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Happily Ever After?
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May-December RomanceTelnaes's cartoon conveys her frustration over the ease with which people commonly accept a May-December romance between an older man and a young woman. "Nobody lifts an eyebrow," she points out "But what happens when an older woman is with a younger man?" In this drawing she makes clear what each one of the couple sees in the other. |
"Female Humor" With an EdgeWomen may not always have all the opportunities men have to succeed in the workplace, but statistically, they live longer. Recent comparative data on the life spans of men and women in industrial market economies (including Western Europe, North America, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand) in the late twentieth century supports the little girl's statement in this example of what Telnaes calls "female humor." |
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TV Update on Snow WhiteIn this cartoon the story of Snow White is turned upside down. No longer cooking and cleaning for the seven dwarves, she has joined the ranks of HBO's recent hip show "Sex in the City," whose young female stars assert that they have as much right to being cared for and pleased as men do. In Telnaes's cartoon, both Snow White and the dwarves look happy. |
Whose Power Breakfast?This comic strip mocks and challenges the notion that today's women will willingly perpetuate traditional female roles, as symbolized by the long-standing practice of making the morning coffee. Telnaes's cartoon also plays off the idea that everything from exercise to diet to meditation can bestow power on those who are ready to take it. |
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How the Fairy Tale Really EndedTelnaes often uses fairy tales in the comic strip Six Chix because, as she comments, they "are inherently sexist and have great potential for cartoons." In this example, a group of fairytale princesses gather to commiserate and exchange frustrations about how their relationships really turned out. Cinderella, whose glass slippers sit by the tub where she soaks her feet, has reservations about Prince Charming, and Snow White, who sits next to a bowl of apples, expresses second thoughts about her rescue. |
The Changing Roles of WomenThe use of a little girl in this early cartoon for Six Chix lends a humorous edge to a topic that continues to be highly charged today--women with ambition. Although the feminist movement of the 1960s and 1970s achieved gains in women's rights and status, their changing and changed roles continue to be debated by both men and women. |
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Advice for Today's PrincessesIn this updated version of a fairy tale-whether Cinderella, Snow White, or Sleeping Beauty-- a young princess listens reluctantly as she is admonished not to rely solely on romantic love for happiness and fulfillment. Telnaes implies that modern-day heroines should be ready to rely on themselves. |
The Ultra-Thin IdealModels appear as a separate species of human in this cartoon that stresses the ultra-thin body image promoted by advertising and popular culture. Thin is considered ideal for women, regardless of body type. Obsession with weight, however, can lead to eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia--the serious message of Telnaes's humor. |
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An American IconKatherine Hepburn died on June 29, 2003. Soon after, Telnaes published this caricature of the actress that captures her spirit of elegance, independence, and strength. |
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Library of Congress >> Exhibitions Exhibitions Online Survey July 12, 2004 |
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