I was amused by these "Exclusive Emojis from Elon Musk" drawings from Barry Blitt (in The New Yorker). Please check them all out. I'm just going to focus on one (and not because it's the best in the set of 12):
I just want to talk about the image — which I've seen all my life — of a guy wearing a barrel. I understand it means you're so poor you don't have even a shred of normal clothing and your only hope of modesty is wearing this very bulky, unwieldy object, the barrel.
And yet even I, who lived through the 1950s have never encountered a barrel in real life. My mother did sing me the song "Playmate, Come Out and Play With Me" — which Lomax recorded in Kentucky in 1938 — with the lyrics "Holler down my rain barrel/Slide down my cellar door/And we'll be jolly friends/Forevermore."
But do younger people even recognize the object, the barrel? If they do, do they recognize the standardized image of a naked, shoeless man wearing a barrel? If not, they can still probably work out the meaning from the context, but the quality of the envisioned emoji depends on how cleverly and efficiently the image conveys the meaning.
Anyway... I was curious where that standardized image came from and quickly found the Wikipedia article "Bankruptcy barrel":
The bankruptcy barrel is a visual symbol, primarily of the 20th century, used in cartoons and other media as a token of destitution....
Will Johnstone's editorial-cartoon character "the Tax Payer", first published in the New York World-Telegram in 1933 and regularly thereafter, showed the taxpayer reduced to wearing a barrel for clothing. Other cartoonists then copied this theme....
Here's one of Johnstone's drawings:
Wikipedia continues:
The use of a barrel as clothing for comedic effect (rather than to necessarily show penury) goes back further; the hapless character is reduced to wearing a barrel for modesty because his clothes have been stolen or some other putatively amusing circumstance has arisen. George Etherege's 1664 comedy The Comical Revenge or, Love in a Tub included a barrel-wearing character....
Wikipedia notes that barrel-wearing happened in a 1987 episode of The Smurfs and in a 1997 Captain Underpants book. So maybe young people today are completely aware of barrel symbolism.
Finally, Wikipedia notes the similar item, the drunkard's cloak — a punishment used on drunkards:
The man on the right is wearing the drunkard's cloak. He seems to be reaching out in his humiliation to the woman. But what is she wearing? The caption tells us it's a brank.
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I heard the going rate for a blue check was $15,000. For "advertising," of course.
Heh heh.
It’s ironic that the barrel is still used when poor nations are supposedly drowning in the unwanted clothing shipped and dumped on their shores by wealthier nations.
I think that emoji indicates the age of their readers.
I'm 48, and I get the reference but it definitely fits into that category of things from my grandparents generation that I picked up from old cartoons.
Barrels are trendy now, I'm surprised a celeb hasn't done the barrel outfit using a barrel from a high class winery or distillery. A tip for inflation fashion forward thinking the next time you're on the red carpet!
There is a famous painting of Diogenes sleeping in a barrel, and at the beginning of Huckleberry Finn, we find Huck sleeping in one, so there is some more barrel symbolism.
Blogger Carol said...
I heard the going rate for a blue check was $15,000. For "advertising," of course.
The DM's were posted yesterday showing former Twitter employees basically extorting back door access to the blue check verification for $15K. They couldn't answer if it was an established fee, or where the money went. It probably went in their liberal, altruistic, woke pockets.
Liberals love running grifts. Tech Companies, College "fees". I'm sure "journalists" are in on the scam as well. Makes you wonder what biased reporters like Molly Beck and Dan Bice at the Milwaukee Journal rake in for their propaganda scam.
Musk goes in, gets rid of half the work force, and Twitter will get better, more profitable, and soon the surfs will be able to monetize content. Free speech is a treat to our Media overlords, AND the Education Establishment. Both sustain their revenue streams trying to control what people think and say.
They praise themselves and convince the masses that we "need them". Some truly evil bullshit right there.
As someone else has already pointed out, the progressive elite is scandalized at the prospect of paying $8 for a blue check mark, not because they won't pay it, but because anybody can.
I think that this image, an impoverished person in a barrel, goes all the way back to the Greek philosopher Diogenes of Sinope, who was famous for his rejection of material objects, and for living....in a barrel.
Blue to vote Blue.
