From the dawn of diversity in 1969.
Once upon a time in the United States, someone somewhere in the government for the greater good asked, "What better medium to get across the message of benevolent government programs is there than comic books?"
The SSA certainly knew this and, along with other government agencies, has a long history of "getting the message out." Here are some samples from the Social Security Administration's Special Collections - Public Information Materials where you are warned, "This is an archival or historical document and may not reflect current policies or procedures."
One of the great heroic characters found in a visit to this archive is the smooth, confident, well-dressed and stunningly white ivy-league guy "Genial Bureaucrat:"
He appears on this page:
A popular pairing is the elderly widow in rocking chair and the "Mr. Informed Spokesman" who explains the painless nature of collecting. "She takes a few pennies (less than a nickel) from each dollar your earn and adds an equal amount...":
These traditional American Kabuki characters, with ancient table of benefits, appear on this page:
Next a comic ode to the Form-SS5, the path to "The Card" and your very own personal government number, plus two posters from two different eras in the glowing history of Social Security.
World LARGEST Autograph Collection!
On the March for Money!
Get yours directly from The Hand!
Scary.
On the other hand - I wonder if they've made any recent comic books to help my brainiac husband wade through the maze of Medicare choices.
( That poster entitled "Join The March . ." is creepy. The artist ages people by giving them all a Liberace smile bracketed by the same deep furrows)
Posted by: Cathy at September 7, 2009 8:13 PMI certainly agree about the uniform smiles on the poster. That uniformity, all looking the same direction and ordered, almost marching, was typical of WW2 era illustrations.
Comics, or should I say illustrated texts, are a great way to present material. They were more widely used in countries where literacy is low. Often to explain voting procedures.
I vaguely remember a comic book about sexually transmitted diseases and condom use. Donald Duck or a close facsimile was explaining matters to the readers.
They were handing the booklet out on sidewalks as women passed by. (perhaps they thought it was hopeless to change the men.)
That was about 40 years ago just like the art shown here. I can't even remember where it was, probably Mexico City, but maybe another capitol city in S.A.
Posted by: K at September 7, 2009 11:16 PM
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