:This Boy: *Tuesday, July 22nd*Eleanor Jane Calder “Li, I like this tattoo.” I commented, my fingers tracing over the chest tattoo that read 'Until Forever Faded Away' in a fancy script. He catches them. They show off a lot. Eartha Kitt . It was really weird seeing her so content with him being that way considering if anyone else did it, they'd get hit. If you like to participate, you can help with the current tasks, visit the notice board, edit the attached article or discuss it at the project's talk page. In one story a foreign-looking scientist starts a green-shirt movement. One picture shows the scientist addressing a public meeting: Seduction of the Innocent. 3 thoughts on “ Fredric Wertham’s “Seduction of the Innocent” ” Pope Elvis the First September 12, 2008 at 2:33 am. You point out, correctly, that the “diagram for housebreakers” illustrates how to lock a window from the outside. As far as I have been able to determine Wertham never published any articles on his study of the comic book and juvenile delinquency in any journal of psychiatry or psychology. The other area of evidence that Wertham used was from the comics themselves. If Wertham had influenced the Hookey Club in this way what other statements by Hookey Club members might what have actually been influenced by Wertham? It was the Hookey Club. His book, Seduction of the Innocent caused a ripple so large that it’s still felt today. World Things Exciting. How creditable is it that someone who really so wrapped up in Batman would not remember his secret identity? Wertham placed much emphasis on his clinical studies. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Fredric Wertham’s “Seduction of the Innocent”. Here is another (page 257): This I am told has something to do with the Post Office regulations according to which they may change the name but must keep the number, to keep some sort of connection with the former product. It was an era when accusations were regularly hurled (against comics or commies). Wertham felt that if that comic book influence could be removed that television would have a great positive affect. This suggests that Wertham was more then just an observer at the meetings of the Hookey Club. But with his cynicism towards love, will they be able to trust each other and find their HEA. Another much used source of evidence could be considered as part of his clinical studies. He is buoyant with energy and devoted to nothing on earth or in interplanetary space as much as to Bruce Wayne. Enjoy the best Fredric Wertham quotes and picture quotes! Wild theories and speculations garbed in scientific language are swallowed by gullible readers. That in particular the violence portrayed in the stories influenced the behavior of many youngsters. All rights reserved. : Verführung der Unschuldigen) ist ein 1954 erschienenes Buch des deutsch-amerikanischen Psychiaters Fredric Wertham. "Seduction of the Innocent" is based upon true-life events, and many of the characters are based on real people -- but the names, personalities, and events have been changed, amalgamated, extrapolated, and exaggerated to protect the innocent and overall fun. No person and no democratic agency can stop him. And yes Wertham took advantage of it. Having finished “Seduction of the Innocent” I cannot help but wonder about the postscript. Your point about considering the times is well taken. Zusammen mit den Kefauver-Hearings, in denen Comicverleger und -zeichner öffentlich befragt wurden, bildete es den Höhepunkt einer gegen Comics gerichteten Kampagne zu Beginn der 1950er Jahre. This is troublesome because while I might not understand his research methods well enough, I am also unable to see how his peers felt about his methodology either. Robin is a handsome ephebic boy, usually shown in his uniform with bare legs. I don’t have it at home; I get it at another boy’s house.”, “He is like Superman. Possibilities Charming Because. So Crime may become Love; Outer Space, the Jungle; Perfect Crime, War; Romance, Science Fiction; Young Love, Horror; while the numbers remain consecutive. :Love: *Sunday, August 24th*Niall James Horan “So how did your date go?” I snickered along with Louis as Zayn walked in through the front door on this fine morning with a dumb smile on his face. For girls she is a morbid ideal. Wertham repeatedly claims that comic books provide instructions to youngsters on how to commit crimes. Our motto is: Don't quote it if you can't source it. I just do not understand why. Now this might not be a bad approach for studying physical illnesses but for me it poses serious issues when it comes to mental problems. Sure it is a child’s mistake but Wertham acceptance of it indicates he really was not that familiar with the character and therefore casts doubt as to how thorough his study of the original comic books was. I find