The barrel I remember:
(From Wiki) Barrel of Monkeys is a toy game released by Lakeside Toys in 1965. It was created by Leonard Marks and Milton Dinhofer in 1961, and in 1964, Herman Kesler partnered to sell it to Lakeside Toys. Lakeside Toys released it in 1965 and today it is produced by the Milton Bradley Company within the Hasbro corporation. Milton Bradley's editions consist of a toy barrel in either blue, yellow, red, purple, orange, gray or green. The barrel contains 13 monkeys but can hold 24, their color usually corresponding to the barrel's color. The instructions state, "Dump monkeys onto table. Pick up one monkey by an arm. Hook other arm through a second monkey's arm. Continue making a chain. Your turn is over when a monkey is dropped." In addition to these basic instructions, the barrel also contains instructions for playing alone or with two or more players.
Time magazine ranked Barrel of Monkeys at No. 53 on their 2011 All-Time 100 Greatest Toys list.[1]
I am Laslo.
Subconsciously, I have wondered about the "bankruptcy barrel" my entire life. I didn't realize it until you brought it up.
Donkey Kong is defining barrels for children, but the bankruptcy barrel just comes from context.
It's such an odd image. With the sudden loss of all assets, what is the nearest object to cover one's nudity? All barrels would be filled with whiskey, rain water, apples or something. A poverty chicken or cat makes more sense. A flour sack, used to make clothing in the Depression, would be appropriate.
The Simpsons used the bankruptcy barrel in an episode in 2018. When is the last time it was used in a live action TV show? That might be 80 or 90 years ago.
"Playmate, Come Out and Play With Me" was one the songs in Captain Kangaroo's rotation, like "Squeegy, The Happy Little Clown". I still remember all of those songs, and they are earworms still 60 years later.
Barrel of Monkeys was a fun game indeed, a manual dexterity game like many of that time. Think Operation, PickUpStix, et al.
I had seen old-time cartoons with barrel wearing and just assumed old-time people had barrels in their day-to-day life.
Besides the barrel of monkeys game that Laslo mentioned, there was some polka-type song that I used to hear, either on a radio station favored by my parents or on a show favored by them, like The Laurence Welk Show called "Roll Out The Barrel".
The concept of wearing a barrel came up in an episode of Seinfeld, when Elaine finds out the mysterious guy she's dating is poor.
https://youtu.be/svb9ACGoVZ8
"There is a famous painting of Diogenes sleeping in a barrel..."
Tim, Did the painting also include Alexander the Great? The story as I recall was that Diogenes was irritated that Alex woke him up to philosophically question him.
If you're wearing a barrel you're poor.
If you're wearing a sign you're looking for a job.
***
As to the blue check, don't pay it if you don't want.
Stephen King (worth hundreds of millions of dollars) is bitching and moaning about it...
The brank, or "scold's bridal" has a metal tongue to hold down the wearer's tongue.
It is interesting to know the history of the images. They never made sense to me since empty barrels still had value back in the day. But in more modern times, crates and barrels once emptied are like pallets today, something discarded.
As a kid born in Wisconsin, I often heard polka music and "roll out the barrel. We'll have a barrel of fun..."
Christian allusion to what Christ suffered in our place on cross included losing all including his clothes.
Looks like a rodeo clown barrel to me.
Barrel of Monkeys... I remember that game.
I also remember hearing the phrase "more fun than a barrel of monkeys" and really trying, as a kid, to picture monkeys in a barrel and to understand why that would be really fun... because it seemed rather unpleasant. Are the monkeys supposed to be enjoying it or are humans amusing themselves by confining frisky animals in a small dark space? I don't think the monkeys would get into a barrel — in enough quantity to make the barrel a "barrel of monkeys" — and if they ever did, I think they'd be hopping right back out because it would *not* be fun for them. So "more fun than a barrel of monkeys" should mean not fun at all... just sarcasm.
What I focused on, even as a kid, were the straps added to the barrel, wide enough and fitted at just the right length over the shoulder to comfortably to free the arms.
After looking at those other images, it seems like the straps were something of a "recent" addition.
Search "barrel man denver broncos" for a sports-related incarnation.... The guy was locally famous.
