Very Good Grief: 'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown'
Written by Express contributor Adaora Otiji
[Washington Post] Express July 2 2009 E6
http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2009/07/very_good_grief_youre_a_good_man_charlie.php
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Ice Age 3 interview and review at Post
The Interview: 'Ice Age' Director Carlos Saldanha
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog July 1, 2009
and
3rd 'Ice Age' Isn't Worth Discovering
By Michael O'Sullivan
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Here's the paper of record too -
Notes From the Prehistoric Underground
By A. O. SCOTT
Published: July 1, 2009
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog July 1, 2009
and
3rd 'Ice Age' Isn't Worth Discovering
By Michael O'Sullivan
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Here's the paper of record too -
Notes From the Prehistoric Underground
By A. O. SCOTT
Published: July 1, 2009
Glen Weldon covers another comic book controversy for NPR
Weldon, Glen. 2009.
Let There Be Bike Shorts: A Profile In Comics-Geek Courage [Supergirl].
National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (July 1): http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2009/07/let_there_be_bike_shorts_a_gee_1.html?sc=nl&cc=msb-20090701
Big Planet 4th of July Sale
This Saturday is our annual July 4 th sale at all Big Planet stores. 20% of everything in the store is a great deal, and we only do it twice a year. We are open 12pm- 5pm. Its a great time to get those trade books you've been putting off. Hope to see you on Saturday. Also please note that new comics will not be delayed this week or next week because of the holiday. |
--
BIG PLANET COMICS
4908 Fairmont Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-654-6856
Also affiliated with:
BIG PLANET COMICS
3145 Dumbarton St. NW
Washington, DC 20007
202-342-1961
BIG PLANET COMICS
426 Maple Ave. East
Vienna, VA 22180
703-242-9412
BIG PLANET COMICS
7315 Baltimore Ave.
College Park, MD 20740
301-699-0498
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
2009 Harvey Award Nominees Announced!
| |||||||||||
|
Jaffe likes Beeler on Jackson
Nate Beeler's been tugging the heartstrings lately. Sarah Jaffee of Newsarama picked his Michael Jackson cartoon as her favorite. Last week, Michael Cavna picked Nate's Metro accident cartoon as his favorite.
Barney & Clyde will be Weingarten's new strip
In his lastly weekly chat (monthly is the new schedule), the only comics news was -
Gene Weingarten: The comic strip is Barney & Clyde. We hope it will debut before the first of the year.
Gene Weingarten: The comic strip is Barney & Clyde. We hope it will debut before the first of the year.
Monday, June 29, 2009
June 29: Superman 4: The Quest for Peace in Crystal City
Crystal Screen - Superheroes
Join the Crystal City BID for 21 weeks of Superheros! On Monday nights from May 4, 2009-September 21, 2009, Crystal City will be protected by Batman, Spiderman, Superman, and many others. Each night will also have special giveaways, sponsors, and other activities.
Date(s):
May 4, 2009 - September 21, 2009
Location:
18th and Bell Street - Courtyard Across from Crystal City Metro Station & Marriott Hotel
Event Fee:
Free
Hours:
Movies begin at sundown
Description:
Join the Crystal City BID for 21 weeks of Superheros! On Monday nights from May 4, 2009-September 21, 2009, Crystal City will be protected by Batman, Spiderman, Superman, and many others. Each night will also have special giveaways, sponsors, and other activities. Check back here for more information.
CRYSTAL KID BONUS: Since it gets dark later in the summer and movies often start past bedtime, the BID has partnered with Crystal City Sports Pub to rebroadcast each movie at 3:30 PM on the 3rd Floor of CCSP on the Wednesday following the outdoor showing, starting May 6. Bring your kids and a blanket and enjoy the fabulous surround network of TVs.
Festival Rules: Patrons can bring their own picnics as long as they abide by city and festival rules. Low-backed chairs and blankets are allowed, but grills, umbrellas, and pets are prohibited.
