Worksheet 1: The Background of the Senate Judiciary … · leaders linked comic book reading to...

CongressInvestigates:TheSenateJudiciaryCommittee’sSubcommitteeonJuvenileDelinquency

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Worksheet1:TheBackgroundoftheSenateJudiciaryCommittee’sSubcommitteeonJuvenileDelinquency’s1954InvestigationofComicBooks

AresolutionpassedbytheUnitedStatesSenateauthorizedtheJudiciaryCommitteetocreateaSpecialSubcommitteeonJuvenileDelinquencytoinvestigatetherisinglevelofjuvenilecrimeintheUnitedStates.Althoughthesubcommitteeexaminedseveralcausesofcrime,publicattentionfocusedonallegationslinkingjuveniledelinquencytotheharmfuleffectsofreadingcomicbooks.

Theearly1950swereatimeofgreatanxietyaboutthenation’syouth.In1955,Newsweekmagazinereportedthatthenationalcrimeratehadincreasedby33.4percentsince1940,largelyduetoincreasedcriminalactsbyteenagers.Comicbookswereanewformofmediaandamongthefirstconsumerproductsspecificallymarketedtoteenagebuyers.Civicandreligiousleaderslinkedcomicbookreadingtoantisocialandcriminalbehavior,andseveralmajornewspaperslaunchedanti–comicbookeditorialcampaigns.

FearabouttheharmfuleffectsofreadingcomicbooksemergedafterWorldWarII,fueledbythegrowingpopularityofcrimeandhorrorcomics.Manycomicsalsofeaturedsexuallysuggestiveillustrationsandluridplotlinesdescribingincidentsofcrimeandrevenge.Bytheearly1950s,80to100millioncomicbooksofthistypewerebeingsoldeachweek.Althoughpopularwithteens,theviolentcomicbookstriggeredadultoutrage.Publicdiscontentwasexpressedinmanyways,includingmasscomicbookburningsconductedinseveralcommunities.

ChildhoodexpertDr.FredricWerthamemergedasthebest-knownanti–comicbookvoice.Beginningin1948,Werthamcalledforabanonthesaleofcomicbookstochildrenundertheageof16,claimingthatmanydelinquentchildrenhehadstudiedinhispracticehadbeeninfluencedbyreadingcomics.Sixyearslater,WerthamseizednationalattentionwiththepublicationofSeductionoftheInnocent,abestsellinganti–comicbookexpose.AlthoughWertham’sviewswererespectedandwidelyknown,criticsarguedthathisresearchwasnotsupportedbyadequatedataandconsistedmostlyofunproventheories.

TheSubcommitteeonJuvenileDelinquencyfocuseditsinvestigationoncrimeandhorrorcomicbooksbecausetheyweresaidtooffer—accordingtothesubcommittee’sreportonthetopic—“shortcoursesinmurder,mayhem,robbery...andvirtuallyeveryotherformofcrime...andhorror.”DuringAprilandJune,1954,thesubcommitteeheldtelevisedpublichearingsinNewYork,thecenterofthecomicbookpublishingindustry.

Thesubcommitteewasespeciallyconcernedaboutcomicbooks’vivid,detailedillustrationsofviolentacts.Thesubcommitteeexpressedalarmthatratherthanprovokinglaughter,thesecrimeandhorrorcomicbooksaimedaspotlightonviolentdeathineveryformimaginableanddwelledindetailonsadisticcrueltyandvariousformsofinsanity.

Intheend,thesubcommitteefoundthatreadingcomicbooksdidnotcauseteenagerstocommitcrimes.Theyruledagainstcensoringorbanningcomicsandinsteadcalledonthecomicbookindustrytoregulateitselfbyadoptingaratingscodeandimposingavoluntarybanondepictionsofextremeviolence.Thecommitteeconcludedthat,ultimately,itwasaparent’sroletoscreenmaterialtheirchildrenread.