Inflation fighting tip:
Don't insist on using a barrel from single malt.....
AA, your thoughts on "barrel of monkeys" not sounding like much fun reminded me, somewhat strangely I admit, of an item I came across in Black's Law Dictionary 40+ years ago. I just looked it up again.
"Lex Pompeia de Parricidils: The law which inflicted a punishment on one who had caused the death of a parent or child. The offender was by this law to be sewn up in a sack with a dog, a cock, a viper, and an ape, and thrown into the sea or a river, so that even in his lifetime he might be deprived of the use of the elements; that the air might be denied him whilst he lived and the earth when he died."
I wondered about the practicality of the matter, how the sewing could take place with the melee going on in the sack. Or, in what order they put everyone into the sack. First man, then dog, could work but once you threw in the rooster or the snake it was on.
Well I suppose it is better to be in a barrel than over a barrel, unless that's your thing.
Where are the sock garters? The depression-era man in the barrel was only recently brought low, so he frequently still wore sock garters, possibly spats. Maybe even a boutonniere, pinned onto the outside of the barrel? With a top hat?
Joe Smith said...
As to the blue check, don't pay it if you don't want.
Stephen King (worth hundreds of millions of dollars) is bitching and moaning about it...
As Aggie noted, it ain't the eight bucks he's complaining about, it's the fact that *anyone* can get it.
Slide down my cellar door
Another reference likely lost to time. I grew up in an Iowa farmhouse built around 1911 that had a slanted external door to the basement/cellar until I was in my teens. My parents built an extension on that side of the house and covered it over.
The Brank and Barrel would be a good name for a pub.
American oak barrels used to age bourbon are used once, then sold to Scotch distilleries for big $$.
The scotch makers use them several times.
And less prized barrels are used for barstools and planters. Not cheap either.
'I also remember hearing the phrase "more fun than a barrel of monkeys" and really trying, as a kid, to picture monkeys in a barrel and to understand why that would be really fun...'
I've always thought it was about what shenanigans the monkeys would get up to once they were out of the barrel.
The 'barrel full' was just a measure of the number of monkeys to me.
Of course, once they all started flinging poo, the vibe would definitely shift...
Oops. In my last sentence I meant monkey, not dog. Sheeesh.
'As Aggie noted, it ain't the eight bucks he's complaining about, it's the fact that *anyone* can get it.'
Yeah, I get it...but it just shows you how much of an elitist jerk he is...
Don't google "barrel fetish".
I would question never seen a wooden barrel, Ann. I suspect that you have seen them but not noticed it. Ever eaten at a Cracker Barrel Restaurant? They usually have a number of them laying around.
If you ever drank wine or spirits, you may not have seen the barrel but yu=ou certainly connected with it.
I even used to know a cooper. That is, a man whose profession was the assembly (they were shipped in flat from Spain for aging rum) repair and construction from scratch of barrels.
If you go to some of these old timey museums like Williamsburg, Cooperstown Farmers Museum, Mystec Seaport or others you may see coopers demonstrating their craft.
John stop fascism vote republican Henry
"I wondered about the practicality of the matter, how the sewing could take place with the melee going on in the sack. Or, in what order they put everyone into the sack. First man, then dog, could work but once you threw in the rooster or the snake it was on."
If I had to do it, I would use a very long, narrow sack, suspended over the water, so that all the occupants go down to the bottom away from the area that needs sewing.
I find the weeping and wailing over the $8 amusing. No, actually, hilarious. What happened to "free" speech? they want to know. As if free speech somehow means they don't have to pay for it. But I can't afford it!!! they say, as they sip their daily $5 Starbucks coffeeflavored beverage.
I'm thinking I'm going to sign up just to poke my finger in their eye. Metaphorically, of course. I condemn any physical violence. But words are not violence no matter what the blues try to claim.
Adam Davidson, whose work I sometimes enjoy, was complaining about it Friday. He is worried that he will not be able to criticize Elon without getting kicked off Twitter. So worried that he started his own Mastodon instance for journalists. journa.host
It is unclear if non-journalists can join I think so but it is not clear. However, I am a legitimate tech journalist so I joined and was accepted. Posted my credentials and bio, was accepted and received a nice welcoming message. I had not even posted my first note and less than 12 hours later, I received this:
Account status
You can no longer use your account, and your profile and other data are no longer accessible. You can still login to request a backup of your data until the data is fully removed in about 30 days, but we will retain some basic data to prevent you from evading the suspension.