it well and accurately summarized in this brief quotation: It is not a question of right, but of winning. But that occupies only a small portion of his writing and he seems much more concerned that the types of violence shown in comics toward women may lead readers to become sexually aberrant. The author warns not to consider this a history lesson, but a novel of mystery and adventure. Yes, "Dr." Fredric Wertham 's Seduction of the Innocent is vital to understand the history of comics (and why for so long they really were "just for kids"), but good lord, rarely has such shoddy science made such an impact on popular culture, to its eternal detriment. Horror comics became so innocuous that it seems strange to apply that name to them. Get involved! I suspect he was not happy. As far as I can tell no category of comics completely escaped Wertham’s wrath. Literary criticism aside, what matters most is what points was Wertham trying to make, how well did he support his arguments and how creditable was he? A look at a few comic books specifically mentioned in the book, Seduction Of The Innocent. Follow your opponent till he is crushed. Any story that included a crime would be classified as a crime comic. But I am still surprised that so many people let him get away with it. I wonder what Wertham felt about the Comic Code? Discussion; Bug Reporting; Delete/Combine Pages The book was taken seriously at the time, and was a minor bestseller that created alarm in parents and galvanized them to campaign for censorship. Print Friendly. Also that advertisements found in comics even provided the source from which youngsters could obtain weapons. Remarkable Last Words (or Near-Last Words). Comic book can lead to impaired reading ability. So how creditable was Wertham’s arguments and, most importantly, his evidence? Seduction of the Innocent (dt. It is not the patient supplying all the information nor is it the doctor doing the treatment based on his examination alone. The story would have been about a dead victim that had been found in a locked room; a not too uncommon plot device and not just found in comic books. Seduction of the Innocent Book One: Yellow Brick Road last edited by fesak on 07/20/20 03:13AM View full history In July 1969, the world was first introduced to Vampirella. And I do wonder how careful his studies of comic books were. Or is he? Our sheltered, innocent, small-town girl, Tammy, played by TJ Myers, journeys with a friend to Dallas to visit her older sister whom she adores and thinks is working as a teller in a bank. It is not difficult to understand that a child stimulated to fantasies about violent and sadistic adventures and about a man who changes into an insect gets frightened. Instead I found it filled with histrionics and that Wertham’s train of thought seemed to wander erratically. He also worked with children caught and subjected to the legal system. Wertham would be present as well but he makes it sound like his actual participation was limited. Unless otherwise marked, all images are my own restorations. For instance Wertham does raise the concern that romance comics may adversely affect sexual morals. “Seduction of the Innocent” was not just a critique of comic books it was also a call for legislation action to ban all objectionable comics. With such give and take between the patient and the doctor how is it possible to be certain what is learned from the patient and what comes from the doctor’s preconceived notions? As I said I really did not know what to expect but I never thought I would find this book so poorly written. She starts hanging out with a wild crowd, and begins popping "bennies, uppers" and other pills. Seduction of the Innocent, for everything it did, forced publishers to bring back the once-thought-dead superhero genre, caused the voluntary formation of the Comics Code Authority, and brought about a microscopic vie… My summary of the primary views found in “Seduction of the Innocent” would be: I am not saying these were the only issues but I feel they were the most important. . Honestl. Kafka for the kiddies! I really had no idea what to expect. It was in this atmosphere that Wertham made his frequently absurd assertions. The final important source of evidence was a study of the comics themselves. Seduction of the Innocent Quotes - Fredric Wertham - Lib Quotes Fredric Wertham - Seduction of the Innocent (1954) For boys, Wonder Woman is a frightening image. Comic books promote violence and crime in children. The Comic Code Authority completely changed comics. Jeanette, a pretty high school student, is looking for "kicks." Gen. Comic books desensitize their readers to good literature. Crime comics did not last long. But the whole idea of reading this book was to allow Wertham to in effect plead his own case and so I tried to keep an open mind while