Vulgar Army – Page 2 – Representation of the octopus in propaganda and political cartoons

Attwod, F.G., “He Gathers Them In: A Pacific Sketch”, in Life September 24, 1885. It shows Grover Cleveland (22nd and 24th President of the United States). Source: Period Paper (15 Aug, 2011), http://www.periodpaper.com Private collection.

Giant Squid Captured

I received a note from David Pope on Twitter, that read “Will plead guilty for this [redacted]. Will plea bargain with this [redacted]”, I will leave it up to you to decide which was guilt, and which redemption. The first is a response to the proposed mining tax in Australia (and unfortunately gutted – and I say […]

May 18, 2011

Socialism

“Socialism” octopus by Louis Wain, circa 1902. Many thanks to Jack Graham for providing a rather unusual political cartoon.

Another monopoly octopus from “drafts” folders with no information or notes. I think I may have poached it from Getty Images (just a hunch)… Circa 1920s.

For your viewing a decontextualised octopus political cartoon. … This was sitting in my drafts folder. Unfortunately I have no idea where I got it from, nor had I written any notes on it.

The Tentacular Undead…

Please note: This is an earlier draft, more a bunch of ideas and notes than an actual argument). … Or why are there no zombie octopuses in political cartoons? [Author note: this is only a first pass, lots of vague arguments, and logical fallacies. And far to many “it could be argued, it has been […]

Dec 11, 2010

Rebecca Howland and The Real Estate Octopus

“Real Estate Octopus and Dead Horse”. Photo by the Drawing Center (1983) Photo by Becky Howland (1983)

Dec 11, 2010

Victor Hugo as both Apollo (the lyre) and Gilliatt (from ‘Toilers of the Sea’). Artist: G. Deloyoti. Published as front cover of “Le Hanneton” 6 June, 1867 issue no. 17. This is not a political cartoon, but I thought it relevant given Victor Hugo’s role in the development the octopus metaphor. Image Source: bridgeman.co.uk

“The War Octopus” – “Ondanks onze beschaving (of beschavingspeil)”, via Google translate: Despite our culture (or civilisation level). Published 27 August, 1939 in Algemeen Handelsblad (Amsterdam). Image Source: International Institute of Social History, Collection: IISG (Pieck, H.), Call # BG D55/850. (Accessed 23rd Oct 2010).

Book cover for “De groote Olie octopus, door Truth onderzocht” (The Great Oil Octopus by Truth Examined)‎. ‎Amsterdam, L.J. Veen. Conflicting dates: first published 1910, reprinted 1925? Dutch Anti-trust/Anti-capitalism criticising oil companies including Esso and Rockefeller. References: Antiqbook, http://www.antiqbook.nl/boox/vvliet/12028.shtml Image Source: International Institute of Social History, Collection: IISG, Call # BG C12/589. (Accessed: 23rd Oct, 2010)