A Series on the social history of comics
Wednesday 30th November at
1.00-1.45pm in the Hochhauser Auditorium, Sackler Centre, V&A museum
Blame it on Romance: What frightened Senator Joe McCarthy?
1.00-1.45pm in the Hochhauser Auditorium, Sackler Centre, V&A museum
Blame it on Romance: What frightened Senator Joe McCarthy?
INTRODUCTION
Romance comic books, with over 30 million sold monthly, dominated the American market from 1949 to 1954. The brevity of Romance might be related to the 50s anti-communist McCarthy witch-hunts.
BACKGROUND
In the late 40s one man assumed unheard of power. Senator Joe McCarthy transformed uncertain patriotism into an almost tangible fear. He cultivated a power base for himself out of proportion to what he was, or what his abilities were.
The impact of Romance was vast and uncontrollable. Words like tsunami and unstoppable proletarian spring to mind. In most cases there were no credits, It was as if it was a form of literature where it didn't matter who wrote or who drew what. It was an uprising and a rebellion and this is almost unique in the history of publishing.
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| ©1943, Tarpe Mills, Miss Fury |
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©1942, Tarpe Mills, Miss Fury
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