"Little Nemo in Slumberland" dated January 31, 1926:
Transcript of Tweets by @LittleNemo1905 (NOVEMBER 15, 2021):
On the surface, this is a pretty simplistic strip. If you dig into it a bit though, there is actually some neat conflicts throughout. - 1/13
The strip is entirely predicated on Nemo sleeping in his bed and being simultaneously hot and cold. Truly, a universal experience, I think. - 2/13
The dreamscape mimics that feeling/experience throughout… the juxtapositions and the oxymoronic elements throughout frame that! - 3/13
Whether it is the "big/small" dynamic that shifts in tier 1 and 2 or the "hot/cold" ice these contradictory binaries exist throughout the strip. - 4/13
For this reason, I find panel 8 interesting. - 5/13
If we recognize that this strip is full of strange binary contradictions, can we read the "Lots Free" as an indictment of claiming to own land that belongs to no one? - 6/13
The signs basically say "Hey! No one claims to be living here right now! Why don't you take it and say it's yours!"… of course, that is exactly what many people do/have done throughout history. - 7/13
So, could McCay be making some political statement about the stealing of land? The fact that it is in a jungle of sorts could *even* lead one to think about whether this is an environmental challenge. - 8/13
To live in these spaces, one would need to clear the land… maybe McCay is drawing attention to how silly that is? - 9/13
Interested in hearing peoples thoughts about this as I'm not entirely sure I have my finger on it… - 10/13
I'll end by saying how brilliant I found the shrinking city. Particularly the Department of Climates as it shrinks! - 11/13
I really liked the affect that it created… the seamlessness with which McCay transitions the characters from being miniscule in scale to the building to the exact opposite is very impressive! - 12/13
This is my reading of "Little Nemo in Slumberland" #501. What's yours? - 13/13