Historical Mashups & Poster Gallery

Over the past decade, I’ve had a lot of fun creating historical mashups and parody posters using Pixelmator. What started out as a way to illustrate my puns has evolved! My first movie poster was a Tron/Founding Father Mashup that just excited me. My silly little hobby has grown over the past decade – I’ve used them in my classroom, to announce school-wide activities to my colleagues (Ugly Sweater Days, in particular), and even to announce when my wife and I were expecting.

Historical Posters~

 This started off with my making a joke about Otto Correct during class one day, and then figuring out how to actually make an image to attach to it. The movie posters began as silly puns (The Fault in Our Czars), then was a way to make connections to my history grad classes (I made How George Got His Groove Back after reading a lot about Washington’s Crossing at Washington’s Crossing), and then just something that when I had a silly idea I would try to work it out. Some are very stupid – the Hang in There Together pays tribute to the contested quote from Franklin – We must all hang together or we will all hang separately – while also paying tribute to that cat hanging on image that people had in college that said “Hang in there.” I have a bunch of them adorning the walls in my classroom.

Again, I’d like to think there is a bit more research when it comes to my making these. But some, I just thought were very silly.

 Non History related posters

I made a bunch of them for my students when doing research papers. But the one for Indiana Jones I made at the end of the year when I was taking a break from grading finals and through – how did Indiana Jones manage his course load!

 

Ugly Sweater Announcements

Each year my school has an Ugly Sweater Day and as student government is responsible for messaging about the day, I took great care in crafting a staff announcement. This has morphed into Ugly Sweater movie posters! I typically brainstorm and work on them over the summer. Although, I did complete the 2026 version – but will not be releasing until it is time!

 My Pixelated World

I drew this for my blog's header, wanting to give a glimpse of my world. That is my desk and two posters I have in my classroom!
I drew this for my blog’s header, wanting to give a glimpse of my world. That is my desk and two posters I have in my classroom!

 

Seasons Greetings!

It's not often when you find Washington's Christmas Card from 1776! I imagine he hand delivered it to the Hessians.
It’s not often when you find Washington’s Christmas Card from 1776! I imagine he hand delivered it to the Hessians. I actually wrote Washington’s 1776 Christmas letter to go along with this image (found on my blog).

The “Tronstitution”

During the summer while taking a graduate class on early America, I began thinking about how people view the Constitution as almost coming from ‘on high’ rather than being the product of a summer of argument and discussion in Independence Hall. This, a poster that adorns my classroom wall, is a result of that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Napoleon’s Island

I don’t know how this silly concept came to be. But what if the British created Snowpoleon to keep Napoleon company?

 

Damn You, Otto Correct

Damn you, Otto Correct!
This just delights me.

The Great Compromiser

Whenever Congress was at an impasse, Henry Clay answered the call to action!

The Great Compromiser

Fashionista Chet Arthur

Chet Arthur
Ever the fashionista, Chet Arthur not only had a large wardrobe, but one time wore them all on a dare. OK, this is playing with the fact that he had 80 paris of pants, and a scene from the TV show Friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commander in Chef

A typo in the Presidential Letterhead gave Alexander Hamilton a revenue raising idea for the new country.
A typo in the Presidential Letterhead gave Alexander Hamilton a revenue raising idea for the new country.

 

 

 

 

 

 

He-Man in Academia

Prior to finishing graduate school, he was just He-Man, Bachelors of the Universe.
Prior to finishing graduate school, he was just He-Man, Bachelors of the Universe.

 

 

 

 

He-Man, PhD in Universal Studies
With his PhD in Universal Studies, He-Man’s new catchphrase became ‘Publish or Perish.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 Responses to Historical Mashups & Poster Gallery

  1. Pingback: Michael’s Space: A High School Teacher Reflects on Setting Up His Classroom | The First 900 Days

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