If you’re like me… you can’t stomach the computerized junk that passes for animation these days. It being Christmas and all, I have the perfect solution for you; a 1971 animated short that clocks in at 25 minutes that’s based on Charles Dickens’ 1843 tale, A Christmas Carol. It’s almost a perfect adaptation, even though it’s a bit short. My…
This post is part of my notionally annual, but in point of fact, irregular attempt at spreading Christmas cheer on my web log. This year, when I heard the old Christmas standard Silent Night, I began to think of current events in Mexico, for reasons that will be apparent if you read this yuletide message in its entirety. In 1963…
“Father Christmas, give us some money Don’t mess around with those silly toys We’ll beat you up if you don’t hand it over We want your bread, so don’t make us annoyed Give all the toys… to the little rich boys” “Father Christmas.” The Kinks. 1977 While Father Christmas by The Kinks remains one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs…
My humble holiday offering to the world… a brilliant satiric radio play from American comedian Stan Freberg. While his Green Chri$tma$ was produced in 1958, it is perhaps more pertinent today than ever before. Freberg’s scathing indictment of capitalism run amok during the Christmas season was promptly banned by commercial radio and attacked by advertisers and advertising trade magazines; an…
Hark the Herald Angels Sing! Machine Gun Clatter! Bomb Blast! Poison Gas! The anti-militarist Christmas message from John Heartfield shown at left was published on December 26, 1935, in the German magazine, Arbeiter-Illustriete Zeitung (AIZ, or “Worker’s Illustrated Paper”). The title of the photomontage, O du fröhliche, O du selige, gnadenbringende Zeit (O joyful, o blessed, miracle-bringing time), was taken…
“They say Osama’s in the mountains deep in a cave near Pakistan But there’s a sea of blood in Baghdad A sea of oil in the sand Between the Tigris and Euphrates another day comes to an end It’s Christmas In Fallujah Peace on earth goodwill to men It’s Christmas In Fallujah hallelujah hallelujah hoorah.” Words and Music By Billy…
The yuletide carol, O Tannenbaum (Oh Christmas tree) was written in 1820 and based on a German folk melody. German anti-Fascist artist John Heartfield created the above photomontage in 1934 to deride the Nazis who had seized control of his country the year before. The artist titled his work: O Christmas tree in German soil, how bent are thy…
