Dr Suess Goes To War

[rthstewart]

I had seen a book of Dr Suess' political cartoons at the Newseum last year and now courtesy of io9, I found out that the University of California at San Diego has made them available online.  They are savage.  Also, predictably, with regard to depictions of the Japanese, horribly racist.  It's always interesting to see how cartoonists differently depicted the "enemy Asian" (Japanese) and the friendly Asian (Chinese).  While by no means excusing the problems, Suess is biting in his attacks upon racism, antisemitism, Nazis, appeasement, isolationism, and other issues and institutions.

Here are three, and do check out the rest of the collection:

Ho hum! When he's finished pecking down that last tree he'll quite likely be tired published by PM Magazine on May 22, 1941, Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230. Mandeville Special Collections Library, UC San Diego, http://libraries.ucsd.edu/speccoll/dswenttowar/#ark:bb5461618q  From: Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230

Relax, Sam, I assure you the express turns off right here! published by PM Magazine on September 9, 1941, Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230. Mandeville Special Collections Library, UC San Diego http://libraries.ucsd.edu/speccoll/dswenttowar/#ark:bb2697086r  From: Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230

Listen, maestro... if you want to get real harmony, use the black keys as well as the white! published by PM Magazine on June 30, 1942, Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230. Mandeville Special Collections Library, UC San Diego http://libraries.ucsd.edu/speccoll/dswenttowar/#ark:bb1092978w From: Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230

Comments

[adaese.livejournal.com]

Oh good, cartoons are a valid form of historical research. In that case I can point you towards Pont (Graham Laidler of Punch) and his British Character and Popular Misconception cartoons. His British Character: Importance of Not Being an Intellectual is just how I imagine Uncle Harold.

http://www.punchcartoons.com/--Cartoons-by-Pont/c0_226_229/index.html?currency=GBP&page=1 seems to have most of them in an on-line form, if you don't mind their trying to sell you copies. Most of which we have, in the form of just about every anthology ever printed.

[rthstewart.livejournal.com]

So that is the origin of Punch! I have heard of it, but never the context or source. Goodness, I could spend a lot of time there. Thank you!

[min023.livejournal.com]

Interesting to see these again, and you're right about the casual(?) racism of the era. I first saw quite a few of these when I read the book "Dr Seuss goes to War" by Richard Minnear and the follow-up volume by Andre Schriffin. I suspect these might be the books you're talking about? (If not, and there's more, I'd love to know about them :-)

[rthstewart.livejournal.com]

I think those are the books I saw. I was there with my eldest -- actually, come to think of it, you were there too!!! This was when we went to the Newseum and the teen disappeared into the gift shop and found the Suess Goes To War book!! Heh.

[min023.livejournal.com]

Yes, so it was : )

I had had them from my local library a few years before, and I recommend them as a very interesting read - as much for this history and commentary as the cartoons

[andi-horton.livejournal.com]

When you mentioned Jill/Eustace in Canada a few entries back, it made me think of this page of pictures. I've been using it partly as research (esp. the map) and partly as inspiration for something I'm working on. Thought you might enjoy!

[rthstewart.livejournal.com]

Hey there! Oops. I didn't think you were reading! I just pulled out Canada because 1) I didn't think Anglo-Caribbean, mixed race Jill would be comfortable in most of America in 1956 and 2)I'd been to Quebec. The pictures are wonderful!!!

[andi-horton.livejournal.com]

I'm not reading fic, yet, but I read your LJ updates ;) I saw you mention it a couple posts back, and that made me think of the links.

Even if you can't use them particularly, it was a bit self-serving on my part anyway. I had pushed the aforementioned project to the back burner because I couldn't decide about something, but reading that made me look at the pictures again which forced me to decide.

So. Thank you!

[rthstewart.livejournal.com]

It's funny. I get a lot of readers through your favs -- even if you aren't reading anymore. So thank you in return!

[andi-horton.livejournal.com]

That's good to know--just as long as the "you're doing it wrong" types don't come via me . . !

I do look forward to reading again at some point, and your stories are top of the list when I can :)