The same Dr. Seuss book that has the Sneetches, and the same goes for the Dr. Seuss on the Loose TV special, also has another gem which I often think about. It is called The Zax, about 2 creatures in the desert refusing to budge in their paths and staring down at each other while a new highway gets built around them. If you want, the animated adaptation, narrated by Hans Conred, is possibly on YouTube. I think this could be a good compliment to what you discussed today.
That book was an absolute favorite of my best friend, who was well known worldwide in the literacy field. Not only was she a university professor teaching future teachers, but she taught school as well. She recommended out-loud reading of quality literature to children from the time they are born. Reasons for this include development of empathy and preparation for school. Students nearly always do better in school/learning to read the more words they have heard up to that point. Getting into the mindset/motivations of someone else helps kids develop the ability to look at things from another's point of view.
Dr. Suess has always been my favorite philosopher.
Love this, thank you. That post-WW2 period has some really classic antifascist American storytelling and artistry that is really helpful to lean on in this moment where fascism is threatening again. Excellent find.
In the sane vein, Joseph Campbell inspired generations of storytellers with his work in comparative mythology in this period. He essentially sent out a call to arms for artists to create compelling modern mythologies that could unify our culture and inoculate us against the worst sorts of abuses. He lamented that the role of the spiritual had been mostly lost in our culture, exposing us to moral peril.
Artists answered through the beat and hippie generations and beyond, from George Lucas to Jerry Garcia to Bob Dylan.
IMO, Star Wars particularly is an excellent mythology to lean on in this regard - designed knowingly to be a modern mythology symbolizing inner space, our own psychological struggles, but also widely known and appreciated, it is an excellent vector for meme’ing positive, decent, empathetic messages
Seuss clearly believed that Sneetches were *capable* of understanding they’d been hoodwinked. And he didn’t forsee that McMonkey was really scheming with Petrovich Putinsky to completely destroy Sneetch City and brand every Sneetch with a forehead cross.
😻They are so cute I could cry lol. We need more talented people to write stories, songs, books, movies like this to help influence!!!!
Greetings Jim:
The same Dr. Seuss book that has the Sneetches, and the same goes for the Dr. Seuss on the Loose TV special, also has another gem which I often think about. It is called The Zax, about 2 creatures in the desert refusing to budge in their paths and staring down at each other while a new highway gets built around them. If you want, the animated adaptation, narrated by Hans Conred, is possibly on YouTube. I think this could be a good compliment to what you discussed today.
Best Wishes and Kindest Regards,
Robert Kelly
That book was an absolute favorite of my best friend, who was well known worldwide in the literacy field. Not only was she a university professor teaching future teachers, but she taught school as well. She recommended out-loud reading of quality literature to children from the time they are born. Reasons for this include development of empathy and preparation for school. Students nearly always do better in school/learning to read the more words they have heard up to that point. Getting into the mindset/motivations of someone else helps kids develop the ability to look at things from another's point of view.
Dr. Suess has always been my favorite philosopher.
See also the Toll Booth scene in Blazing Saddles.
“Somebody’s gotta go back and get a shit load of dimes.”
https://youtu.be/z9yjcBRyNUo
Love this, thank you. That post-WW2 period has some really classic antifascist American storytelling and artistry that is really helpful to lean on in this moment where fascism is threatening again. Excellent find.
In the sane vein, Joseph Campbell inspired generations of storytellers with his work in comparative mythology in this period. He essentially sent out a call to arms for artists to create compelling modern mythologies that could unify our culture and inoculate us against the worst sorts of abuses. He lamented that the role of the spiritual had been mostly lost in our culture, exposing us to moral peril.
Artists answered through the beat and hippie generations and beyond, from George Lucas to Jerry Garcia to Bob Dylan.
IMO, Star Wars particularly is an excellent mythology to lean on in this regard - designed knowingly to be a modern mythology symbolizing inner space, our own psychological struggles, but also widely known and appreciated, it is an excellent vector for meme’ing positive, decent, empathetic messages
https://radmod.substack.com/p/thus-answered-joseph-campbell
You are the coolest dude 😎
Thank you Jim! Wonderful analysis.
Thanks for putting into words many of the same thoughts I've been having about this! Sneetches indeed.
Seuss clearly believed that Sneetches were *capable* of understanding they’d been hoodwinked. And he didn’t forsee that McMonkey was really scheming with Petrovich Putinsky to completely destroy Sneetch City and brand every Sneetch with a forehead cross.
Great piece. I love Dr. Seuss even more now.
Excellent! Sharing.
Brilliant! Laughing out loud.
How long will the chaos last before we realize we were all Sneetches?