World War II "Made in Washington" propaganda comic article

Kimble, J. J. 2017.
Framing the president: Franklin D. Roosevelt, participatory quests, and the rhetoric of possibility in World War II propaganda.
Speaker & Gavel, 54 (1): 94-112.
Online at https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.fr/&httpsredir=1&article=1142&context=speaker-gavel

This essay examines The Life of Franklin D. Roosevelt, a comic book distributed internationally by the Office of War Information (OWI) in late 1942, as a creative form of international propaganda. Drawing from existing research in comic scholarship, narrative theory, and visual inquiry, this case study suggests that OWI's booklet represented a fusion of verbal and visual appeals, which together worked to produce a potent depiction of President Franklin D.Roosevelt's character traits and exceptionality. The analysis concludes that this depiction ultimately presented the president as the protagonist of a romantic quest narrative, one that actively invited foreign readers to envision an Allied victory in the ongoing war.

Thanks to Leonardo de Sa for the tip, and he'd be glad to hear from anyone with more information on this comic.

Jim Scancarelli, Class of 1959 in Wakefield High School's Hall of Fame

Reprinted with permission from Warrior News, Fall 2017. For information on alumni from Wakefield High School (Arlington,VA) and the scholarship program, click here.

2017 Inductees into the Hall of Fame

Jim Scancarelli, Class of 1959

Provided by David Mitchell '65,
Hall of Fame Committee, Chair
 

Jim is a cartoonist who writes and draws the syndicated comic strip "Gasoline Alley". He is also a well-known and prize-winning bluegrass fiddler.

Jim's cartoon career started at Wakefield. The student newspaper and literary magazine of his era are filled with his drawings. The student newspaper featured a cartoon "Gus Todian", about a Wakefield custodian. Fifty years later, Jim revived Gus, the custodian at Wakefield, in "Gasoline Alley". During his time at Wakefield, Jim says "Comics were my escape ... The characters became my friends." He says he wasn't a good student and it was the work of several teachers who channeled his desire to draw and taught him the skills he needed to be successful.

From the November 10, 1955 Signal, Wakefield's Student Newspaper

Jim has been a freelance magazine illustrator, wrote and acted in radio programs, and was even the Art Director for "The Johnny Cash Show" in the early 1960s. Jim began his work on Gasoline Alley in 1986, and has collaborated on the Mutt and Jeff comic strip, as well.

From the December 7, 1955 Signal, Wakefield's Student Newspaper

His comic strip often has social and community meanings. Through his comic strip, he brought attention to the construction of the World War II Memorial and the National Museum of the United States Army. In 1988, he received the National Cartoonists Society's Story Comic Strip Award. As a bluegrass fiddler, he founded the Kilocycle Kowboys and was a prizewinner at the Old Fiddlers Convention. The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress has his fiddle recordings. He jokingly says "I've been playing the fiddle too long to be bad at it."

Jim donated the original boards for the Gasoline Alley Gus Todian strips he did in 2015 and they are on display at school.  Photo courtesy of  Conchita.

Heroic Aleworks to close on Dec. 15

In a Facebook post today, Heroic Aleworks, a superhero-themed brewery in Woodbridge, Virginia, that opened in January, announced that it will close on December 15, citing that "the  numbers just weren't in our favor."

From the post: "We are deeply saddened to announce that Heroic Aleworks will be closing on December 15. Thank you all so much for your support over the past year and for sharing this experience with us. But we still have a few weeks left, and you know we're gonna go out in style, so stay tuned for the announcements. We hope you'll be able to join us before it's all done to make some more great memories!"

Dec 8: Animezing!: Ghost in the Shell

Join us for a FREE classic anime film at the JICC!

