Pre-March Nanterre Poster
This poster, most likely designed by Andre Bertand, is one of the first documents from the agitations at Nanterre by the Enrages, a group of students who rebelled against strict moral codes, police on campus, and harsh treatment of Daniel Cohn-Bendit, a student who had insulted the Minister of Youth and Sports at the opening of a new swimming pool in January of 1968.
The poster, dated 14 February 1968 and signed by the Enrages, shows an intermediate step between the infiltration of Situationist ideas on campus and the eventual occupation of university buildings on March 22, 1968. The poster, partly translated by AJ Artemel, reads:
Translation of Nanterre poster (February 14, 1968):
A Nanterre
At Nanterre
comme ailleurs il n’y a plus de hasard
Like elsewhere, there is no longer any chance
la probabilité fait les complicites
Probability makes complicities
cependant que la chance noue les rencontres
However chance builds relationships
c’est alors que bonheur et malheur prennent forme
It is then that happiness and sorrow take shape
les idées s’améliorent. Le sens des mots y participe.
Ideas are improving. The meaning of words is participating in it.
tout ce qui est discutable est a discuter
All that can be discussed should be discussed
le bleu restera gris tant qu’il n’aura pas été réinventé
Blue will stay gray until it is reinvented
qu’on se le dise!
Spread the word!
a vous de jouer camarades
It’s your turn comrades!