The Daily OrangeArt imitating life: Poster sale trends reflect interests of the time
By Brittney Davies
Posted: 9/3/09, 1:48 AM EST Section: Feature
A swimsuit-clad Farrah Fawcett, John Belushi donning his famous "College" shirt and President Obama have one thing in common: They've all been blown up as posters that have become especially popular among college students.
The numerous posters purchased by college students encourage vendors to cater their prints to popular college interests and flock to campuses each year, including Syracuse University. Beyond the Wall, a business with store locations in Pennsylvania, New York, Chicago and Myrtle Beach, is selling 2,000 pounds of filled poster books in addition to various magnets, bookmarks and postcard-size prints in Schine Student Center until Friday.
"We carry the stuff that sells well ... pretty much everything we have will go," said Adric Garlick, a vendor for Beyond the Wall for four years.
Beyond the Wall's competitor Global Prints, a business that brought over 1,000 posters to SU, ended their poster-sale stint on Marshall Street Wednesday.
"The girls are interested in 'Sex and the City,' 'Twilight,' " said Furdean Sergiu, who worked at the Global Prints sale for the past week. "The boys are buying all kinds of stuff: music, art."
But the most popular prints vary from fall to fall, usually depending on the blockbuster of year, Garlick said. When the film "300" debuted in movie theaters, Beyond the Wall had a large variety of posters printed. Now there are only a few. Additional Michael Jackson posters were ordered this year, but they haven't been huge sellers, he said.
"Certainly people are expressing their identity and personal preferences (in their poster purchases)," said Montana Miller, an assistant professor in the Department of Pop Culture at Bowling Green State University.
This year, posters for "The Hangover" and "Entourage" have been successful sellers, in addition to a seductive-looking print of Megan Fox in a Supergirl costume. Andy Warhol posters and Beyond the Wall's tapestries have also sold well, Garlick said.
The numerous posters purchased by college students encourage vendors to cater their prints to popular college interests and flock to campuses each year, including Syracuse University. Beyond the Wall, a business with store locations in Pennsylvania, New York, Chicago and Myrtle Beach, is selling 2,000 pounds of filled poster books in addition to various magnets, bookmarks and postcard-size prints in Schine Student Center until Friday.
"We carry the stuff that sells well ... pretty much everything we have will go," said Adric Garlick, a vendor for Beyond the Wall for four years.
Beyond the Wall's competitor Global Prints, a business that brought over 1,000 posters to SU, ended their poster-sale stint on Marshall Street Wednesday.
"The girls are interested in 'Sex and the City,' 'Twilight,' " said Furdean Sergiu, who worked at the Global Prints sale for the past week. "The boys are buying all kinds of stuff: music, art."
But the most popular prints vary from fall to fall, usually depending on the blockbuster of year, Garlick said. When the film "300" debuted in movie theaters, Beyond the Wall had a large variety of posters printed. Now there are only a few. Additional Michael Jackson posters were ordered this year, but they haven't been huge sellers, he said.
"Certainly people are expressing their identity and personal preferences (in their poster purchases)," said Montana Miller, an assistant professor in the Department of Pop Culture at Bowling Green State University.
This year, posters for "The Hangover" and "Entourage" have been successful sellers, in addition to a seductive-looking print of Megan Fox in a Supergirl costume. Andy Warhol posters and Beyond the Wall's tapestries have also sold well, Garlick said.
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Montana Miller
posted 9/03/09 @ 4:21 AM EST
Thanks for quoting me! But one correction: at Bowling Green State University we are the Department of Popular Culture, not "Pop Culture."
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