International Poster Design (A Lesson on Language, Art and Promotion)

I do not know if it is necessary to translate the poster above.
If you are asking what language, it is Italian.   

A fun way to have students briefly learn a new language or a different custom is for them to make a poster about any idea in a different language and maybe using the artistic style associated with that language.  Posters have been used for propaganda, advertising and public safety;  for this blog I will use film posters.  When advertisers promote a film, book or any product internationally, they have always had to take into consideration the translation of a film title and the culture of the audience.   While I recommend this use of historical media for educators and researchers of art, media and foreign languages for this post I am using mostly images from famous family movies because of the appeal this idea may especially have for young children.  Most of the images will also be from an earlier era of poster design as reproduced promotional art work was more likely to very from artist to artist and country to country.  


  Below are some lesson adjustments

Literature and Foreign Language - If you are teaching a world literature class or your students are reading stories from another country, have students design a book cover or a promotional poster for the text you are reading in the language of the book's origin.

This will be really fun for readers of folk tales and historical novels.

The story of Cinderella was already world famous before the Walt Disney version (1950)  Some students still read the German version called "Ascenputtel"as well as the famous French version "Little Cinder Girl" or "Cendrillion"

The Mark of Zorro (1940).  Also known as Zorros Marke (Russian) and  Il Signe de Zorro (French)

This also works for texts and film titles of an American origin, that take place in another setting.  Zorro is a Spanish character but was created by an American author, Johnston McCulley.  If you are reading story about an character who lives in America but has a distinct cultural heritage then students can create a poster or book using the language or text of that culture.


Art - Movie poster designs could vary from continent to continent possibly based on culture or taste.
Looking at posters from around the world focusing on the same topic will help young learners see how the same idea may be interpreted in another country.

Disney's version of Snow White is instantly recognizable in all over the world after nearly 75 years.  Artists in different countries (left to right: Mexico, France and Russia) used different colors for the princess' dress.  In some countries she is depicted wearing all white, and red & gold perhaps reflecting varying ideas of culture.   

SOURCES FOR POSTER ART
With the nature of the internet, I am aware that many poster sites are not appropriate for young children or the poster with violent and sexual themes are accessible.  When possible search for the examples firsts.  If your pupils ask about a particular book or movie title, search with them.  So far I am only able to recommend using image search engines that may screen or block sites for content.

• Goggle Images - images.google.com -  Just type in the title of the subject you are studying and what language you want to find.  CHECK the web URL before selecting an image.  
• Library Books- Many public and private libraries carry collections of posters from different eras.  Do not just search in the arts section, but also advertising and world history.