Schedule
June 29, 2009 - Superman 4: The Quest for Peace
June 31, 2009 - Superman 4: The Quest for Peace - at CCSP
July 6, 2009 - Superman 5: Superman Returns
July 8, 2009 - Superman 5: Superman Returns - at CCSP
July 13, 2009 - X-Men
July 15, 2009 - X-Men - at CCSP
July 20, 2009 - X2
July 22, 2009 - X2 - at CCSP
July 27, 2009 - X-Men: The Last Stand
July 29, 2009 - X-Men: The Last Stand - at CCSP
August 3, 2009 - Fantastic Four
August 5, 2009 - Fantastic Four - at CCSP
August 10, 2009 - Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
August 12, 2009 - Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer - at CCSP
August 17, 2009 - Batman
August 19, 2009 - Batman - at CCSP
August 24, 2009 - Batman Returns
August 26, 2009 - Batman Returns - at CCSP
August 31, 2009 - Batman Forever
September 2, 2009 - Batman Forever - at CCSP
September 7, 2009 - Batman & Robin
September 9, 2009 - Batman & Robin - at CCSP
September 14, 2009 - Batman Begins
September 16, 2009 - Batman Begins - at CCSP
September 21, 2009 - Batman: The Dark Knight
September 23, 2009 - Batman: The Dark Knight - at CCSP
Join the Crystal City BID for 21 weeks of Superheros! On Monday nights from May 4, 2009-September 21, 2009, Crystal City will be protected by Batman, Spiderman, Superman, and many others. Each night will also have special giveaways, sponsors, and other activities.
Date(s):
May 4, 2009 - September 21, 2009
Location:
18th and Bell Street - Courtyard Across from Crystal City Metro Station & Marriott Hotel
Event Fee:
Free
Hours:
Movies begin at sundown
Description:
Join the Crystal City BID for 21 weeks of Superheros! On Monday nights from May 4, 2009-September 21, 2009, Crystal City will be protected by Batman, Spiderman, Superman, and many others. Each night will also have special giveaways, sponsors, and other activities. Check back here for more information.
CRYSTAL KID BONUS: Since it gets dark later in the summer and movies often start past bedtime, the BID has partnered with Crystal City Sports Pub to rebroadcast each movie at 3:30 PM on the 3rd Floor of CCSP on the Wednesday following the outdoor showing, starting May 6. Bring your kids and a blanket and enjoy the fabulous surround network of TVs.
Festival Rules: Patrons can bring their own picnics as long as they abide by city and festival rules. Low-backed chairs and blankets are allowed, but grills, umbrellas, and pets are prohibited.
Schedule
June 29, 2009 - Superman 4: The Quest for Peace
June 31, 2009 - Superman 4: The Quest for Peace - at CCSP
July 6, 2009 - Superman 5: Superman Returns
July 8, 2009 - Superman 5: Superman Returns - at CCSP
July 13, 2009 - X-Men
July 15, 2009 - X-Men - at CCSP
July 20, 2009 - X2
July 22, 2009 - X2 - at CCSP
July 27, 2009 - X-Men: The Last Stand
July 29, 2009 - X-Men: The Last Stand - at CCSP
August 3, 2009 - Fantastic Four
August 5, 2009 - Fantastic Four - at CCSP
August 10, 2009 - Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
August 12, 2009 - Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer - at CCSP
August 17, 2009 - Batman
August 19, 2009 - Batman - at CCSP
August 24, 2009 - Batman Returns
August 26, 2009 - Batman Returns - at CCSP
August 31, 2009 - Batman Forever
September 2, 2009 - Batman Forever - at CCSP
September 7, 2009 - Batman & Robin
September 9, 2009 - Batman & Robin - at CCSP
September 14, 2009 - Batman Begins
September 16, 2009 - Batman Begins - at CCSP
September 21, 2009 - Batman: The Dark Knight
September 23, 2009 - Batman: The Dark Knight - at CCSP
Tonight! Richard Thompson at Arlington's Central Library
Author Event: Cartoonist Richard Thompson
Mon Jun 29, 7pm
Arlington Central Library Auditorium
Hear from the man behind the syndicated daily comic strip "Cul de Sac," and who's unique style and humor have graced the various parts of the Washington Post ("Richard's Poor Almanack"), National Geographic, The Atlantic and the New Yorker--Arlington's own Richard Thompson. No, not the musician by the same name. The cartoonist Richard Thompson.
