Thursday, August 03, 2006

No bill posters!


Using the public buildings to post bills and placards throughout the city (remember this photo?)is not a new phenomenon. Back in 1881, the French government had to pass a law against bill posters (actually to keep the official billboards from private posting) and had it painted on many walls throughout Paris. You can still see many of these "Défense d'afficher" (bill posters prohibited) signs on the walls and, the weirdest thing, is that they are still pretty well respected!

17 comments:

  1. nice angle, and interesting bit of info!

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  2. I agree with jenni and would also like to comment on the pretty lady who put up her webcam shot. It's good to see PDP fans beautiful faces!!!

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  3. Funny, but when I saw that, immediately the words of the song "C'est ça la France" (Marc Lavoine) started popping to mind... ;-)

    http://tinyurl.com/8cuhb

    (By the way, soosha, since you brought it up (and I meant to say that before but where are my manners!) I think the picture you have on right now is the best one of all, including the fish and yes, even the Eiffel Tower one! )

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  4. Nice angle Eric.
    And I agree with tomate. I like soosha's new picture. =)

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  5. Could you send some of those markers over here. We have graffiti and junk all over the place!

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  6. you mean when one sees "défense d'afficher" stencilled or painted on a wall in Paris, it was done in 1881? I'm amazed they've weathered so well and are still legible. Or am I being incredibly dense?

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  7. J'adore votre blog!

    Je visite tous les jours!

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  8. That's just the way we French are :
    respectful of the Law !

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  9. my French covers the word "defense", but not "afficher", I learn a new word today ;-)

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  10. I wonder whether the advertised company wouldnt get a fine, if they put their advertisement on the wall ?
    Or maybe it is also because the rare times that people actually did put up some posters on these walls, they were swiftly removed by the town employees.
    The rapidness with which SNCF (train) and RATP (metro) erase the so many graffiti they receive, is just impressive.

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  11. I like how it's stencilled onto the stone. Here in KL, they paste a bill that says, Paste No Bills Here!

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  12. is this one of those old signs? it is actually amazing.

    thats funny edwin!

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