No reason given. Perhaps because I am a Trump deplorable?
I've submitted an appeal asking why
So much for unfettered speech. I know, it is his Instance, his rules so no complaints. Except that he can't claim it is open to all journos.
John stop fascism vote republican Henry
I just hope it is never Ann's or Meade's "turn in the barrel"
Bankrupt from the blue check, but not the expensive coffee, Netflix subscription, expensive phone plan, etc.
'As if free speech somehow means they don't have to pay for it.'
Speech is free, but lefties want you (or the government) to pay for their damned typewriter.
Not how it works...
How come any mention of the brank quickly brings Hillary Clinton to mind? Have you noticed that? One minute you're innocently talking about branks and the next thing you know somebody has brought Hillary into it. Happens every time. Why is that? Weird.
I read somewhere that Bill once took at a Rorschach test and said, "Hillary wearing a scold's bridle" in response to all but 3 of the pages they showed him. Not positive the story is factual.
It's the state of current tribal progressivism - $8 a month will reduce one to wearing a barrel; the inflated cost of gasoline, probably $80/month, no big deal.
The First Person To Survive Niagra Falls in a Barrel
You know what's really fucked up?
Monkeys in a barrel.
"I'd like to order 100 monkeys in a barrel, please."
"You can't get 100 monkeys in a barrel. That's ridiculous."
"Oh. How many barrels do I need?"
"Hold on a second. Carry the one. It looks like you'll need at least 33 barrels. Maybe 34 if you want to play it safe."
"Are these big monkeys?"
"Of course they're not big monkeys. Three of them are in a barrel, dude."
"What kind of monkeys?"
"Monkeys! You get the fucking monkeys you get. We don't discriminate on our monkeys, all right?"
"Are these killer monkeys?"
"What do you mean, killer monkeys?"
"Like in that movie. Nope."
"Oh my God, that damn movie. Everybody and his mother is worried about killer monkeys. Do you want a UFO monster with your monkeys?"
"All right, all right."
"It was sci-fi! Make-believe!"
"Okay, okay."
"Do you want the monkeys or not?"
"Yes, absolutely. Can I get 100 monkeys in 33 barrels, please?"
"Sure."
"Really?"
"Of course. That's what the sign says. Monkeys in a barrel."
"All right. You got any ammo?"
My guess is at the time when this meme became popular, barrels were pretty normal things to find in the environment and therefore readily available for this sort of thing. If the meme had been introduced later, it probably would have been raided clothes from a clothes line, but it would take some effort to get the idea across in a cartoon. I'm not sure what would qualify now. The idea that you could not get any clothes seems ridiculous except in the very short term, and stolen clothing would probably involve the hands over privates and (as necessary) arms over breasts followed by hiding in the bushes until someone got you a towel. If it had to be clothes, I am guessing out of fashion combined with a dated T-shirt.
OT but for those who don't know what Mastodon is, it is an opensource Twitterlike app. Unlike Twitter, it is decentralized so anyone can create their own "Instance" which is like a mini-Twitter. The instance owner controls who joins, what can be said and what can't be said and so on. Instances can be as small as a half dozen people or as big as tens of millions, like PEDJT's Truth.social
Instances can federate with all other instances so posts on one instance can be followed by members on other instances.
You can set up an instance including hosting for as little $6/month, though that only lets you have a dozen or so members.
I used to participate when Thomas Wictor posted frequently. I have not since he left.
I remember barrels being a feature of the rural town where I grew up in the 50's and 60's. They were used for all sorts of food and beverage things like maple sap collection, gathering fruits and cider and juice processing. Winery's still use barrels.
I wonder which came first: losing your shirt in an investment, or wearing a barrel.
'It's the state of current tribal progressivism - $8 a month will reduce one to wearing a barrel; the inflated cost of gasoline, probably $80/month, no big deal.'
Gas still $6+/gallon in my 'hood...
Wilbur @ 10:30- The first unfunded mandate?
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