Mon Jun 29, 7pm
Arlington Central Library Auditorium
Hear from the man behind the syndicated daily comic strip "Cul de Sac," and who's unique style and humor have graced the various parts of the Washington Post ("Richard's Poor Almanack"), National Geographic, The Atlantic and the New Yorker--Arlington's own Richard Thompson. No, not the musician by the same name. The cartoonist Richard Thompson.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Welsh animators at Smithsonian Folklife Festival
I was completely surprised to find a tent labeled 'Animation' at the Smithsonian's annual Folklife Festival down on the Mall.
The animators will be there from Wednesday until Sunday of this upcoming week.
The two animators (only one of whom was there when I walked by) both appear to work in stop-motion. Annoyingly, I can't find any information about them on the Folklife website - if anyone runs across it, post it in the comments and I'll update this.
Gerald Conn's workspace, where he appears to have been doing stop-motion animation with paper cutouts.
The other animator explains his work to a young boy.
An animation camera and people viewing a finished work.
The animators will be there from Wednesday until Sunday of this upcoming week.
The two animators (only one of whom was there when I walked by) both appear to work in stop-motion. Annoyingly, I can't find any information about them on the Folklife website - if anyone runs across it, post it in the comments and I'll update this.
Gerald Conn's workspace, where he appears to have been doing stop-motion animation with paper cutouts.
The other animator explains his work to a young boy.
An animation camera and people viewing a finished work.
A couple, or four, of Bennett's Best
Bennett's Best for the week of June 14
June 24, 2009 Zadzooks blog
Bennett's Best for the week of June 21, 2009
June 25, 2009 Zadzooks blog
Both by Greg Bennett of course.
June 24, 2009 Zadzooks blog
Bennett's Best for the week of June 21, 2009
June 25, 2009 Zadzooks blog
Both by Greg Bennett of course.
Luna Brothers interview
See "5 Quick Questions With the Luna Brothers," by Brian Isaacs, Pendragon Post blog Thursday, June 25, 2009.
Politics and Prose featured in Post
See "Bookish Doyennes Nurture D.C. Landmark," By Thomas Heath, Washington Post Staff Writer, Sunday, June 28, 2009.
Did anyone attend the first Graphic Novel bookclub meeting and want to tell us about it? What's the book for the next one?
Did anyone attend the first Graphic Novel bookclub meeting and want to tell us about it? What's the book for the next one?
Feiffer exhibit at American University
Here's the description from their website:
My Fellow Americans: 40 Years of Political Cartoons by Jules Feiffer
June 27–August 16
Pulitzer Prize–winning New York cartoonist, author, playwright, and artist, Jules Feiffer's political cartoons are sharp in their wit and piercing in their criticism. His cartoons ran for more than forty years in the Village Voice, and were syndicated nationally, and are a testament to his unique insight into the social and political upheavals around him. Their messages maintain their relevancy in contemporary society. In form, his cartoons are distinguished in their simplicity. His often text-heavy panels are balanced by simple, but whimsically drawn figures. While his punch lines are often caustic, he still frequently manages to imbue political figures with humanity.
Feiffer has received critical acclaim for his work in various media. He won an Academy Award in 1961 for his animated short Monroe and the Pulitzer Prize in 1986 for editorial cartooning. He has also received Lifetime Achievement awards from both the Writer's Guild of America East and the National Cartoonist Society, as well as the Harold Washington Literary Award (2004) for his creative uses of the written word to address issues of contemporary life.
Visiting
Hours (Admission is free):
11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tue–Sun
And 1 hour before Katzen Events
Closed July 3–4
Location/Parking: See Katzen Visiting
Contact Us
Ph: 202-885-1300
Fax: 202-885-1140
E-mail: museum@american.edu
My Fellow Americans: 40 Years of Political Cartoons by Jules Feiffer
June 27–August 16
Pulitzer Prize–winning New York cartoonist, author, playwright, and artist, Jules Feiffer's political cartoons are sharp in their wit and piercing in their criticism. His cartoons ran for more than forty years in the Village Voice, and were syndicated nationally, and are a testament to his unique insight into the social and political upheavals around him. Their messages maintain their relevancy in contemporary society. In form, his cartoons are distinguished in their simplicity. His often text-heavy panels are balanced by simple, but whimsically drawn figures. While his punch lines are often caustic, he still frequently manages to imbue political figures with humanity.