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Japanese animation, the JICC is presenting a retrospective of landmark animated films! "A work of profound and melancholic beauty..." Daily Telegraph UK "A stunning work of speculative fiction..." James Cameron, director of Titanic The stunning sci-fi spectacle that broke the boundaries of mainstream animation! In 2029, a female government cyber agent, Makoto Kusanagi, and the Internal Bureau of Investigations are hot on the trail of The Puppet Master - a computer virus capable of invading cybernetic brains and altering its victim's memory. Created by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and codenamed Project 2501, this "hacker" is actually a prototype virtual agent which has now defied its makers by seeking asylum within a new host body outside of the electronic net. Now the two agencies must maneuver against each another to capture the omnipresent entity. In Japanese with English subtitles | Not Rated | 1995 | 83 min | Directed by Mamoru Oshii Registration is required. Please note this film contains scenes of violence and mild nudity. It is intended for mature audiences only. You are invited to Animezing!: Ghost in the Shell Friday, December 8th, 2017 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM (EST) Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan 1150 18th Street Northwest Suite 100 Washington DC 20036 US CLICK HERE TO REGISTER This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. In the event of a cancellation, please contact us at jicc@ws.mofa.go.jp. Program begins at 6:30PM. Doors open 30 minutes prior to start of program. No admittance after 7:00PM or once seating is full. Registered guests will be seated on a first come, first served basis. Please note that seating is limited and registration does not guarantee a seat. The JICC reserves the right to use any photograph/video taken at any event sponsored by JICC without the expressed written permission of those included within the photograph/video. 1150 18th Street NW, Suite 100 | Washington, D.C. 20036-3838 TEL: 202-238-6900 | FAX: 202-822-6524 | jicc@ws.mofa.go.jp © 1981-2017 Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan

Nov. 30: Animators Happy Hour @ Franklin Hall

Per The Duke & the Duck animators regarding a happy hour on November 30 at Franklin Hall:  

"Hey DC animators! We're hosting a happy hour to bring together all the awesome talent that is in DC. It'll be a pretty low key event, just hanging out chatting about new projects, clients from hell and the latest and greatest cat videos (well maybe not the last one...) We're meeting up at Franklin Hall, they have a huge selection of drinks and an awesome open space. Hang out starts at 6, but feel free to come by whenever. Looking forward to seeing everyone there! -The Duke & The Duck Team"

Catching up with Comic Riffs on Coco, Justice League and Watchmen

How Pixar's 'Coco' became a huge box-office hit [in print as After early missetp, Pixar guided 'Coco' to cultural authenticity]

By Michael Cavna

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog November 26 , Washington Post November 28 2017, p. C1, 3

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/11/26/how-pixars-coco-became-a-huge-box-office-hit/

Frida Kahlo empowered an actress to fight harassment. Now she voices Frida in 'Coco.'

By Michael Cavna

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog November 22 2017

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/11/22/frida-kahlo-empowered-an-actress-to-fight-harassment-now-she-voices-frida-in-coco/

How 'Justice League's' Ray Fisher took on fan-favorite Cyborg as his first major movie role

By David Betancourt

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog November 20 2017

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/11/20/how-justice-leagues-ray-fisher-took-on-fan-favorite-cyborg-as-his-first-major-movie-role/

The Post on McDonnell's Goodall play

'Me . . . Jane' offers a musical look at a famous scientist when she was just a girl [in print as The wild dreams of a future scientist]

By Mary Quattlebaum

Washington Post November 28 2017, p.

Online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/me--jane-offers-a-musical-look-at-a-famous-scientist-when-she-was-just-a-girl/2017/11/27/0850e132-cf1c-11e7-81bc-c55a220c8cbe_story.html

SpongeBob Squarepants used to go to school in DC...

... or rather the actor in the new musical went to Georgetown Day School...

He Knows Bikini Bottom. Now He Gets to Swim There.

