“Is There Any Thing Whereof It May Be Said, See, This Is New?” Ecclesiastes 1:10

As we have said before, only god creates ex nihilo, the rest of us hacks just scroll endlessly through impawards waiting for inspiration or lunch time, whichever comes first. 

But, if you’re like us, you’re a little squishy on where you draw the line between a reference and a rip-off. At what point does homage veer off into egregious pilferage? And what is simply the spontaneous resurfacing of a repressed memory?

Click on image to enlarge.

Which brings us to the following challenge posed by one of our readers: 

Dear Edwina,

I’d be very interested in seeing a topic about truly original ideas that have been used in theatrical marketing.  Why not ask for submissions of key art that is not considered derivative of previous art or advertising? It would be interesting to see what pieces are commonly agreed to as being unique.

Signed, Another Anonymous Anonymity

Comments

[Joey DePinto]

"us hacks just scroll endlessly through impawards waiting for inspiration or lunch time"

You sound like a truly shitty creative.

[Victor Immature]

...don't forget waiting to go home!

[Pixel Dusted]

I hear Joey DePinto was the AD on that Clifford one sheet.

[God]

"Thou shalt not steal."

[Vincent Van Go Kart]

Anyone else tired of hearing these "creatives" whine about how unoriginal everyone ELSE is?

Get over yourselves! It's movie and TV advertising, it's not going to hang in the Louvre, you egotistical jackasses!

[A. Goldschmidt]

Not true!!! The Clifford one sheet -- my masterpiece!-- will one day hang in the Louvre!!!!

[Rudy P.]

Mr. Goldschmidt is right. The Clifford one sheet brought a tear to my eye as most great art does.

[Bob]

http://tinyurl.com/mb38c6

[Sherman]

coupla original originals from the wayback machine:
http://www.impawards.com/1991/naked_lunch.html

http://www.impawards.com/1998/fear_and_loathing_in_las_vegas.html

[Xerox]

The Fear And Loathing poster was based on the Ralph Steadman illustration that graced the Hunter S. Thompson book jacket.

http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/steadman_ralph.html

[Rip Toff]

The original book cover... http://tinyurl.com/mk2t4h

[Xerox]

Better image here:

http://www.manhattanrarebooks-modernfirsts.com/jaws.htm

[Wolfgang Puck]

Seiniger dined out on ripping that off for the poster, for years...