octopus – Vulgar Army

Don’t shoot! I’ll let go!

Udo J. Keppler, Don’t shoot! I’ll let go!, Januaury 31 1914, Illus. in: Puck, v. 75, no. 1926. Reproduced from: The Library of Congress, http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2011649666/ (Accessed: 9th March 2013) The cartoon refers to the Clayton Act of 1914, which was an attempt by the Wilson Administration to tighten antitrust laws. Part of the act was to prevent corporations merging that had […]

The Peril of France

Louis Dalrymple, The peril of France – at the mercy of the octopus, October 26, 1898, Illus. from Puck, v. 44, no. 1129. Reproduced from: The Library of Congress, http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2012647482/ (Accessed: 9th March 2013). The cartoon refers to the Dreyfus Affair, and to the corruption, deception and anti-semitism of the French Military at the time. It was […]

Not Even-Handed Justice

“NOT EVEN-HANDED JUSTICE: Crushing the scorpion of anarchy but sparing the octopus of monopoly”, Artist William A. Rogers, published in Harper’s Weekly, January 21, 1888. (Snark: Seems kind of apt, given the Occupy movement and response to it. Some things don’t change.) Image source: Railroad Cartoons Home, http://sophia.smith.edu/~maldrich/topics/political_influence/1888harpersjan21.htm (accessed 12-11-2011)

He Gathers Them In

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 […]

Socialism

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

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 […]

The War Octopus

“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).

De Groote Olie Octopus

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)

Old policies! Old values! No future!

“Old policies! Old values! No future!” – 2002 via State Library of Victoria Howard Government refers to Australian Federal Government. They were re-elected. They introduced several policies such as removing student union fees (that supported a whole raft of services such as counsellors, advocacy for students etc as well as social events) while massively increasing […]