Design and production
The poster was initially produced by the Ministry of
Information,[1]
at the beginning of the Second World War. It was intended to be distributed in
order to strengthen morale in the event of a wartime disaster, such as mass
bombing of major cities using high explosives and poison gas, which was widely
expected within hours of an outbreak of war. Over 2,500,000 copies were
printed, although the poster was distributed only in limited numbers, and never
saw public display.[5]
The poster was third in a series of
three. The previous two posters from the series, "Freedom Is In Peril.
Defend It With All Your Might" and "Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness,
Your Resolution Will Bring Us Victory" were issued and used across
Britain for motivational purposes, as the Ministry of Information assumed that
the events of the first weeks
of the war would demoralise the population.[6] Planning for the posters started in April
1939; by June designs were prepared, and by August 1939, production had begun,
and the posters were ready to be placed up within 24 hours of the outbreak of
war. The posters were intended to be associated with the Ministry of
Information, and to incorporate a unique and recognisable lettering and design,
with a message from the King to his people. An icon of a "Tudor" crown (a
widely used symbol of government authority) was chosen to head the poster,
rather than a photograph. The slogans were created by civil servants, with a
career civil servant named Waterfield coming up with "Your Courage"
as "a rallying war-cry that will bring out the best in everyone of us and
put us in an offensive mood at once". These particular posters were
designed as "a statement of the duty of the individual citizen",
un-pictorial, to be accompanied by more colloquial designs. The "Your
Courage" poster was much more famous during the war, as it was the first
of the Ministry of Information's posters.[2]
However, although the campaign was prompt, and
although 800,000 of the "Freedom Is In Peril" and "Your
Courage" posters were distributed, many people claimed not to have seen
them; while those who did see them regarded them as patronising and divisive.
Design historian Susannah Walker regards the campaign as "a resounding
failure", and reflective of a misjudgement by upper-class civil servants
of the mood of the people.[7]
Design
The meme 'keep calm' has been used in
a wide range of sayings since its reintroduction in 2000 to include everything
from simple silly sayings to more serious intentions
For more Keep calm suggestions this
is just one of many sites you can visit
If you are interested in
purchasing a Tee-shirt to show support for teachers please contact me for
details