Feiffer has received critical acclaim for his work in various media. He won an Academy Award in 1961 for his animated short Monroe and the Pulitzer Prize in 1986 for editorial cartooning. He has also received Lifetime Achievement awards from both the Writer's Guild of America East and the National Cartoonist Society, as well as the Harold Washington Literary Award (2004) for his creative uses of the written word to address issues of contemporary life.
Visiting
Hours (Admission is free):
11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tue–Sun
And 1 hour before Katzen Events
Closed July 3–4
Location/Parking: See Katzen Visiting
Contact Us
Ph: 202-885-1300
Fax: 202-885-1140
E-mail: museum@american.edu
QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 07-01-09
QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 07-01-09
By John Judy
AGENTS OF ATLAS #7 by Jeff Parker, Gabriel Hardman and Carlo Pagulayan. Namor and Namora bring a bit of West Virginia to Atlantis. Eeewww!!! Recommended anyway.
ASTRO CITY: THE DARK AGE BOOK THREE #3 of 4 by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson. Oh, it’s getting busy in the Astro. Lots of stuff coming to a boil. Not to be missed.
BATMAN AND ROBIN #2 by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely. The Dynamic Duo faces off against the Circus of Strange. Old school. Highly recommended.
THE BOYS #32 by Garth Ennis and Carlos Ezquerra. The Female is down and the rest of the Boys have to choose fight or flight in the face of suddenly aggressive supes. Hey, they’re the Boys… Not for kids.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #26 by Jane Espenson and Georges Jeanty. “Jane. Espenson.” If these words don’t make you buy this comic there’s really no hope for you. Just sayin’. Highly recommended.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: REBORN #1 of 5 by Ed Brubaker and Bryan Hitch. Is Steve Rogers finally coming back? In the hands of anyone but Brubaker this would be pedestrian super-hero stuff. But Bru makes that pedestrian run! Gotta look!
DESTROYER #4 of 5 by Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker. The final adventures of a dying violent super-guy. It’s great. Recommended.
FANTASTIC FOUR #568 by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch. The new Doctor Doom a.k.a. The Marquis of Death brings it to Reed Richards. “Doctor Richards? It’s on !@#$” He gets that a lot now….
FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH: RUN #3 of 6 by Mathew Sturges and Freddie E. Williams II. The hateful Human Flame gets himself a new girl. No doubt she’s a real catch. Fun stuff.
THE GOON, VOL. 8: THOSE THAT IS DAMNED SC written and drawn by Eric Powell. The Goon versus Labrazio on the edge of Horse-Eater’s Woods. Must Have.
GREEK STREET #1 by Peter Milligan and Davide Gianfelice. The lads re-imagine the tragedies of ancient Greece set in the streets of modern London. Outrageous and no doubt deeply disturbing and absolutely highly recommended.
JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #1 of 7 by James Robinson and Mauro Cascioli. Hal Jordan’s splinter JLA group gets medieval on the bad guys. Awesome wish fulfillment, but will there be consequences? One can certainly hope.
MARVEL DIVAS #1 of 4 by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Tonci Zonjic. Hellcat, Black Cat, Firestar and Photon go all “Sex and the City.” And just like that show, you have to look even though you hate it.
SECRET SIX #11 by Gail Simone and Nicola Scott. The Six are in way over their heads and it’s time to swim for it. Count on waves. Recommended.
UNCANNY X-MEN #513 by Matt Fraction and Terry & Rachel Dodson. The X-Men become the O-Men as Norman Osborn takes over. That guy’s got his fingers in everybody’s pie! And it tastes good! Recommended.
USA COMICS 70th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL #1 by John Arcudi and Steve Ellis. The meanest hero of WWII cuts his way through Nazis, saboteurs and assorted no-goodniks with no pause for niceties. Yes. Also featuring a golden-age reprint from Back in The Day. Recommended.
WAS SUPERMAN A SPY AND OTHER LEGENDS REVEALED SC by Brian Cronin. A fine bit of sleuthing around the rumors and legends that have cropped up among Fandom in the last 70 years. A great gift for the geek who has everything!
www.johnjudy.net
By John Judy
AGENTS OF ATLAS #7 by Jeff Parker, Gabriel Hardman and Carlo Pagulayan. Namor and Namora bring a bit of West Virginia to Atlantis. Eeewww!!! Recommended anyway.
