Uncle Sam and John Bull:the evolutions of militar icons

Vesa Matteo Piludu

2009

University of Helsinki

Department of Art Research, Semiotics

National symbols as taboo

National symbols are taboo In a negative sense (general prohibition: for Italians it is quite

uncommon postulate that Dante was a mediocre poet) In a positive sense (they include general rules of behavior: the

Bulgarians enjoy if the Bulgarian football national team defeat Germany 2-1)

Generally national symbols are part of Doxa (Common sense), are not object of discussion, are accepted and celebrated as a matter of faith

The semiotic analysis of national symbols includes a deconstruction and often a critic of the ideological use of the national symbols

Semiotics as taboo-breaker

Uncle Sam: World War I Army Recruiting poster (1917)

John Bull

Lord Kitchener "Your country needs you!”

Prior to the Civil War: Brother Jonathan

Civil WarUNCLE SAMUEL and the Copperheads

Uncle Sam and Columbia August 23, 1862 edition of Harper's Weekly

John Bull and Uncle Sam

JOHN BULL SINCE THE SOUTHERN REBELLION

Uncle Sam and John Bull January 16, 1864 edition of Harper's Weekly

UNCLE SAM (to Young John Bull). "There, JACKY—there's one of Daboll's New Fog-Whistles for you. You're always in a Fog about our affairs, you know. Now go and blow it upon Cape Race, and say it was UNCLE SAM sent you."

Uncle Sam and Volunteers August 9, 1862 edition of Harper's Weekly

THE ROD IN PICKLE. JOHN BULL. "Insensate and

degenerate People!" (Vide London Times.)

U. S. VOLUNTEER. "What's that? I'll 'degenerate' you, you Old Snarling Hypocrite!"

UNCLE SAM. "Easy, my Son; let the Rods soak a little longer in the Pickle! Easy a little while longer!"

March 1, 1862 edition of Harper's Weekly

UNCLE SAM giving his Favorite Bull-Terrier "CHARLIE VAN WYCK" a Field-Day with the CONTRACTORS

Corruption was so rampant, there was a joke in the Civil War that went like this:

Why do our soldiers need no barbers?

Because they are regularly shaved by the Government contractors.

Uncle Sam playing chess with Rebel President Jefferson Davis

Jefferson Davis, the Spirit of Treason, playing with UNCLE SAM for his Life

June 3, 1865 edition of Harper's Weekly, it came out soon after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln

Cartoon from the December 21, 1861 edition of Harper's Weekly

This cartoon appeared shortly after the start of the Civil War, and is dealing with the issue of Virginia being split into two states

Thomas Nast's Uncle Sam's Thanksgiving Dinner November 20, 1869 edition of Harper's Weekly

Nast’s Canon

Nast's Image of Uncle Sam had evolved into one that we would recognize today. 

The image to the left is the cover of the November 24, 1876 Harper's Weekly

Modern Uncles

Buy War Bonds

John Bull as Lion

John Bull as a Bull

Unvoluntary comicity

Comical Uncles

Uncle Santa

Your country needs MOO

Uncle Sam and Global Warming

Help Uncle Sam

Uncle and Iraq

Ucle and Cap

Uncle resting

Uncle Bush, Uncle Castro, Uncle Mouse

Uncle and Obama

From We Can Do It to Yes, we Can!

Crying Sam

I want Out

For Greater Kowledge …