Althoughthesubcommittee’sexaminationofpopularmediaisawell-rememberedchapterofitswork,theinvestigationofcomicbookswasonlyoneelementofafarreachingandlong-lastingstudyofmassmedia.Afterthecompletionofitsstudyofcomicbooks,thesubcommitteeshifteditsfocustoviolenceandhorrorontelevisionandmoviesandthepowerofmediatoshapebehavior.

Thesubcommittee’sworkencompassedfarmorethananalysisofthemedia.Amongtheothertopicsinvestigatedbythesubcommitteeweretheeffectivenessofthejuvenilecourtsystemandyouthcorrectionalinstitutions,theconditionofgovernmentandsocialwelfareorganizationprogramsforyoungpeople,andtheeffectivenessofyouthemploymentprograms.

Thesubcommittee’sworkwasvaluedbytheSenate,anditsauthoritytoinvestigatewasrenewedandextendedbyaseriesofSenateresolutionsuntil1986.

ReviewQuestions:

1. HowdidtheSenaterespondto1950sconcernsaboutjuveniledelinquency?

2. HowdidtheSubcommitteeonJuvenileDelinquencyusetelevisiontoinformthepublicofitsstudyofmedia?

3. WhatwastheimportanceofDr.FredricWerthaminthishistory?

4. Howappropriate is it todescribe theSubcommitteeon JuvenileDelinquencyasbeingprimarilyfocusedoninvestigatingcomicbooks?

5. WhatdoesthehistoryofthesubcommitteeillustrateabouthowCongressrepresentstheAmerican people?

Worksheet2:TestimonyIntroducedtotheSubcommittee

Instructions:Readthefollowingthreeexcerpts.Answerthequestionsattheendoftheworksheet,andrecordyouranswerstosharewiththerestoftheclass.

1. ExcerptfromtheTestimonyofDr.FredericWertham(medicalexpertonchildren),Psychiatrist,Director,LafargueClinic,NewYork,NY–PresentedtotheSenateJudiciaryCommittee,SubcommitteeonJuvenileDelinquencyHearing,NewYorkCity,April21,1954

Dr.Wertham....Itismyopinion,withoutanyreasonabledoubt,andwithoutanyreservation,thatcomicbooksaloneareanimportantcontributingfactorinmanycasesofjuveniledelinquency....

Mr.Chairman,aslongasthecrimecomicbooksindustryexistsinitspresentformstherearenosecurehomes.

...Oneoftheoutstandingthingsthereisincrimecomicbooks—letmesayheresubjecttolaterquestionsthatinmyopinioncrimecomicbooksasIdefinethem,aretheoverwhelmingmajorityofallcomicbooksatthepresenttime.Thereisanendlessstreamofbrutality…

Ithinkthatcomicbooksprimarily,andthatisthegreatestharmtheydo,causeagreatdealofethicalconfusion....

IwouldliketopointouttoyouoneothercrimecomicbookwhichwehavefoundtobeparticularlyinjurioustotheethicaldevelopmentofchildrenandthosearetheSupermancomicbooks.Theyarouseinchildrenfantasiesofsadisticjoyinseeingotherpeoplepunishedoverandoveragainwhileyouyourselfremainimmune.WehavecalledittheSupermancomplex.

Inmanycomics,thewholepointisthateviltriumphs:thatyoucancommittheperfectcrime.IcouldgiveyousomanyexamplesthatIwouldtakeallyourtime.

Iwillgiveyouonlyoneortwo.Hereisalittle10-year-oldgirlwhokilledherfather,broughtitaboutthathermotherwaselectrocuted.Shewinksatyoubecausesheistriumphant...

Iwanttomakeitparticularlyclearthattherearewholecomicbooksinwhicheverysinglestoryendswiththetriumphofevil,withaperfectcrimeunpunishedandactuallyglorified...

