Personalizing your room is an important part of self-expression. The ability to express individuality through wall art is something that separates your room from a prison cell — a prison cell with less shanking potential and the freedom to come and go and a few other small details.
Here are a few things you are very likely to see in a college man's room:
1. John Belushi
You’ve seen it. I’ve seen it. We’ve all seen it — the late SNL star decked out in the iconic “College” crewneck, kicking back a full bottle of Jack Daniels. The pose, taken from "Animal House" — one of the greatest comedies of all time and the originator of the Greek life film genre — has become the literal poster-child for dorm room posters. Belushi’s image is now a bit of a cliché used by many young try-hards to show visitors exactly how college they are.
2. Sports Paraphernalia
This is possibly the most prominent on the list, because your favorite team is likely part of your identity. It is only natural to deck your room out in their colors. How else will your team know you care about them? Sports memorabilia is a great way to perpetuate pride in where you come from if you traveled a distance from home for college (unless you are one of those people who uses their great-uncle’s five-year stint in Seattle as a justification to claim fandom in the Seahawks, in which case, you’re the worst kind of person). Your poster, pennant or signed portrait also serves to give your guests an inkling into your interests. They double as a conversation starter.
“Oh you’re a Browns fan?”
“Yes!”
“I’m so sorry.”
3. Hot Lady
Sometimes you need something to motivate you for that 7:30 a.m. class across campus. Nothing says “you can do it” like the scantily-clad model on a beach hanging above your bed. "Sports Illustrated" swimsuit models Hannah Davis and Kate Upton have become fan favorites of college-age men. I have personally awarded my valuable wall space to the beautiful and charming Anna Kendrick, who will forever serve as the shining symbol of every value my future wife should exemplify.
4. American Flag
It’s the country we’re in. You know what else is in? Patriotism. Nothing like waking up every morning to Ol’ Glory to really get that blood flowing. Anyone can fly the flag. My Lebanese family name is inked on my body in Arabic. My roommate is a ginger, so I assume he’s a leprechaun or from Ireland or something. We will both be prominently displaying the red, white and blue. There is also a very practical application to the stars and stripes — it is a well-known fact that inebriated individuals loves to break things, especially windows. A great trick to keep your window intact is to cover it with the American flag. Who’s going to drunkenly throw fisticuffs with Ol’ Ben Franklin’s Liberty Laundry?
5. Ironic Early-1900s Anti-Smoking/Drinking Propaganda
I’m a huge fan of these. We all know the olden times were all weird and backwards. An era of abolition, the early 1900s yielded some of the greatest PSAs and propaganda pieces the world has ever seen. Posters that inform the masses of beer’s propensity to give you insomnia or “the poops” were made for college dorms.
6. Bob Marley
Bob Marley was a philosopher, a peace activist, the transcendent voice of the Rastafarian religion and the only reggae musician to ever become a household name. There are a lot of reasons to want his visage plastered over your room. But chances are, the reason he graces more dorms than cheap Ikea futons is likely his lenient views on illicit substances. Bob Marley is to stoners what John Belushi’s Bluto character is to fraternity stereotypes.
7. Pictures of Family and Friends
Because if they visit you and that one picture from that one time isn’t hanging proudly, you’ll hear about it.