I read it. However disjointed paragraphs are found in great abundance throughout the book. So where did Wertham get the evidence to support his claims? In a moment of weakness I surrendered to a tragic impulse and grasped at a forbidden love! Although many of the books Wertham cites have not yet been identified by collectors, the illustration you mention is one that has been identified. Forums. Several boys told me that they thought he looked like Einstein. I can only surmise that people were so impressed by Wertham’s credentials that they were willing to believe what he had to say based on his authority as an expert. Although it’s easy to look at the book 50 years hence and wonder how people could have fallen for Wertham’s faulty logic, it’s also important to take the era into consideration. I don’t remember Batman’s name…”. :He Should Feel Special: *Thursday, July 3rd* Perrie Louise Edwards I made my way through the woods, going towards the cliff. Historical books are important but I also felt that a reading of the seminal “Seduction of the Innocent” itself was in order. Seduction of the Innocent / Lost in Space / 30 pages (from Lost in Space Special Edition (Innovation, 1992 series) #1 (1992)) [STORY] Seduction of the Innocent / The Good Guys / 37 pages (from The Good Guys (Defiant, 1993 series) #4 (February 1994)) [FEATURE] I’ll check it out. For girls she is a morbid ideal. He was a quack. She was so beautiful. Thanks for the tip about “diagram for housebreakers”. Nor does he explain precisely what he means by clinical studies. Your assumptions are correct: the story involves attempting to make a murder look like a suicide, so the killer exits by a window and locks the window on his way out. In the currently inverted world of movie appreciation, the notes on Something Weird's DVD-R issue on Vol. My understanding is that this book attempts to restore Wertham’s image. May be I am wrong, but talking about “subconscious mind” does not sound like the terms that a youngster would normally use to me. The postings on this blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent The Jack Kirby Museum & Research Center's positions, strategies or opinions. As usual Wertham does not supply what comic he got this from. Lately, we'd been running each morning together, but she wasn't out this morning. Donations may be tax-deductible - please consult your tax advisor. Superman knocks them out with his fist. It must have been a bitter disappointment that after the Comic Code television did not flower as he predicted. Undoubtedly for Wertham the most important criticism against comic books was the first, the connection between comic books and juvenile delinquency. I hardly believe that though, I don't know when she wouldn't be beautiful. “So my fellow Americans, it is time to give America back to Americans! My reading of this book leads me to my own prognosis of Wertham himself. Samantha and Mirenna hit us upside the head for laughing, but I was eager to hear how bad he got rejected last night when he tried to pull that musical bull shit. With TJ Myers, John McCalmont, Erica Palmer, Danielle Petty. C This article has been rated as C-Class on the project's quality scale. After the publication of the book, Wertham testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency, chaired by Estes Kefauver. Brutality does it. Wertham was a psychiatrist who did work in various clinics and hospitals. Wertham felt that clinical studies were the best method to determine the underlying reasons for the problems suffered by children and he was very critical of other study techniques. No challenge to any owner's rights is intended or should be inferred. This article is within the scope of WikiProject Comics, a collaborative effort to build an encyclopedic guide to comics on Wikipedia. More probable is that this member really was not that much of a fan but was saying what he thought Wertham wanted to hear. Further that crime comics gave instructions on how to actually commit crimes. The Jack Kirby Museum & Research Center is a tax-exempt non-profit educational corporation. You can't be innocent forever, but there's something in innocence you need to regain to be creative. Mason Cooley. My folks hushed it up of course . That’s what I dreamed about. Publishing, March-April, 1949). I hope she's okay. The Hookey club acted as a sort of judge and jury and so it might be considered distinct from a more typical therapy group. If you like to participate, you can help with the current tasks, visit the notice board, edit the attached article or discuss it at the project's talk page. New Comics. In a recent post I showed that data suggested that the cause of the decline of comics in the mid 50’s could be attributed to the effects of Fredric Wertham’s book “Seduction of the Innocent” (1954). For Wertham the crime comics also included westerns and superheroes. For other reasons Wertham also criticized romance and horror comics as well. He's so sweet and fragile, what guy would sleep with you on a cliff ledge just so you won't be alone? I am fortunate that Joe Simon has allowed me to also include some previously unpublished material. