"Little Nemo in Slumberland" dated October 25, 1908:
Transcript of Tweets by @LittleNemo1905 (NOVEMBER 7, 2020):
Wait a minute… WHY AREN'T WE IN SLUMBERLAND!? - 1/17
This strip continues with the single-incident one-off strips that we've been seeing as a part of this recent arc, which makes last week/yesterday's strip seem way out of place. - 2/17
I'm interested in for what reason McCay might have decided to insert the previous strip? As a change of pace strip? A reminder of the larger narrative framework that the strip is built on? 'Cuz he missed them as much as we do? I don't know. - 3/17
That isn't to say this strip isn't quality by comparison; I think it's pretty fun, actually. - 4/17
Again, we have an example of McCay's penchant for destruction, this time caused by the more seemingly natural occurrence of cyclone winds. - 5/17
The quickness with which the strip goes from no wind (and Nemo's comment about it) to gale force winds strong enough to rip Nemo's house (and many others') off it's foundations is quite startling. - 6/17
That said, I think McCay had a really good reason for it… and it's ironic that we've landed on this strip at this time because I'm pretty sure this strip is an allegory about the 1908 Presidential Election. - 7/17
The strip revealed this possible interpretation to me right around panel 7… when the American flag and the flagpole came into the narrative. - 8/17
Flip comment "Huh! This old flag will always stand" sounded uncharacteristically patriotic and immediately made me wonder if the flag that Flip was talking about was symbolic of the larger nation. - 9/17
Then the date of the strip clicked with me… October 25, 1908… pretty darned close to early November (a.k.a. universally recognized election time in the US)… was there an election in1908? - 10/17
SURE ENOUGH: - 11/17
That's about all the support that I need to confirm my suspicions… I see the storm as representative of the election, and the safety of the American flagpole as McCay's optimistic trumpeting that regardless of who wins, America will prevail. - 12/17
Quite timely considering the current situation in the United States and the anxiety surrounding the 2020 election. - 13/17
It's a fascinating revelation that I'm not sure I would've picked up on had our current election not been so present in my mind… but it's one I'm fascinated with and wonder if the youngens would've picked up on? - 14/17
That said, even without picking up on the nuance, the strip is enjoyable. The upheaval of houses and debris swirling through the air coupled with where they land (one on the moon no less) is fun. - 15/17 [INSERT GIF]
The political commentary that I read here is actually benefitted from the fact that the strip doesn't take itself overly seriously. It isn't an, in your face lecture, it doesn't choose a partisan position (McCay's personal politics are uncertain), and it is therefore enjoyable with that particular lens removed. - 16/17
This is my reading of "Little Nemo in Slumberland" #159. What's yours? - 17/17
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