Demotivational posters, also known as 'Despair' posters, originated in the late 1990s as a satirical response to the sincere 'Successories' motivational posters often found in corporate offices. Popularized by companies like Despair, Inc., the format typically features a stark black border, a central image, a bold serif title, and a cynical sub-caption underneath. They often highlight themes of failure, apathy, and the futility of human effort, serving as a foundational pillar of early internet humor. Today, they remain a versatile and iconic template for mocking overly optimistic messaging or expressing relatable, everyday frustrations in a stylishly pessimistic way.