The Colored Cartoon: Black Representation in American Animated Short Films, 1907-1954 [Hardcover]

Christopher P. Lehman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Lehman goes out of his way not to applaud, criticize or denounce these films. He mainly reports in an even handed way, that they were made, what images they contain, and records and controversies surrounding them. -- Jerry Beck, Cartoon Brew

Drawing on interviews with top animators, archived scripts, the films themselves, and secondary literature, Lehman's fascinating study is comprehensive, meticulous, and well written. Serious students and researchers, animation fans, and film buffs will find the information in this book invaluable. . . . Summing up: Essential. --Choice

Product Details

• Hardcover: 137 pages
• Publisher: University of Massachusetts Press (December 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558496130
• ISBN-13: 978-1558496132
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #682,467 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Christopher P. Lehman is a professor of Ethnic Studies at St. Cloud State University. His book THE COLORED CARTOON was designated a CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title in 2008. He has discussed his works on Minnesota Public Radio, Chicago Public Radio, WGN RADIO, WGN AMERICA, CNN, and GOOD MORNING AMERICA. He has also contributed to VH1's ROCK DOCS series. He lives in Minnesota with his wife and children.

Customer Reviews

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enthusiastically recommended for scholars and students of animation, as well as animated cinema reading lists., April 3, 2008

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Colored Cartoon: Black Representation in American Animated Short Films, 1907-1954 (Hardcover)

Written by Christopher P. Lehman (Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies, Saint Cloud State University), The Colored Cartoon: Black Representation in American Animated Short Films, 1907-1954 is a scholarly study of the depiction of African-Americans in early American cartoons - a representation that was overwhelmingly grounded in caricatures from the culture of southern slavery. During the 1920s, when sound-synchronized cartoons were the new wave, animators began to blend black stereotypes with the expressions of jazz musicians and Hollywood actors. In the 1930's, the film industry started to segregate African Americans from others, particularly from the white females. At the same time, animators would tap into African-American culture by creating animal characters like Bugs Bunny which had traits associated with African-Americans yet were not identifiably black. By the 1950's, the advent of civil rights started to erode the prevalence of African-American portrayals in the animated medium, though animated films continue with negative renditions to this day. The Colored Cartoon studies the history and legacy of African-American animated cinema imagery with an eye to what can be learned from the past and how these lessons shape the future. Enthusiastically recommended for scholars and students of animation, as well as animated cinema reading lists.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read on racism in cartoons and cinema., March 23, 2008

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Cerberus "Cerberus" (Paris,France) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Colored Cartoon: Black Representation in American Animated Short Films, 1907-1954 (Hardcover)

The only samples of actual racist cartoons,as far as artwork goes is on the cover-which is a little disappointing...after all,a picture is worth a thousand words. Particularly when illustrating the unbridled racism that existed in the 20's,30's,40's and on up to the 60's.