Comments on: Alchemical Symbolism in Smurfs http://cartoonoveranalyzations.com/2008/03/14/alchemical-symbolism-in-smurfs/ hooking up phrases and clauses that balance Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:03:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: David http://cartoonoveranalyzations.com/2008/03/14/alchemical-symbolism-in-smurfs/#comment-385 David Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:52:22 +0000 http://cartoonoveranalyzations.wordpress.com/?p=104#comment-385 In the original comic book published in Belgium (I was born in Brussels), Gargamel makes is first appearance in the episode called "le voleur de schtroumpfs", he discovers the existence of smurfs for the first time while reading an alchemy book: in order to create the philosopher's stone, a smurf is needed, among other ingredients. You were quite close! In the original comic book published in Belgium (I was born in Brussels), Gargamel makes is first appearance in the episode called “le voleur de schtroumpfs”, he discovers the existence of smurfs for the first time while reading an alchemy book: in order to create the philosopher’s stone, a smurf is needed, among other ingredients.

You were quite close!

]]> By: Steve http://cartoonoveranalyzations.com/2008/03/14/alchemical-symbolism-in-smurfs/#comment-98 Steve Mon, 12 May 2008 07:16:32 +0000 http://cartoonoveranalyzations.wordpress.com/?p=104#comment-98 Wow, I never noticed any of that before. But looking back, its obvious. I must say, I love these over-analyzations Wow, I never noticed any of that before.
But looking back, its obvious.
I must say, I love these over-analyzations

]]> By: ArtLung Blog · Misc, Art, Mother’s Day http://cartoonoveranalyzations.com/2008/03/14/alchemical-symbolism-in-smurfs/#comment-86 ArtLung Blog · Misc, Art, Mother’s Day Sun, 11 May 2008 17:31:07 +0000 http://cartoonoveranalyzations.wordpress.com/?p=104#comment-86 [...] blog cracks me up. Articles like From the archives: A Freudian Analysis of Beavis and Butt-Head or Alchemical Symbolism in Smurfs are terrifically fun to read. Some even point out real issues of culture and race, as in From the [...] [...] blog cracks me up. Articles like From the archives: A Freudian Analysis of Beavis and Butt-Head or Alchemical Symbolism in Smurfs are terrifically fun to read. Some even point out real issues of culture and race, as in From the [...]

]]> By: Oasis http://cartoonoveranalyzations.com/2008/03/14/alchemical-symbolism-in-smurfs/#comment-79 Oasis Sun, 11 May 2008 05:32:56 +0000 http://cartoonoveranalyzations.wordpress.com/?p=104#comment-79 It was a robot that had a heart of gold, which Gargamel replaced with a heart of stone. Smurfette was a burnette Papa Smurf turned into a blonde. It was a robot that had a heart of gold, which Gargamel replaced with a heart of stone. Smurfette was a burnette Papa Smurf turned into a blonde.