Nowwhatabouttheremedy?Mr.Chairman,Iamjustadoctor.Ican’ttellwhattheremedyis.Icanonlysaythatinmyopinionthisisapublic-healthproblem.IthinkitoughttobepossibletodetermineonceandforallwhatisinthesecomicbooksandIthinkitoughttobepossibletokeepthechildrenunder15fromseeing[crimecomics]displayedtothemandpreventingthesebeingsolddirectlytochildren.

Inotherwords,Ithinksomethingshouldbedonetoseethatthechildrencan’tgetthem…

Iamnotadvocatingcensorship,butitisthecomicbookindustrywhichatthepresentmomenttriestocensorwhattheparentsread…EversinceIpublishedmybook…Ihavebeentoldbythreatsbylibelsuits,ofdamages;itisamiraclethatmybookwaspublishedconsideringhowmanythreateningletterstheselawyersandpeoplehavewrittentomyprospectivepublishers…

SenatorEstesKefauver(D,TN).Wouldyoulikenthissituationyoutalkabout,showingthesamethingoverandoveragainuntiltheyfinallybelievedit,towhatweheardaboutduringthelastwarofHitler’stheoryoftellingthestoryoverandoveragain?

ChairmanRobertC.Hendrickson(R,NJ).The“biglie”technique”

Dr.Wertham.Well,Ihatetosaythat,Senator,butIthinkHitlerwasabeginnercomparedtothecomicbookindustry.Theygetthechildrenmuchyounger.

2. ExcerptfromtheTestimonyofWilliamGaines,PublisherofEntertainingComics.QuestionedbySenatorEstesKefauver(D,TN)andSubcommitteestaffAssociateChiefCounselHerbertWilsonBeaser—PresentedtotheSenateJudiciaryCommittee,SubcommitteeonJuvenileDelinquencyHearing,NewYorkCity,April21,1954

Mr.Beaser.Letmegetthelimitsasfaraswhatyouputintoyourmagazine…Isthesoletestofwhatyouputintoyourmagazinewhetheritsells?Isthereanylimityoucanthinkofthatyouwouldnotputinamagazinebecauseyouthoughtachildshouldnotseeorreadabout?Mr.Gaines.No,Iwouldn’tsaythatthereisanylimitforthereasonyououtlined....

Mr.Beaser.Therewouldbenolimitactuallytowhatyouputinthemagazines?Mr.Gaines.Onlywithintheboundsofgoodtaste....Mr.Beaser.Yourowngoodtasteandsalability?Mr.Gaines.Yes.SenatorEstesKefauver(D,TN).HereisyourMay22issue.Thisseemstobeamanwithabloodyaxholdingawoman’sheadupwhichhasbeenseveredfromherbody.Doyouthinkthatisingoodtaste?

Mr.Gaines.Yes,sir;Ido,forthecoverofahorrorcomic.Acoverinbadtaste,forexample,mightbedefinedasholdingtheheadalittlehighersothattheneckcouldbe

seendrippingbloodfromitandmovingthebodyoveralittlefurthersothattheneckofthebodycouldbeseentobebloody.

3. ExcerptfromtheTestimonyofRichardClendenen,ExecutiveDirector,UnitedStates

SenateSubcommitteetoInvestigateJuvenileDelinquency—PresentedtotheSenateJudiciaryCommittee,SubcommitteeonJuvenileDelinquencyHearing,NewYorkCity,April21,1954

Mr.Clendenen.IamexecutivedirectoroftheSenateSubcommitteetoInvestigateJuvenileDelinquency....

Ourinvestigationintothecomicbookindustryhasbeenalmostexclusivelylimitedtothosecomicswhichthemselvescenterabouthorrorandcrime.

TheparticulartypeofcomicstowhichIreferpresentbothpicturesandstorieswhichrelatetoalmostalltypesofcrimeandinmanyinstancesthosecrimesarecommittedthroughextremelycruel,sadistic,andpunitivekindsofacts.

Now,inconnectionwiththatquestion,Ishouldliketomakeitperfectlyclearthatourinvestigationhasnotbeenconcernedwithothertypesofcomics,manyofwhichallauthoritiesseemtoagreerepresentnotonlyharmless,butmanytimeseducationalentertainment.