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. This issue is of importance not only to the history of comics in general but also to the break up of the Simon and Kirby collaboration. Treatment of mental problems does not go in one direction. I find the following statement by a member of the Hookey Club particularly suspicious (page 71): You don’t have to think of it, it is in the back of your mind, in your subconscious mind. But I found out different fifteen minutes after we checked into the hotel!! Darin wurden Comics als jugendgefährdend und als Anstiftung zum Verbrechen kritisiert. As for the histrionics here is an example of the extremes he could go (pages 95 and 96): What in a few words is the essential ethical teaching of crime comics for children? This technique would have been of no help to anyone wanting to commit breaking and entry. The 1948-1954 timeline of anti-comics hysteria roughly parallels the anti-communist hysteria of the time. This does not seem like an objective methodology to me. I am sure I will have something to write about when I have finished that book. These words were the instructions given on August 22, 1939, by a superman in his home in Berchtesgaden to his generals, to serve as guiding lines for the treatment of the population in the impending war on Poland. His anti-comics “research” and crusade continued into the early 1950’s, culminating in a widely-read article in Ladies’ Home Journal and in the book Seduction of the Innocent. I had also understood from second hand sources that Wertham really did not have scientific evidence to backup his claim about the link between comic books and juvenile delinquency. It bothered me while I was reading this book that time and time again when writing about others who disagreed with his findings Wertham would call for the scientific evidence that supported his critic’s position. Innocence is thought charming because it offers delightful possibilities for exploitation. However I am pretty certain that this panel was from a murder mystery. Fortunately Fredric Wertham’s “Seduction of the Innocent” has become nothing more then a cautionary footnote in the pages of history. Wertham’s book does make for some fascinating reading. I also wonder what he would have felt about television. In the end Wertham only has his authority as an expert to support his claim that his clinic studies prove the connection between comic books and juvenile delinquency. Then after I left Dr. Rigby's, I went to the cliff and she wasn't there either. The gun advertisements are elaborate and realistic. In summary there is reason to question what Wertham wrote in “Seduction of the Innocent”. . That illustration comes from Exposed #7 (D.S. If anybody were to ask for evidence to back up the accusations, the instigator would simply ratchet up the rhetoric and cite more extreme examples. Note how the above comic book image taken from his book is titled by Wertham “Diagram for housebreakers”. Is it really? :Learning Something New: *Thursday, July 10th*Zayn Javadd Malik “You're cute.” Perrie hummed, hip bumping me as we waded in the water. Please Support Seduction of the Innocent! Directed by Alin Bijan. There are those who so dislike the nude that they find something indecent in the naked truth. Close your heart against compassion. All while his mates are telling him I'm no good for him. Wertham first publicly made his case against comics at a symposium in 1948. Knowledge Time Your. I knew that “Seduction of the Innocent” was written for the general public but I still expected a well ordered and reasoned presentation. Wertham was a psychiatrist some of whose writings were included in medical and scholarly journals. Some of the startling announcements of the great achievements of man in our twentieth century have conditioned the American public to believe almost anything it sees in print. and I learned to forget. I kind of forgot about her foot. Wertham believed that crime comic books promoted the criminals as the real heroes of their stories. He even had complaints about some from the funny animal genre. She's stopped wearing makeup when we hang out, she said I've seen her when she was asleep, so there's not much worse I could see. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Greatest hardness. Website © 2005-2020 Jack Kirby Museum & Research Center, Inc. All rights reserved. "An Innocent, A Seduction, A Secret" is the story of Edie and Sebastio. This makes verifying some of his statements difficult if not impossible. Superman knocks the guys out.”