"Little Nemo in Slumberland" dated July 02, 1911:
Transcript of Tweets by @LittleNemo1905 (APRIL 8, 2021):
"Little Nemo in Slumberland" dated July 02, 1911: https://www.comicstriplibrary.org/display/660
For a second straight week, we have a strip that reflects the betrayal of the series' original intention through a holiday focus (though read to the end for a potential salvation of this betrayal…). - 1/22
Throughout this strip, printed to acknowledge the fourth of July 1911, the Eagle defines himself by his desire to participate in *his* "day of celebration"… - 2/22
In other words, the Eagle defines himself as an American. - 3/22
Of course, the Eagle has certainly become a symbol of the United States of America, and though Bald Eagles are often called American Eagles, they are not named for that country, but rather the continent upon which they reside. - 4/22
So, yet again, we have an animal reflecting human politics as opposed to their own. Why would an Eagle care at all to celebrate the founding of America? Why would it care for borders and national division? - 5/22
These concepts are entirely foreign to a bird who (if not caged) could cross these borders with impunity, as all of natures creatures can. - 6/22
Now, surely, it's possible that the Eagle has become a proud American bird because of his residence in a New York zoo, but that isn't the story he tells… - 7/22
It is simply assumed that, as a symbol of Americana, the bird is proud and steadfast in his "American" nationality. - 8/22
And he most certainly is. As soon as he is free to spend the day amongst the celebrators he takes up the duty with vigor! - 9/22
He celebrates George Washington! He celebrates the Liberty Bell! Heck, he even celebrates "you old seventy sixers" (in reference to 1776 and the signing of the Declaration of Independence… which he also celebrates). - 10/22
Again, all of these distinctly American descriptors roll off of his outstretched tongue effortlessly. But, one has to ask why he identifies himself so strongly with these constructed ideals. - 11/22
While I understand why *we* associate the Eagle with them, I don't understand why the Eagle would define himself by them. - 12/22
And this speaks to McCay's betrayal of his animal series here, because as our bear friends noted all the way back when: "wouldn't it be grand if we could tell our side of the story" not the story of humans… - 13/22
If nothing else, this strip reads as a symbolic smorgasbord to Americana… the flag waving, name dropping, and bombastic excess all scream (at least to this Canuck) as quintessential to the American national experience. - 14/22
Now, I'm not trying to poo-poo on American national pride here; I promise. I would have the same question if Nemo was speaking to a beaver waving around hockey sticks and screaming "God save the Queen"… - 15/22
All that said… I have a theory. And maybe it's a stretch, but it's a simple one. - 16/22
This is, without question, the most high-flown Fourth of July strip in all of #LittleNemo's existence at the NY Herald… is it a simple going away present that doubles as a holiday strip? - 17/22
Or is McCay (not so subtly) celebrating his departure from the NY Herald for… you guessed it, William Randolph Hearst's NY *American* newspaper. - 18/22
Connecting to our previous allegorical reading, it would be a) a holiday strip as well as both b) an exaggerated middle finger to the Herald and c) a buried announcement to his readers where they could keep following Nemo! - 19/22
Frankly, this reading (whether intended by McCay or not) makes me forgive the American Eagle discussion entirely because Nemo's wide smile in panel 9 is totally, 100% worth it. - 20/22
Furthermore, if this whole series *has* been about making barely noticeable allegorical jabs at the Herald and it's editorial (as I believe that it is), then this fits in really rather nicely with the larger framework. - 21/22
This is my reading of "Little Nemo in Slumberland" #299. What's yours? - 22/22
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