Fathers and Sons
Geppeto gave birth to his wooden naughty son Ц Pinnochio, not thinking of becoming the character of numerous caricatures. He, himself, hardly realized, created a caricature. Of course, he was not the first, there had been enough father-creators, the Father created hardly a caricature, but a great problem for himself. Fathers and sons+ from generation to generation, in spite of nationalities and social background, the story of an adult and a child, clever and silly, strong and unprotected repeats again and again.

It is one of the favourite caricaturistsТ topics. H. Bidstrup worked out a series of cartoons Ц from birth (BabyТs DummyФ) through games (УBricksФ), diseases (УCod-liver OilФ) up to maturity (УAt DinnerФ, УThe Head of a FamilyФ), etc. W. Busch depicted kids as evil and naughty creatures, and their parents reap the fruits of their bringing-up. BidstrupТs characters would successfully overcome that unpredictable and difficult period (childhood). O. Daumier is the author of a lithography УUncle and NephewФ (1840).(Reap where one has not sown. - for future probable inheritance a nephew is dying of boredom during the walk with his uncle). The topic is immortal+ It used to be popular in Russian humorous magazines УShootФ(УPunchФ), УBudilnikФ (УAlarm ClockФ), SatiriconФ (A. Radakov УAdvice to ParentsФ, 1912).

Soviet humourists tried to bring up children with the help of laughter, but frankly speaking, with bad results. A child could not adapt to the absurdity of life. He\She asked the father: УWhat did I do before 1917? I have to fill in a form.Ф (M. Khrapkovski. УKrokodilФ, 1920s). A Soviet child quickly used to state and parentsТ up-bringing, so sooner or later parents should adapt to their child. (E. Gorokhov. УKrokodilФ, 1963).

УWe and Our ChildrenФ, one of УKrokodilТsФ heading of 1960s, is still very popular with many people because this everlasting problem is close to everybody. Sometimes special УchildrenФ УKrokodilФ issues were published. E. g. Father gives a glass of vodka to his son with the words УTeachers say that you do not behave yourself+Ф In general, the behaviour of children is not their fault but it can be explained by Уstress and abundance of informationФ. A child should be loved and spoon-fed. Parents try their best to give their children fruits and toys, later, money and flats. In one of the caricatures, the parents present their son an УedifyingФ cake. Nowadays children trust computers easily. If desperate parents begin to play with childrenТs toys, it is not funny - they try to protect themselves from their sons growing so fast, but if the fathers like childrenТs games one can smile.


1. A. Yunger. How I see it. 1926.
3. H. Bidstrup. УAt DinnerФ.
 


2. M. Bartak.


5. L. Samoilov. УThrough childТs eyesФ. УKrokodilФ. 1975.
6. M. Bartak.


4. Y. Kosobukin.


8. G. Kantsler. 1957.


7. E. Tikerpyae.

 

By Dmitry Moskin
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