. To see a photo of the entire page, just look for Exposed #7 on the “Found SOTI” page of SeductionOfTheInnocent.org. After his complete condemnation of comic books, it is surprising to read his glowing opinion of TV. They fall down on the floor.”, “If you say it is like Superman, how do you know it is?”, “I read the Superman stories. I burned with love for a man who could never be mine. When he’s Superman he knocks them out. . I saw Zayn coming this way not too long ago and something in me urged me to go. :Calm: *Sunday, July 6th*Zayn Javadd Malik I frowned, taking out my phone to ask Perrie where she was. In fact it turns out to be a nearly illegal one. I believe that he wanted the elimination of all violence from comics and would have not approved of even the mild form that remained. Not that he thought it did not problems, but like so many other things he blamed that on the influence of comic books. Don’t let foreigners take your jobs!”. . At the end of “Seduction of the Innocent” he does discuss the then new media. There is no question that “Seduction of the Innocent” had a great impact at the time it was released. That Superman could continue would probably been enough for Wertham to condemn the Code. But the boy’s description of the Blue Beetle turning back into a real beetle is completely inaccurate. Seduction of the Innocent is a book by German-American psychiatrist Fredric Wertham, published in 1954, that warned that comic books were a negative form of popular literature and a serious cause of juvenile delinquency. A careful reading shows that without a doubt it is showing how to lock a window not how to break in. Wertham believed that characters like Superman advanced racism and supported an almost fascist like view. In requires the female superman, Wonder Woman. I read that many times. Of course I knew about how down right silly some of his conclusions sounded such as that Batman and Robin projected a homosexual relationship. Both the patient and the doctor take part in the process. The Batman type of story may stimulate children to homosexual fantasies, of the nature of which they may be unconscious. Admittedly this is a particularly egregious example in that each sentence seems to take the reader in a different direction. Innocence is one of the most exciting things in the world. Yet Wertham never truly supplied the evidence to back up his own claims. Next on my reading list is “Fredric Wertham and the Critique of Mass Culture” by Bart Beaty (2005). 40 of its Dragon Art Theatre series made SEDUCTION OF THE INNOCENTS out to be a great porn film. He is a beetle, but he changes into Superman and afterwards he changes into a beetle again. Perhaps this lack is understandable in a publication for the general public However he does not supply any references for papers on the subject that he had written for some technical journal. Albert Hammond, Jr. This was something akin to group therapy where various children were brought together to discuss the individual member’s problems and come up with suggestions to help. Get involved! I consider it one of the better graphic versions, solidly-utilizing the basic tale, plus specific quotes, and some wonderfully-moody art by the highly-underrated Villamonte! and Naive, innocent fool that I was, I thought he was asking me to marry him! I had also previously reviewed David Hajdu’s book “The Ten Cent Plague” which traced the history of the anti-comic campaign. This article is within the scope of WikiProject Comics, a collaborative effort to build an encyclopedic guide to comics on Wikipedia. Wertham’s classification of comics was not the same as commonly used today. C This article has been rated as C-Class on the project's quality scale. Thanks for the article. It got lots of reviews but did anybody actually read it? This comic also contains the following quotes from SOTI: Violent passions smouldered in my heart! Infolgedessen kam es zur Einführung des Comics Code, einer S… Please do not copy from this blog without permission. This concerns me because the comments that he reports coming from young patients often sound suspiciously like Wertham’s own views. I believe that what Wertham calls clinical studies is the understandings that he gained while treating patients. All characters and art presented on these pages are ©, ™ or ® their respective owners. Sourced quotations by the German Psychiatrist Fredric Wertham (1895 — 1981). Now I am far from an expert in Wertham’s field but I am going to hazard some observations nonetheless. I have full confidence in the intelligence of my readers and so I have no doubt that all will understand the technical term that should be applied to Wertham. Unfortunately Wertham frequently cited information about comics without identifying what comics the information was based on.