Ishouldalsoaddthatevenwithinthattypeofcomicbooksknownasthehorrorcrimecomics;therearegradationswithinthisgroup,too.Thatis,somearemuchmoresadistic,muchmorelurid,thanothersinthesameclassorcategory.

Now,althoughourinvestigationshavebeenlimitedtothisparticularsegmentofthecomicbookindustry,weshouldnotgivetheimpressionthatthisisasmallportionofthecomicbookindustry.

AccordingtoestimateswhichwereprovidedusbytheAuditBureauofCirculationsandControlledCirculationAudits,thetwofirmsthatpublishcirculationfigures,therewereabout422differentkindsofcomicorcomic-booktitlesonthenewsstandsinMarch1954.Aboutone-fourthwereofthecrimeandhorrorvariety.Now,asfarasallcomicbooksareconcerned,

althoughexactfiguresarelacking,mostauthoritiesagreethatthereareprobablysomewherebetween75millionand100millioncomicbookssoldinthiscountryeachmonth.

Ifonequarteroftheseareofthecrimevarietyofcomics,thismeansthattherearesome20millioncomicbooks,crimecomicbooksplacedonthenewsstandsofthiscountryeachmonth....

Wehavereviewedvirtuallyallofthesurveysandstudiesthathavebeenmade;thatis,wehavereviewedallthatwehavebeenabletofind.

Imightsaythatitprobablyisnottoosurprisingthattheexpertopinionsandfindingsofthesestudiesarenotwhollyunanimous.Thatis,thereiscertaindiversityofopinionregardingtheeffectsofthesematerialsonyoungstersevenamongtheseindividualswhomwemightproperlyqualifyasexperts....Thereissubstantial,althoughnotunanimous,agreementonthefollowingthreepoints:

1. Thatthereadingofacrimecomicwillnotcauseawell-adjustedandwellsocializedboyorgirltogooutandcommitcrime.

2. Theremaybeadetrimentalanddelinquencyproducingeffectuponsomeemotionallydisturbedchildrenwhomaygainsuggestion,support,andsanctionforactingouthisownhostileandaggressivefeeling.

3. Thereisreasontobelievethatasamongyoungsters,themostavidandextensiveconsumersofcomicsaretheveryboysandgirlslessabletotoleratethistypeofmaterial.Asamatteroffact,manyexpertsfeelthatexcessivereadingofmaterialsofthiskindinitselfissymptomaticofsomeemotionalmaladjustmentinayoungster.

Worksheet2Questions:

1. WhatjoydoesDr.Werthamclaimthatchildrenfindincomicbooks?

2. InwhatwaysdoSenatorKefauverandDr.Werthamlikentheimpactofcomicbookstopropaganda?

3. HowdidWilliamGainesjustifythetastefulnessofthecoverofCrimeSuspenseStoriesthatECComicspublishedonMay22,1954?

4. WhatpotentiallinkdoesRichardClendenendrawbetweencomicbooksandjuveniledelinquency?

5. Whatdoyouthinkwasthemostpersuasivetestimonyintheaboveexcerpts,andwhatwastheleasteffective?Why?

Worksheet3:DocumentsinSubcommitteeEvidence

Instructions:Examinethefollowingthreecomicbookcoversandthreecomicbookplotsummaries.Answerthequestionsattheendoftheworksheetandrecordyouranswerstosharewiththerestoftheclass.