By SOPAN DEBN

A version of this article appears in print on November 26, 2017, on Page AR4 of the New York edition with the headline: Fated to Soak Up the Moment.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/22/theater/spongebob-squarepants-broadway-ethan-slater.html

Arlington's Chip Beck becomes Gettysburg battlefield artist

Gettysburg National Military Park U.S. Veteran, Chip Beck, as the NEW National Park Service Artist-in-Residence

  by Carrie Brunner — November 7, 2017

http://nbherard.com/business/gettysburg-national-military-park-u-s-veteran-chip-beck-as-the-new-national-park-service-artist-in-residence/12314

Nov. 28: Charlie Brown Movie and Craft

Rosedale Library in D.C. celebrates Charles M. Schulz’s birthday on November 28 with a viewing of one of the Charlie Brown TV movie specials and making a Peanuts-themed craft. For ages 6 and up. Event starts at 4:30 p.m.

That darn Curtis and Sally Forth

Letters to the Editor

Thanks, but it's not a feast day [in print as It's actually not a feast day].

Sherri Deck, Rockville

Washington Post November 25 2017, p. A15

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/thanks-but-its-not-a-feast-day/2017/11/22/47a448e2-cf3a-11e7-a87b-47f14b73162a_story.html

'Sally Forth' provides a gentle reminder on a sensitive, important subject [in print as A gentle reminder on a sensitive subject].

David Garner, Woodbridge

Washington Post November 25 2017, p. A15

online athttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/sally-forth-provides-a-gentle-reminder-on-a-sensitive-important-subject/2017/11/24/8df13b36-cf38-11e7-a87b-47f14b73162a_story.html

Dec 9: Nilah Magruder at East City Books

Nilah Magruder‏ @nilaffle

Hey MD/DC/VA, I'm coming to visit soon! I'll be at @eastcitybooks to read and sign HOW TO FIND A FOX on Dec. 9 at 11 am! #howtofindafox

She's done work for Marvel, IDW, Action Lab Entertainment, Insight Comics, and Lion Forge.

Back to the Future with Winsor McCay

by Mike Rhode

Warren Bernard is known to many as the Executive Director of the Small Press Expo, but he's also an indefatigable collector of specialties in the comic art field. He and I refer to these as the "Secret History of Comics." Lately, he's been providing a lot of ads drawn by New Yorker cartoonists to Michael Maslin's Ink Spill. When I visited him recently, he pulled out a whole box of Winsor McCay's editorial cartoons clipped from the Chicago Herald and Examiner. I looked through barely any of the box (there's always something more to see at his house), but what struck me was how sadly relevant are these cartoons dating from 1929-1930 by McCay (who was also creator of Little Nemo, and Gertie the Dinosaur, and a founding father of animation). Almost 90 years later, we're still dealing with many of the same issues and Warren provided scans for me to share with you.

There's a narcotics problem hollowing out the social and civil life of our country....

  

and an international drug problem...

 

...although it's apparent to everyone that the  War on Drugs dating back to Ronald Reagan and the 1980s has been a stunningly expensive failure.

Distrust and ill will lead to tariffs that block trade and business...

...while a President's speech disrupts international organizations.

  

Schools are failing their students, leading to high levels of ignorance... 

  

... which is infecting the mood of the country...

... leading to an endemic lack of trust in government among certain Americans ...

 ...while also filling prisons, which now are being run for profit, and thus prime for overcrowding. 

Public works projects, including highways, are desired by 'common citizens and tax payers' ...

... but the large companies in the country are using their power to manipulate Congress and the media on their own behalf...

...while farmers suffer from high seed prices, low commodity prices and high debt while big agribusinesses like Monsanto and Archer Daniels Midland Company get even bigger. 

Meanwhile, there's ongoing probes of the Executive Branch and Congress for sexual, ethical, lobbying and foreign interference issues...

that's going to take a lot of effort to resolve and preserve democracy.

 Meanwhile, 16 years of ongoing wars have led to tens of thousands of veterans, many with medical issues, having problems integrating back into society.

Sadly, I'm afraid that Warren and I could have added many more cartoons if I had time to look through more than a tenth of the box.

