movie Posters?
A movie poster is a large print
with both text and pictures used to promote (convey a message
about) a film about to be released or currently in release in
theaters. (Traditionally, paper made from wood pulp has been
and still is the primary substrate for printing posters but a
few movie posters are now printed on polyester film. Advertisements
printed on large pieces of vinyl are called banners.
Large 3 dimensional advertisements made with cardboard are called
standees.) The message is usually informational providing
a title, tag line/s and release date of a movie. A call to action
is implied: "If you like what you see on this poster, come
see the movie." Movie Posters rarely advertise incidental
or ancillary products or theaters in which the film is scheduled
to be shown. The art and text is designed to focus the viewer's
attention on the film and nothing else. (Old window card movie
posters are an exception, as they were regularly printed with
white space at the bottom or top for local theaters to fill in
where and when a film was being shown.)
Reprints and Reproductions of Movie Posters
Although reprinted movie posters and movie posters reproductions
are prints of posters, not the actual posters themselves, they
are still referred to as posters. They are printed primarily
for use as decorative art rather than for use in advertising
or promotion. The word poster broadly defined can refer
to any large print that is meant to be displayed. Collectors,
on the other hand, generally collect only the original printings
of a movie poster. Even though reprinted movie posters may appear
to be exact duplicates of original posters, they are not considered
to be "true collectibles" because they weren't printed
for advertising or promotional purposes.
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