ASTRO CITY: THE DARK AGE BOOK THREE #3 of 4 by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson. Oh, it’s getting busy in the Astro. Lots of stuff coming to a boil. Not to be missed.
BATMAN AND ROBIN #2 by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely. The Dynamic Duo faces off against the Circus of Strange. Old school. Highly recommended.
THE BOYS #32 by Garth Ennis and Carlos Ezquerra. The Female is down and the rest of the Boys have to choose fight or flight in the face of suddenly aggressive supes. Hey, they’re the Boys… Not for kids.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #26 by Jane Espenson and Georges Jeanty. “Jane. Espenson.” If these words don’t make you buy this comic there’s really no hope for you. Just sayin’. Highly recommended.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: REBORN #1 of 5 by Ed Brubaker and Bryan Hitch. Is Steve Rogers finally coming back? In the hands of anyone but Brubaker this would be pedestrian super-hero stuff. But Bru makes that pedestrian run! Gotta look!
DESTROYER #4 of 5 by Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker. The final adventures of a dying violent super-guy. It’s great. Recommended.
FANTASTIC FOUR #568 by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch. The new Doctor Doom a.k.a. The Marquis of Death brings it to Reed Richards. “Doctor Richards? It’s on !@#$” He gets that a lot now….
FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH: RUN #3 of 6 by Mathew Sturges and Freddie E. Williams II. The hateful Human Flame gets himself a new girl. No doubt she’s a real catch. Fun stuff.
THE GOON, VOL. 8: THOSE THAT IS DAMNED SC written and drawn by Eric Powell. The Goon versus Labrazio on the edge of Horse-Eater’s Woods. Must Have.
GREEK STREET #1 by Peter Milligan and Davide Gianfelice. The lads re-imagine the tragedies of ancient Greece set in the streets of modern London. Outrageous and no doubt deeply disturbing and absolutely highly recommended.
JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #1 of 7 by James Robinson and Mauro Cascioli. Hal Jordan’s splinter JLA group gets medieval on the bad guys. Awesome wish fulfillment, but will there be consequences? One can certainly hope.
MARVEL DIVAS #1 of 4 by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Tonci Zonjic. Hellcat, Black Cat, Firestar and Photon go all “Sex and the City.” And just like that show, you have to look even though you hate it.
SECRET SIX #11 by Gail Simone and Nicola Scott. The Six are in way over their heads and it’s time to swim for it. Count on waves. Recommended.
UNCANNY X-MEN #513 by Matt Fraction and Terry & Rachel Dodson. The X-Men become the O-Men as Norman Osborn takes over. That guy’s got his fingers in everybody’s pie! And it tastes good! Recommended.
USA COMICS 70th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL #1 by John Arcudi and Steve Ellis. The meanest hero of WWII cuts his way through Nazis, saboteurs and assorted no-goodniks with no pause for niceties. Yes. Also featuring a golden-age reprint from Back in The Day. Recommended.
WAS SUPERMAN A SPY AND OTHER LEGENDS REVEALED SC by Brian Cronin. A fine bit of sleuthing around the rumors and legends that have cropped up among Fandom in the last 70 years. A great gift for the geek who has everything!
www.johnjudy.net
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Shore Leave 31: July 10-12, 2009 at the Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn, Baltimore, MD
Sub-titled "A Fan Run Science Fiction Convention", Shore Leave in Baltimore largely features guests from TV and movies, such as the Star Trek and Star Wars franchises, Stargate, Xena, and this year, Dollhouse, among others. They also feature authors, some of whom happen to work in the comics field, including the following:
Mike W. Barr
Greg Cox
Peter A David
Keith DeCandido
Michael Jan Friedman
Robert Greenberger
Glen Haumann
David Mack (the less-famous one who has worked at Image)
...and perhaps some of the other authors whose names didn't ring a bell right off the bat for me. Check out the bios and homepage links from the Guests section of the show's website.
The show is July 10th-July 12th at the Marriot's Hunt Valley Inn.
Mike W. Barr
Greg Cox
Peter A David
Keith DeCandido
Michael Jan Friedman
Robert Greenberger
Glen Haumann
David Mack (the less-famous one who has worked at Image)
...and perhaps some of the other authors whose names didn't ring a bell right off the bat for me. Check out the bios and homepage links from the Guests section of the show's website.
