Comedy & Satire

    'Absurdist Tropes'

    'Emigration—Detailing the Progress and Vicissitudes of an Emigrant' (1833)

    see caption

    Here is a 15-panel satire by C.J. Grant, perhaps meant for working-class Britons. In it, British emigrants could get away from taxes, but expect frightening exotic animals, cannibals, isolation, poverty, and homesickness. Read the panels in high definition at the Library of Congress, and check out Matthew Crowther's blog post about the artist at Yesterday's Papers for some publishing context.

    Emperor Mussolini

    Satirical magazine cover depicting Mussolini as Caesar on a ship, his arm raised in a fascist salute, behind him are two uniformed fascists doing the same. The resemblance to US president DJT is uncanny.

    The caption reads, "I've decided to accept God, but he has to become Italian." The German here for "accept," "gelten lassen," could also be translated as "allow."

    Source: Simplicissimus, May 3, 1926, http://www.simplicissimus.info.

    Justitia

    Justice, a blindfolded woman, holds the scales of justice in one hand and holds back Trump with the other. Trump is trying to attack Lady Liberty, but Justice says to her sister, 'I've got this.'

    After the latest Spiegel cover and all the news it embodies, this cartoon by Sam Machado feels really good, particularly with its use of gender against the U.S. chauvinist-in-chief.

    German Magazine Cover

    Der Spiegel magazine cover of Trump holding Lady Liberty's severed head in one hand and a bloody knife in the other. Blood is dripping from the head onto the ground.

    Feels more like a lobotomy to me, but this image by the leading German news weekly works too.

    'Kill the Historians'

    The King says to one of his men, 'I'm concerned about my legacy. Kill the historians.'

    Source: @NewYorkerCartoons, Instagram.

    Outsourcing Revisited: Doonesbury at War

    Checking out his email in the kitchen and talking to Reverend Sloan, B.D. says:

    Man, does Ray seem down lately. He keeps asking if people at home still support the troops—as if most Americans actually had a personal stake. Emotionally, we outsourced this war—to a professional class that mainstream America has almost no contact with. Most people are completely baffled why anyone would serve. Ray has no idea how isolated he really is.

    Zonker sits down and says, “Boy B.D., when you’re right, you’re right.” Boopsie, B.D.’s wife, agrees and asks, “Should we send Ray something to show we’re thinking of him. Zonker suggests a box of medals. “Don’t soldiers like medals?” Enthusiastic, Boopsie replies, “I know B.D. does. Good thought!”

    Meanwhile, B.D. is covering his face with his left hand and looking down in disbelief, disgust, or despair, while the reverend tells him, “You can rest your case.”

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