How times Have Changed

 No one would argue that the events of the past year have changed us - as a society, as a culture, and as individuals.  No need going into detail on all of that since I am sure most of you continue to shake your heads in dismay that we are still caught in a totally unnecessary quagmire.

On to lighter matters.  Recently I ran across a 1950 cartoon collection  published by Harper Brothers.  This little pocket book, filled with images and ideas that would not fly today, sold for a whopping .25 and was "Available wherever fine books are sold"

The majority of the jokes focus on a woman's place in the world.  We see her being ogled on the street, undressed by men across the room in a restaurant, disappointing her husband by not having dinner ready.  This poor woman is also shown offering herself on street corners dressed in an appropriate June Cleaver belted house dress and pearls.  She is shamed for having an out-of-wedlock baby in one comic, and suggestively flaunting her ample bosoms to men in a bar.  

In addition, cartoonist Sam Cobean offers us the opportunity to laugh at native Americans, African tribal people, Chinese fishers, religious leaders, and just about every other minority you could list.  Was this funny in 1950?  It sure isn't funny now.

On the other hand, I flipped though Steve Martin's book of cartoons that he worked on collaboratively with Henry Bliss, award winning single-panel comic creator.  What a difference.  These cartoon are fresh.  Beyond that, they are cerebral - meaning I had to think real hard about some of them, and eventually I laughed.  They wordsmith in every panel, and thematically focus on filling their bits with cultural references.  Big Agra, global warming, elections, depression, parenting, same sex relationships.  These two guys spend time in the world of meta cognition as well, resulting in some of the most entertaining panels.  They let us see them working, mulling over ideas, evaluating, and tossing out those weak, first come ideas.  Much better stuff than the repetitive, predictable jokes from the 1950 book. 

What's your best guess on the illustration accompanying these words - " I see a horse, a puppy, and that one looks like a Rauschenberg installation."

Thanks for stopping by.

Stay healthy. Stay safe (yes, we are once again requiring masks at LaDeDa). Stay happy.