Donald Duck and charitable utility
One fascinating aspect of junk media is the way they refract social values. Take, for instance, Carl Barks' Donald Duck comics, which transformed the gag cartoon into an epic exploration of the moral complexity of American culture. Drugs, exploitation, radioactive hair-treatment scams (!)--Barks had the freedom to hold his magic mirror to our world precisely because no one took his artistic medium seriously.
Following up on yesterday's image from A Christmas in Shacktown, here are a few panels from what happens after Uncle Scrooge answers the door. When Uncle Scrooge sees that his visitor is his nephew Donald Duck, he decides not to fire his anti-philanthropy cannon. But much to Scrooge's dismay, Donald is indeed seeking a donation for a charitable cause--the children of impoverished Shacktown. The request: $50--$25 for a turkey dinner, and $25 for a toy train, the first and only Christmas present the children in Shacktown would ever receive.
Moving beyond outright resistance to the very notion of giving, Uncle Scrooge zeroes in what he sees as the gift's fatal flaw:
No utility.
Feeding the poor--that he can agree with;it has an identifiable return on investment. Giving children a toy train, however, is "useless." If the women--and in a previous panel Uncle Scrooge launches into the irrationality of charity as a woman's domain, one that taints the males foolish enough to indulge it--are going to insist on such nonsense, they are going to have to earn that money first before he gives his more practical gift.
Note that what Scrooge promotes--utility, matching funds, and as the rest of the story elaborates, earned income for charity--are precisely what we tend to value today. Yet Barks sees them as antithetical to charity. Even in the purest sense of poverty relief, Barks conveys, the inutile plays an essential role in making life truly human.
One might be tempted to say this sequence is a relic of an obsolete tradition, irrelevant to today. And that would be wrong. Barks was a designer and a storyteller, an artist skilled in the timeless rhetoric of composition. The utter hopelessness of Shacktown--not even enough money to play--stood in stark contrast to the absolute wealth of Uncle Scrooge, whose every business venture yielded ample returns.
As the past decade's market boom subsides, the social enterprise movement is going to face more cultural resistance. Bringing the logic of rational capitalism to areas seemingly overwhelmed by systemic market failure is not going to make sense. It's also going to seem cruel, or at the very least inhumane. How we adapt to this is going to determine whether social enterprise itself will be sustainable.
NEXT in Charity and Comics: The tipping point and toy trains
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Donald Duck and charitable utility.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://uncivilsociety.org/mt/mt-tb.cgi/434
replica Vacheron Constantin watches the annual replica Watch Accessories watches last Saturday revealed: replica tiffany jewelry watches won the best female table title: Rolex replica Twice, such as throwing coins to play the Omega replica, positive and IWC replica. In the front, with radial momentum U-boat replica engraved Microhyla by the scattering of Panerai replica: Grace to make the surface of the sun rays Longines replica even more introverted calm. Back from the thread into the Breitling replica outlines the diamond dress Bell & Ross replica time scales, the special design of Tag Heuer replica numerals at 12 o';clock position, the sub-pointers. This is an unconventional brand-new design, but also with the technical details of the fine in order to match replica Piaget if we can use both sides of swiss valjoux 7750 replica and A.Lange & Sohne replica, and the perfect time to hide the design set.2008 Earl of new presentation is done by opening the Audemars Piguet replica, in SIHH2008 all brands of new introduction from the CEO to personally introduce the world is rare, and this we can see that count on the Chinese media';s attention to the brand , for the Chinese market seriously.2008 SIHH, Breguet replica focused on the introduction of the latest series of Burberry replica and Bvlgari replica with us to explore the planet';s most sparkling of the two cities: Paris and New York.The significance of this masterpiece, in November once again been confirmed. Carrera Calibre 360 Cartier replica, clocks and Chopard replica in Geneva Competition (Grand Prix d';Horlogerie de Geneve), on being named the 2006 sports Concord replica.Earl Place de la Concorde to the Eiffel Tower and the Ferris wheel on the two places marked as a source of DeWitt replica and carved out of the Ebel replica beauty. Whether at the dinner or the new display, you will find in your Eiffel Tower around everywhere, beautiful lighting combined into a sparkling Eiffel Tower, people feel like being in Paris in Neuilly-sur . Earl has also selected two representatives of the American Dream: New York';s Chrysler Building and the Statue of Liberty, as the latest series of Limelight Ferrari replica a source of inspiration. Huadu Paris and New York dedicated to bold and beautiful fashion Franck Muller replica creations, a total of two Piaget Polo Tourbillon Glashutte replica, limited edition 3, respectively.Earl addition to launching a complex function of Gucci replica, but also introduced to both Paris and New York fashion capital of the design elements of high-level Graham replica, the perfect interpretation of the count, Hermes replica jewelry two hearts principle.
