Birth of an Industry : Blackface Minstrelsy and the Rise of American Animation

In Birth of an Industry, Nicholas Sammond describes how popular early American cartoon characters were derived from blackface minstrelsy. He charts the industrialization of animation in the early twentieth century, its representation in the cartoons themselves, and how important blackface minstrels were to that performance, standing in for the frustrations of animation workers. Cherished cartoon characters, such as Mickey Mouse and Felix the Cat, were conceived and developed using blackface minstrelsy's visual and performative conventions: these characters are not like minstrels; they are minstrels. They play out the social, cultural, political, and racial anxieties and desires that link race to the laboring body, just as live minstrel show performers did. Carefully examining how early animation helped to naturalize virulent racial formations, Sammond explores how cartoons used laughter and sentimentality to make those stereotypes seem not only less cruel, but actually pleasurable. Although the visible links between cartoon characters and the minstrel stage faded long ago, Sammond shows how important those links are to thinking about animation then and now, and about how cartoons continue to help to illuminate the central place of race in American cultural and social life.Read More Nicholas Sammond Describes How Popular Early American Cartoon Characters Were Derived From Blackface Minstrelsy. He Charts The Industrialization Of Animation In The Early Twentieth Century, Its Representation In The Cartoons Themselves, And How Important Blackface Minstrels Were To That Performance, Standing In For The Frustrations Of Animation Workers. Cherished Cartoon Characters, Such As Mickey Mouse And Felix The Cat, Were Conceived And Developed Using Blackface Minstrelsy's Visual And Performative Conventions: These Characters Are Not Like Minstrels; They Are Minstrels. They Play Out The Social, Cultural, Political, And Racial Anxieties And Desires That Link Race To The Laboring Body, Just As Live Minstrel Show Performers Did. Carefully Examining How Early Animation Helped Naturalize Virulent Racial Formations, Sammond Explores How Cartoons Used Laughter And Sentimentality To Make Those Stereotypes Seem Not Only Less Cruel But Actually Pleasurable. Although The Visible Links Between Cartoon Characters And The Minstrel Stage Faded Long Ago, Sammond Shows How Important Those Links Are To Thinking About Animation Then And Now, And About How Cartoons Continue To Help Illuminate The Central Place Of Race In American Cultural And Social Life. Introduction: Biting The Invisible Hand -- Performance -- Labor -- Space -- Race -- Conclusion: The New Blackface. Nicholas Sammond. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. In Birth of an Industry, Nicholas Sammond describes how popular early American cartoon characters were derived from blackface minstrelsy. He charts the industrialization of animation in the early twentieth century, its representation in the cartoons themselves, and how important blackface minstrels were to that performance, standing in for the frustrations of animation workers. Cherished cartoon characters, such as Mickey Mouse and Felix the Cat, were conceived and developed using blackface minstrelsy's visual and performative conventions: these characters are not like minstrels; they are minstrels. They play out the social, cultural, political, and racial anxieties and desires that link race to the laboring body, just as Live minstrel show performers did. Carefully examining how early animation helped naturalize virulent racial formations, Sammond explores how cartoons used laughter and sentimentality to make those stereotypes seem not only less cruel but actually pleasurable. Although the visible links between cartoon characters and the minstrel stage faded long ago, Sammond shows how important those links are to thinking about animation then and now, and about how cartoons continue to help illuminate the central place of race in American cultural and social life. Book jacket In __Birth of an Industry__, Nicholas Sammond describes how popular early American cartoon characters were derived from blackface minstrelsy. He charts the industrialization of animation in the early twentieth century, its representation in the cartoons themselves, and how important blackface minstrels were to that performance, standing in for the frustrations of animation workers. Cherished cartoon characters, such as Mickey Mouse and Felix the Cat, were conceived and developed using blackface minstrelsy's visual and performative conventions: these characters are not like minstrels; they are minstrels. They play out the social, cultural, political, and racial anxieties and desires that link race to the laboring body, just as live minstrel show performers did. Carefully examining how early animation helped to naturalize virulent racial formations, Sammond explores how cartoons used laughter and sentimentality to make those stereotypes seem not only less cruel, but actually pleasurable. Although the visible links between cartoon characters and the minstrel stage faded long ago, Sammond shows how important those links are to thinking about animation then and now, and about how cartoons continue to help to illuminate the central place of race in American cultural and social life. "Nicholas Sammond describes how popular early American cartoon characters were derived from blackface minstrelsy. He charts the industrialization of animation in the early twentieth century, its representation in the cartoons themselves, and how important blackface minstrels were to that performance, standing in for the frustrations of animation workers. Cherished cartoon characters, such as Mickey Mouse and Felix the Cat, were conceived and developed using blackface minstrelsy's visual and performative conventions: these characters are not like minstrels; they are minstrels. They play out the social, cultural, political, and racial anxieties and desires that link race to the laboring body, just as live minstrel show performers did. Carefully examining how early animation helped naturalize virulent racial formations, Sammond explores how cartoons used laughter and sentimentality to make those stereotypes seem not only less cruel but actually pleasurable. Although the visible links between cartoon characters and the minstrel stage faded long ago, Sammond shows how important those links are to thinking about animation then and now, and about how cartoons continue to help illuminate the central place of race in American cultural and social life."--Page 4 de la couverture "A beautiful story, expertly told." — Per Mertesacker, Arsenal defender and member of the German national team, winners of the 2014 World Cup Estáo do Maracan", July 13, 2014, the last ten minutes of extra time in the World Cup Final: German forward Mario Gö jumps to meet a floated pass from Andr' SchÃ1⁄4 cushions the ball with his chest, and in one fluid motion volleys the ball past the onrushing Argentine goalkeeper into the far corner of the net. The goal wins Germany the World Cup for the first time in almost thirty years. As the crowd roars, Gö looks dazed, unable to comprehend what he has done. In Das Reboot , Raphael Honigstein charts the return of German soccer from the dreary functionality of the late 1990s to Gö's moment of sublime, balletic genius and asks: How did this come about? The answer takes him from California to Stuttgart, from Munich to the Maracan", via Dortmund and Amsterdam. Packed with exclusive interviews with key figures, including JÃ1⁄4Klinsmann, Thomas MÃ1⁄4 Oliver Bierhoff, and many more, Honigstein's book reveals the secrets of German soccer's success. Nicholas Sammond argues that early cartoons are a key components to blackface minstrelsy and that cartoon characters such as Mickey Mouse and Felix the Cat are not like minstrels, but are minstrels. Cartoons have played on racial anxieties, naturalized racial formations, committed symbolic racial violence, and help perpetuate blackface minstrelsy. "Honigstein charts the return of German soccer from the dreary functionality of the late 1990s to [Mario] Götze's moment of sublime, balletic genius [in the 2014 World Cup] and asks: how did this come about?"--Back cover Contents Note on the Companion Website Acknowledgments Introduction. Biting the Invisible Hand 1. Performance 2. Labor 3. Space 4. Race Conclusion. The "New" Blackface Notes Bibliography Index