The show is July 10th-July 12th at the Marriot's Hunt Valley Inn.
Friday, June 26, 2009
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown is educational, too
See "Theater Uses 'Charlie Brown' to Spur Reading," By Bennett Sumner, Special to The Washington Post, Friday, June 26, 2009.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Israeli-Austrialian claymation $9.99 opens in DC; City Paper underwhelmed
See "Reviewed: $9.99; In claymation, the meaning of life doesn't come cheap," By Tricia Olszewski, Washington City Paper June 25, 2009 or pick up the print edition.
New book on history of medicine as seen in cartoons and comic books
My friend Bert Hansen's got an excellent new book out, PICTURING MEDICAL PROGRESS FROM PASTEUR TO POLIO: A History of Mass Media Images and Popular Attitudes in America that includes a minuscule amount of research from the Medical Museum (and cites me in the acknowledgments, but don't buy it just because of that). I'm about 1/3 of the way through and learning about the history of both medicine and cartoons.
I'm really enjoying his look at the graphic history (including editorial cartoons and comic books) of medicine. Bert's explanations of the shifting cultural view of medicine resulting from mass media, especially regarding both the transmittal of knowledge to a wider audience than ever before, and, as he points out most convincingly in this book, for the public support of science and medicine, is wildly overlooked in the field at large. His website has reproductions of some of the cartoons and he's planning on adding to it. One of Burt's articles on comic books, "True-Adventure Comic Books and American Popular Culture in the 1940s: An Annotated Research Bibliography of the Medical Heroes," ran a few years back in the International Journal of Comic Art, Vol. 6, No. 1, Spring 2004 and you can still buy the back issue.
Here's the official PR:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PICTURING MEDICAL PROGRESS FROM PASTEUR TO POLIO
A History of Mass Media Images and Popular Attitudes in America
Bert Hansen
“Bert Hansen’s rich exploration of the intersection of popular culture and the history of medicine opens wide a window on a time between the 1880s and the 1950s when physicians, nurses, and scientists were highly regarded warriors against disease and human suffering. It is a major contribution to our understanding of how medicine’s cultural authority was established and expanded in the United States, vital to scholars and valuable to those who hope to spark a renewed enthusiasm among Americans for the study of science and medicine.”
—Alan Kraut, professor of history, American University
Today, pharmaceutical companies, HMOs, insurance carriers, and the health care system in general may often puzzle and frustrate the general public—and even physicians and researchers. By contrast, from the 1880s through the 1950s Americans enthusiastically embraced medicine and its practitioners. PICTURING MEDICAL PROGRESS FROM PASTEUR TO POLIO (Paper $37.95, ISBN: 978-0-8135-4576-9, July 2009), by Bert Hansen, offers a refreshing portrait of an era when the public excitedly anticipated medical progress and research breakthroughs.
PICTURING MEDICAL PROGRESS FROM PASTEUR TO POLIO is a unique study with 130 archival illustrations drawn from newspaper sketches, caricatures, comic books, Hollywood films, and LIFE magazine photography. This book analyzes the relationship between mass media images and popular attitudes. Bert Hansen considers the impact these representations had on public attitudes and shows how media portrayal and popular support for medical research grew together and reinforced each other.
“This book is analytical, nostalgic, sensitive, and just plain fun. Bert Hansen's meticulous privileging of the visual is a pathbreaking achievement for methods in the social and cultural history of medicine. You can be rewarded simply by looking at the wonderful pictures, but you will ‘see’ so much more in his lively prose.”
—Jacalyn Duffin, Hannah Professor, Queen's University, and former
president of the American Association for the History of Medicine
“Even as a long-time collector of medical prints, I learned a lot from this extraordinary book. Hansen's digging has turned up many discoveries, providing a new perspective on graphic art in popular culture. The images are wonderful, but this is not just a picture book; it's a great read as well, filled with remarkable insights.”
—William Helfand, trustee of the Philadelphia Museum of Art
“PICTURING MEDICAL PROGRESS FROM PASTEUR TO POLIO is an authoritative, well-written account that will be a significant contribution not only to the history of American medicine, but to the history of American popular culture.”
—Elizabeth Toon, Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Manchester
BERT HANSEN, a professor of history at Baruch College, has published a book on medieval science and many articles on the history of modern medicine and public health.