The Post reviews The Breadwinner animated movie

'The Breadwinner,' about a Kabul girl, features gorgeous animation but a so-so story [in print as Heavy subject matter drawn from a medium for kids].

By Vanessa H. Larson

Washington Post November 24 2017, p. Weekend 29-30

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/the-breadwinner-about-a-kabul-girl-features-gorgeous-animation-but-a-so-so-story/2017/11/20/948626fc-ca4a-11e7-8321-481fd63f174d_story.html

The Post's Thanksgiving Day parade

Yesterday, the Post ran a small satirical piece that looks better online. NY artist Al Murphy did the cartoon illustrations.

The Washington Post Thanksgiving Day Parade

By Aviva Loeb and Al Murphy November 22 2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/style/wp/2017/11/22/the-washington-post-thanksgiving-day-parade/

Glen Weldon on Marvel's Runaways tv adaption

'Runaways' Finds A Sunny Corner Of The Marvel Universe — And Stays There

Glen Weldon

NPR's Monkey See blog November 21, 2017 

https://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2017/11/21/565434505/runaways-finds-a-sunny-corner-of-the-marvel-universe-and-stays-there

The City Paper reviews The Breadwinner

The Breadwinner Is a Rich and Rewarding Animated Film

Nora Twomey's deep film highlights a cultural struggle in the Middle East.

Tricia Olszewski

Nov 22, 2017

https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/film-tv/blog/20983683/the-breadwinner-reviewed

NPR reviews Body Music

In 'Body Music,' Love Is Sweet, Sexy And A Touch Sentimental

Etelka Lehoczky

November 19, 2017

https://www.npr.org/2017/11/19/562557726/in-body-music-love-is-sweet-sexy-and-a-touch-sentimental

Thanksgiving's comic strips will be themed for charity

Cartoonists' Thursday strips will be auctioned off to benefit hurricane relief

By Michael Cavna

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog November 22 2017

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/11/22/cartoonists-thursday-strips-will-be-auctioned-off-to-benefit-hurricane-relief/

Local papers on Coco, Lasseter, and Annie

With Coco Pixar Scores Another Hit

The venerable animation studio's latest film is an improvement over its latest misfires.

Alan Zilberman

Washington City Paper Nov 21, 2017

https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/film-tv/blog/20983680/coco-reviewed

'Coco' puts a fresh face on the dependable Pixar formula

By Stephanie Merry November 21 2017

https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/coco-puts-a-fresh-face-on-the-dependable-pixar-formula/2017/11/21/e82739ea-ca4a-11e7-8321-481fd63f174d_story.html

Disney animation guru John Lasseter takes leave after sexual misconduct allegations [in print as Dinsey creative chief taking leave after 'misssteps'].

By Steven Zeitchik

Washington Post November 22 2017, p. A7

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2017/11/21/disney-animation-guru-john-lasseter-takes-leave-after-sexual-misconduct-allegations/

Disney Animation, Pixar chief John Lasseter taking leave

By Lindsey Bahr | AP November 21 2017 at 10:55 PM

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/disney-animation-pixar-chief-john-lasseter-taking-leave/2017/11/21/f34145c6-cf38-11e7-a87b-47f14b73162a_story.html

This 'Annie' doesn't shine despite Daddy Warbucks' commanding voice [in print as 'Annie' is middle-of-the-pack despite a voice in the top 1%].

By Nelson Pressley Theater critic

Washington Post November 22 2017, p. C3.

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/this-annie-doesnt-shine-despite-daddy-warbucks-commanding-voice/2017/11/21/f3c7584e-ce27-11e7-9d3a-bcbe2af58c3a_story.html

Annie, book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin. Directed by Jason King Jones. Scenic/projection designer, Daniel Ettinger; costumes, Seth M. Gilbert; lights, Sarah Tundermann; sound design, Roc Lee. About 2½ hours. Through Dec. 31 at the Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd., Olney. Tickets $42-$84. Call 301-924-3400 or visit olneytheatre.org.