The hottest fashion uggs are on great discount now ! All of these discount uggs feature a soft foam insole covered with genuine sheepskin and have a molded EVA light and flexible outsole designed for amazing comfort with every step. There are so many styles of uggs on sale that the UGG boot sale are growing fast. Anyone who want to buy fashionable and comfortable UGG boots can go tooutlet uggs where the discount are up to 50%,uggs for cheap in our store.
discount uggs ;
fashion uggs ;
outlet uggs ;
uggs on sale ;
uggs for cheap ;
purple uggs
uggs nightfall
uggs classic short
ugg slipper sale
black uggs on sale
uggs adirondack boot
mini uggs on sale
http://www.uggsonsaleforcheap.com
Top China Wholesaler-Buy Wholesale Promotional Gifts Promotional Products from China.
China Wholesale Bottle Opener Wholesale Frisbee Wholesale Carabiner Wholesale Keychain Wholesale Mug Wholesale USB Flash Drive Wholesale Cup Wholesale Cap Wholesale Towel Christmas Gifts Wholesale Gift Bags Wholesale Umbrella Wholesale Vuvuzela Wholesale Socks Wholesale USB Products Wholesale First Aid Kit Wholesale Pom Poms Wholesale Clap Hands Water Bottle Wholesale Halloween Gift Wholesale Waterproof Case Wholesale Calculator Wholesale Bag Wholesale Golf Products Wholesale Stress Ball Wholesale Knife Wholesale Wallet Wholesale Lanyard Wholesale Pen Wholesale Flashlight Wholesale Watch Wholesale Candle Wholesale Apron Wholesale Fan Wholesale Lighter Wholesale AshtrayOur main products are consumer electronics, gifts and souvenirs, health care products, beauty products, automobile parts, household items, plastic products, metal products, kitchen supplies, stationery, sports goods, toys, watches, leather products, etc.
China Wholesale Town - China's most viable wholesale supplier of promotional gifts, you can customize your own logo, no matter anywhere in the world!
Wholesale T-Shirts Wholesale Clocks Wholesale Glasses Wholesale Clothes Rack Wholesale Kitchenware Wholesale Vase Poncho Raincoat Wholesale Shoe Wholesale Furniture Wholesale Camera Wholesale Jewelry Wholesale Toys Wholesale Keyboard Wholesale Mouse Wholesale Mat Wholesale Scarf Wholesale Speakers Eye Mask Wholesale Earphone Wholesale Mp3 Recorder Pen Wholesale Tie Wholesale Clothing Wholesale Scissors Wholesale Bookmark Wholesale Mobile Phone Solar Products Lighting Products Wholesale Glass Computer Accessories Wine Set Safety Suppliers Wholesale Tableware Silicone Products Home Appliances Electrical Gifts Automotive Products Audio Video Equipment Consumer Electronics Digital Photo Frame Electroluminescent Wholesale iPod iPhone Wholesale Memory Card Wholesale Radio Wholesale Scale Wholesale TelePhone Voice Recorder Advertising Material Arts Crafts Wholesale Badge Wholesale Pin Wholesale Banner Wholesale Flag Business Gift Coca Cola Gifts Crystal Gifts Flash Gift Gift Box Giveaway Material Inflatable Products Muslim Products Valentine Gifts Vocal Concert Products Wedding Favors Beauty Equipment Wholesale Bracelet Wholesale Bangle Hair Products Health Care Products Heating Products Wholesale Helmet Lady Beauty Care Manicure Set Wholesale Massager Medicine Instrument Men Beauty Care Wholesale Mirror Patient Care Products Wholesale Pedometer Personal Safety Products Safety Products Wholesale Thermometer Cleaner Products Wholesale Coaster