Stripes — posters of a unique format and propaganda usefulness

Abstract

This paper discusses stripes (Polish sztrajfy; German Streifen) — ephemera in the shape of narrow, usually horizontal cards, which are a medium of short information, often with propaganda content. Stripes have the same function as posters but they stand out from them and are distinguished by their peculiar format. The aim of this paper is to present the concept of sztrajf and various terms which refer to this kind of publications as well as to describe the formal features of this type of prints and their usability. To discuss selected examples, a descriptive approach and semiotic reading of logovisual objects are used — this method allows to present content potentiality of the analyzed messages. Undoubtedly, stripes were a popular information medium, whose content contained a suggestive composition, which affected their recipients, and met the need of the moment.