"Fun and Facts about America"
February 8, 2023 1:12 AM Subscribe
"Meet King Joe" 1949. (yt) [CW: racist ethnic depictions]
National Film Preservation Foundation
"financed by longtime General Motors CEO Alfred P. Sloan."
National Film Preservation Foundation
"financed by longtime General Motors CEO Alfred P. Sloan."
Well, I'm glad I saw this. And sad that som much has changed for the worse. In 1949, there were still strong unions in the US. A lot of the technology that had been developed during the war was funneled into civilian uses. And the G.I.s coming home from Asia or Europe got educations and jobs.
The Military-Industrial Complex was not yet the gigantic tapeworm it is today, draining the country of ressources and manpower. And of course, back then, they did not know what a pest on humanity the suburbs and their multiple car households and consumerist layout would become on the entire globe.
Also, yes, the racism.
On the other hand, it shows what the Roosevelt administration achieved, and it shows how much we all can achieve (not just Americans) if we can focus on the task and not let ourselves be distracted by all kinds of rubbish. It wasn't just Joe's granddad who worked hard for a subsistence income. So did Joe's dad, during the 1930s.
posted by mumimor at 6:42 AM on February 8, 2023 [3 favorites]
The Military-Industrial Complex was not yet the gigantic tapeworm it is today, draining the country of ressources and manpower. And of course, back then, they did not know what a pest on humanity the suburbs and their multiple car households and consumerist layout would become on the entire globe.
Also, yes, the racism.
On the other hand, it shows what the Roosevelt administration achieved, and it shows how much we all can achieve (not just Americans) if we can focus on the task and not let ourselves be distracted by all kinds of rubbish. It wasn't just Joe's granddad who worked hard for a subsistence income. So did Joe's dad, during the 1930s.
posted by mumimor at 6:42 AM on February 8, 2023 [3 favorites]
Harding College! ... it surprises me that they were involved in anything as newfangled as animation back then.
seconded
posted by neuron at 9:06 PM on February 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
seconded
posted by neuron at 9:06 PM on February 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
This interested me in a correlation to the comic Joe Dope
Industrial Psychology is a niche for me and it never ceases to amaze me when watching something that conveys an eras transformation, racism, sexism seem to re-write itself, its dilution then, watching it today, is quite provocative.
a thanks to mod on duty for content warning. I had chosen (racist content) and failed to Include in my second draft. This was poor editing and oh, it was late, etc. excuses won't do. Thanks and apologies.
posted by clavdivs at 4:24 PM on February 11, 2023
Industrial Psychology is a niche for me and it never ceases to amaze me when watching something that conveys an eras transformation, racism, sexism seem to re-write itself, its dilution then, watching it today, is quite provocative.
a thanks to mod on duty for content warning. I had chosen (racist content) and failed to Include in my second draft. This was poor editing and oh, it was late, etc. excuses won't do. Thanks and apologies.
posted by clavdivs at 4:24 PM on February 11, 2023
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A key to the propaganda is that Joe’s deal is he’s well paid and has leisure time, which, now, well ... Also, it’s a hell of a nerve comparing American railroads to Chinese labor power, considering who built America’s railroads.
posted by Countess Elena at 4:44 AM on February 8, 2023 [2 favorites]