]]> By: drHoward http://cartoonoveranalyzations.com/2008/03/14/alchemical-symbolism-in-smurfs/#comment-78 drHoward Sun, 11 May 2008 05:29:08 +0000 http://cartoonoveranalyzations.wordpress.com/?p=104#comment-78 Strong, Jon M. Freud on Seuss The Cat in the Hat is a hard-hitting novel of poetry in which the author re-examines the rhyming schemes and bold imagery of some of his earlier works, most notably Green Eggs and Ham, If I Ran the Zoo, and Why Can't I Shower With Mommy? In this novel, Theodore Geisel, writing under the assumed name of Dr. Seuss, pays homage to the great Dr. Sigmund Freud in a night-marish fantasy of a frisky feline helping two young children understand their own frustrated sexuality. This is the proof I have discovered that Children's books aren’t quite what they seem. The story opens with two youngsters, a brother and a sister, abandoned by their mother, staring mournfully through the window of their single-family house. In the foreground, a large tree (phallic symbol) dances wildly in the wind, taunting the children and encouraging them to succumb to the sexual yearnings they undoubtedly feel for each other. Even to the most unlearned reader the blatant references to the incestuous relationship the two share, sets the tone for Seuss' probing examination of the satisfaction of primitive needs. The Cat proceeds to charm the wary youths into engaging in what he so innocently refers to as "tricks." At this point, the fish (an obvious Christ figure who represents the prevailing Christian morality) attempts to warn the children, and thus, in effect, warns all of humanity of the dangers associated with the unleashing of the primal urges. In response to this, the cat proceeds to balance the aquatic nay-sayer on the end of his umbrella, essentially saying, "Down with morality; down with God!" After poo-poohing the righteous rantings of the waterlogged Christ figure, the Cat begins to juggle several icons of Western culture, most notably two books, representing the Old and New Testaments, and a saucer of lacteal fluid, an ironic reference to maternal loss the two children experienced when their mother abandoned them "for the afternoon." Our heroic Id adds to this bold gesture a rake and a toy man, and thus completes the Oedipal triangle. Later in the novel, Seuss introduces the proverbial Pandora's box, a large red crate out of which the Id releases Thing One, or Freud's concept of Ego, the division of the psyche that serves as the mediator between the person and reality, and Thing Two, the Superego which functions to reward and punish through a system of moral attitudes, conscience, and guilt. Referring to this box, the Cat says, "Now look at this trick. Take a look!" In this, Dr. Seuss uses the children as a brilliant metaphor for the reader, and asks the reader to re-examine his own inner self. The children, unable to control the Id, Ego, and Superego allow these creatures to run free and mess up the house, or more symbolically, control their lives. This rampage continues until the fish, or Christ symbol, warns that the mother is returning to reinstate the Oedipal triangle that existed before her abandonment of the children. At this point, Seuss introduces a many-armed cleaning device which represents the psychoanalytic couch, which proceeds to put the two youngsters' lives back in order. With powerful simplicity, clarity, and drama, Seuss reduces Freud's concepts on the dynamics of the human psyche to an easily understood gesture. Mr. Seuss' poetry and choice of words is equally impressive and serves as a splendid counter part to his bold symbolism. In all, his writing style is quick and fluid, making The Cat in the Hat impossible to put down. It is not until after multiple readings that the genius of this modern day master becomes apparent. In fact Mr. Suess' seemingly simple style allows for him to easily and quickly instill his views in our youth. This proves exactly my point of the fact that Children's books are not necessarily what they seem. Also, it shows just how easy it is for world domination through symbolism and subliminal messages in children's books. Works cited: The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss: NEW YORK, Beginner Books, $3.95, 61 Pages. Strong, Jon M.
Freud on Seuss
The Cat in the Hat is a hard-hitting novel of poetry in which the author re-examines the rhyming schemes and bold imagery of some of his earlier works, most notably Green Eggs and Ham, If I Ran the Zoo, and Why Can’t I Shower With Mommy? In this novel, Theodore Geisel, writing under the assumed name of Dr. Seuss, pays homage to the great Dr. Sigmund Freud in a night-marish fantasy of a frisky feline helping two young children understand their own frustrated sexuality. This is the proof I have discovered that Children’s books aren’t quite what they seem.
The story opens with two youngsters, a brother and a sister, abandoned by their mother, staring mournfully through the window of their single-family house. In the foreground, a large tree (phallic symbol) dances wildly in the wind, taunting the children and encouraging them to succumb to the sexual yearnings they undoubtedly feel for each other. Even to the most unlearned reader the blatant references to the incestuous relationship the two share, sets the tone for Seuss’ probing examination of the satisfaction of primitive needs. The Cat proceeds to charm the wary youths into engaging in what he so innocently refers to as “tricks.” At this point, the fish (an obvious Christ figure who represents the prevailing Christian morality) attempts to warn the children, and thus, in effect, warns all of humanity of the dangers associated with the unleashing of the primal urges. In response to this, the cat proceeds to balance the aquatic nay-sayer on the end of his umbrella, essentially saying, “Down with morality; down with God!”
After poo-poohing the righteous rantings of the waterlogged Christ figure, the Cat begins to juggle several icons of Western culture, most notably two books, representing the Old and New Testaments, and a saucer of lacteal fluid, an ironic reference to maternal loss the two children experienced when their mother abandoned them “for the afternoon.” Our heroic Id adds to this bold gesture a rake and a toy man, and thus completes the Oedipal triangle.
Later in the novel, Seuss introduces the proverbial Pandora’s box, a large red crate out of which the Id releases Thing One, or Freud’s concept of Ego, the division of the psyche that serves as the mediator between the person and reality, and Thing Two, the Superego which functions to reward and punish through a system of moral attitudes, conscience, and guilt. Referring to this box, the Cat says, “Now look at this trick. Take a look!” In this, Dr. Seuss uses the children as a brilliant metaphor for the reader, and asks the reader to re-examine his own inner self.
The children, unable to control the Id, Ego, and Superego allow these creatures to run free and mess up the house, or more symbolically, control their lives. This rampage continues until the fish, or Christ symbol, warns that the mother is returning to reinstate the Oedipal triangle that existed before her abandonment of the children. At this point, Seuss introduces a many-armed cleaning device which represents the psychoanalytic couch, which proceeds to put the two youngsters’ lives back in order.
With powerful simplicity, clarity, and drama, Seuss reduces Freud’s concepts on the dynamics of the human psyche to an easily understood gesture. Mr. Seuss’ poetry and choice of words is equally impressive and serves as a splendid counter part to his bold symbolism. In all, his writing style is quick and fluid, making The Cat in the Hat impossible to put down. It is not until after multiple readings that the genius of this modern day master becomes apparent. In fact Mr. Suess’ seemingly simple style allows for him to easily and quickly instill his views in our youth. This proves exactly my point of the fact that Children’s books are not necessarily what they seem. Also, it shows just how easy it is for world domination through symbolism and subliminal messages in children’s books.
Works cited:
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss: NEW YORK, Beginner Books, $3.95, 61 Pages.

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