#HTE
Motivational Poster: Chill Skeleton Edition
If you care about design you’ve probably caught yourself sighing at a coworker’s trite inspirational post, or a friend’s Etsy-sourced hand-lettered reminder to Live, Laugh and also to Love. But maybe you (like most people cursed with good taste) should take it down a notch. Why? It looks like we’ve had needless uplifting imagery and aestheticized reminders to Be Here Now for as long as we’ve had the self-impressed humans to make them.
In 2012, archeologists working in Turkey uncovered a beautifully tiled floor featuring a seriously chill looking skeleton and a surprisingly modern message. The triptych is thought to have been part of a wealthy private home (or possibly public soup kitchen?) from the Roman Empire, likely as part of a dining area. The skeleton, in comfy repose, seems to be eating and drinking wine peacefully.
The Greek caption can be translated as “Be cheerful and live your life.”
Cheery messaging, right? This guy has it figured out, and this guy is literally within us all. So empowering!
Even if you loathe positivity kittens and those ubiquitous “Keep Strong & [whatever stupid thing you’re into] On” signs like I do, their implications might be good for us. Next time you see a doozy, mentally add “Or Else…” and see if what you come up with isn’t more motivating. Another reading of this skeletal scene translates it: “You get the pleasure of the food you eat hastily with death,” which is just so inspiring, you know?
Via the forever inspiring History Blog.
http://www.core77.com/posts/52477/Motivational-Poster-Chill-Skeleton-Edition