PICTURING MEDICAL PROGRESS FROM PASTEUR TO POLIO
A History of Mass Media Images and Popular Attitudes in America
Bert Hansen
Paper $37.95 | ISBN 978-0-8135-4576-9
Cloth $75.00 | ISBN 978-0-8135-4526-4 | 350 pages | 7 x 10
Publication Date: July 2009
I'm really enjoying his look at the graphic history (including editorial cartoons and comic books) of medicine. Bert's explanations of the shifting cultural view of medicine resulting from mass media, especially regarding both the transmittal of knowledge to a wider audience than ever before, and, as he points out most convincingly in this book, for the public support of science and medicine, is wildly overlooked in the field at large. His website has reproductions of some of the cartoons and he's planning on adding to it. One of Burt's articles on comic books, "True-Adventure Comic Books and American Popular Culture in the 1940s: An Annotated Research Bibliography of the Medical Heroes," ran a few years back in the International Journal of Comic Art, Vol. 6, No. 1, Spring 2004 and you can still buy the back issue.
Here's the official PR:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PICTURING MEDICAL PROGRESS FROM PASTEUR TO POLIO
A History of Mass Media Images and Popular Attitudes in America
Bert Hansen
“Bert Hansen’s rich exploration of the intersection of popular culture and the history of medicine opens wide a window on a time between the 1880s and the 1950s when physicians, nurses, and scientists were highly regarded warriors against disease and human suffering. It is a major contribution to our understanding of how medicine’s cultural authority was established and expanded in the United States, vital to scholars and valuable to those who hope to spark a renewed enthusiasm among Americans for the study of science and medicine.”
—Alan Kraut, professor of history, American University
Today, pharmaceutical companies, HMOs, insurance carriers, and the health care system in general may often puzzle and frustrate the general public—and even physicians and researchers. By contrast, from the 1880s through the 1950s Americans enthusiastically embraced medicine and its practitioners. PICTURING MEDICAL PROGRESS FROM PASTEUR TO POLIO (Paper $37.95, ISBN: 978-0-8135-4576-9, July 2009), by Bert Hansen, offers a refreshing portrait of an era when the public excitedly anticipated medical progress and research breakthroughs.
PICTURING MEDICAL PROGRESS FROM PASTEUR TO POLIO is a unique study with 130 archival illustrations drawn from newspaper sketches, caricatures, comic books, Hollywood films, and LIFE magazine photography. This book analyzes the relationship between mass media images and popular attitudes. Bert Hansen considers the impact these representations had on public attitudes and shows how media portrayal and popular support for medical research grew together and reinforced each other.
“This book is analytical, nostalgic, sensitive, and just plain fun. Bert Hansen's meticulous privileging of the visual is a pathbreaking achievement for methods in the social and cultural history of medicine. You can be rewarded simply by looking at the wonderful pictures, but you will ‘see’ so much more in his lively prose.”
—Jacalyn Duffin, Hannah Professor, Queen's University, and former
president of the American Association for the History of Medicine
“Even as a long-time collector of medical prints, I learned a lot from this extraordinary book. Hansen's digging has turned up many discoveries, providing a new perspective on graphic art in popular culture. The images are wonderful, but this is not just a picture book; it's a great read as well, filled with remarkable insights.”
—William Helfand, trustee of the Philadelphia Museum of Art
“PICTURING MEDICAL PROGRESS FROM PASTEUR TO POLIO is an authoritative, well-written account that will be a significant contribution not only to the history of American medicine, but to the history of American popular culture.”
—Elizabeth Toon, Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Manchester
BERT HANSEN, a professor of history at Baruch College, has published a book on medieval science and many articles on the history of modern medicine and public health.
PICTURING MEDICAL PROGRESS FROM PASTEUR TO POLIO
A History of Mass Media Images and Popular Attitudes in America
Bert Hansen
Paper $37.95 | ISBN 978-0-8135-4576-9
Cloth $75.00 | ISBN 978-0-8135-4526-4 | 350 pages | 7 x 10
Publication Date: July 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Cavna on Thompson on San Diego
It's been a few days since we linked to Comic Riffs, so here's a quick bit on Richard Thompson's maiden San Diego Comicon voyage.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)