:: invading "biships" ::(click for larger view)
Homer, a native of Silverton, taught himself editorial cartooning in part by studying the works of his hero, Thomas Nast. To Nast we owe much contemporary political iconography, including those familiar Democratic and Republican icons, the donkey and elephant respectively.
Nast also developed the Tammany Tiger, which may linger in the affected "richie rich" mannerisms of some subsequent toon tigers, including Disney's perhaps. The above cartoon is one of Nast's, in support of public schooling.
Gus has done a lot of independent scholarship plus self-published a collection of Homer's drawings, interleaved with the back stories required for their full appreciation.
Lynne Taylor was late to the meeting, a slap-forehead missed opportunity to quickly review the same slides we'd just seen (often a good exercise). Wanderer Shomar joined us even later.
:: shomar ::