BooksCovers:

1.VaultofHorror,February–March,1954

2.FightAgainstCrime,May1954

3.PanicMay,1954

PlotSummariesofcomicbooks(writtenbythesubcommitteestaff):

1. BottomsUp(StoryComics)

Thisstoryhastodowithaconfirmedalcoholicwhospendsallhiswifecanearnonalcohol.Asaresulttheirsmallsonisseverelyneglected.Onthedaythesonistostartinthefirstgradeinschool,themotherasksthefathertoescorthimtotheschoolbuilding.Instead,thefathergoestohisfavoritebootlegger,andthesongoestoschoolbyhimself.Enroute,thechildisstruckandkilledbyanautomobile.Informedoftheaccident,themotherreturnshometofindherhusbandgloatingoverhisnewsupplyofliquor.Thelastfourpanelsshowthemotherassheproceedstokillandhackherspousetopieceswithanax.Thefirstpanesshowsherswingingtheax,buryingthebladeinherhusband’sskull.Bloodspurtsfromtheopenwound,andthehusbandisshownwithanexpressionofagony.Thenextpanelhasamontageeffect:thehusbandislyingonthefloorwithbloodrushingfromhisskullasthewifeispoisedoverhim.Sheholdsthebloodyax,raisedformoreblows.Thebackgroundshowsanenlargementofthefearfilledeyesofthehusband,aswellasanenlargementofthebloodyax.Todescribethissceneofhorror,thetextstatesthat,“andnowthesilenceoftheHendricks’apartmentisbrokenonlybythesofthummingofNoraasshebusiesherselfwithher‘work.’”Shethencutshisbodyintosmallerpiecesanddisposesofitbyplacingthevariouspiecesinthebottlesofliquorherhusbandhadpurchased.Shethenreturnstheliquortothebootleggerandobtainsarefund.Assheleaves,thebootleggersays:“HMMM,funny!IfiguredthatryewouldbeinsideLoubynow!”Thestoryendswiththeartistadmonishingthechildreadersinamacabreveinwiththefollowingparagraph,“ButifWestlakeweretoexaminetheremainderofthecasemorecloselyhe’dseethatitisLouwhoisinsidetheliquor!Heh,heh!Sleepwell,kiddies!”Wethenseethreeofthebottles—onecontainsaneye,oneanear,andoneafinger.

2. FriscoMary(AceComics)

Thisstoryconcernsanattractiveandglamourousyoungwoman,Mary,whogainscontrolofaCaliforniaunderworldgang.Underherleadershipthegangembarksonaseriesofholdupsmarkedfortheirruthlessnessandviolence.Oneoftheseescapadesinvolvestherobberyofabank.Apoliceofficesoundsanalarmtherebyreducingthegang’s“take”toamere$25,000.OneofthescenesofviolenceinthestoryshowsMarypoisedoverthewoundedpoliceofficer,asheliesonthepavement,pouringbulletsintohisbackfromhersubmachinegun.Theagoniesofthestrickenofficerareclearlydepictedonhisface.Mary,

whointhisparticularscenelookslikeanaverageAmericangirlwearingasweaterandskirtandwithherhairinbangs,inresponsetoapleasfromoneofhergangmemberstostopshootingandflee,states:“Wecouldhavegottwiceasmuchifitwasn’tforthisfrog-headed-rat!!!I’llshowhim!”

3. WithKnifeinHand(AtlasComics)

Apromisingyoungsurgeonbeginstooperateonwoundedcriminalsinordertogainthemoneydemandedbyhisspendthriftwife.Afterhehasruinedhisprofessionalcareerbybecomingassociatedwiththeunderworld,acriminalcomestogethelpforhisgirlfriendwhohasbeenshotbythepolice.Intheaccompanyingpanels,thegirlisplacedupontheoperatingtable;thedoctordiscoversthatthecriminal’sgirlfriendisnoneotherthanhisownwife.Thescenethenshowsthedoctorcommittingsuicidebyplungingascalpelintohisownabdomen.Hiswife,gaspingforhelp,alsodiesontheoperatingtableforlackofmedicalattention.Thelastsceneshowsherstaringintospace,armdanglingoverthesideoftheoperatingtable.Thedoctorissprawledonthefloor,hishandstillclutchingtheknifehandleprotrudingfromhisbloodyabdomen.Thereisaleeronhisface,andheiswinkingatthereader,connotingsatisfactionathavingwroughtrevengeuponhisunfaithfulspouse.

Worksheet3Questions

1. Whatactionisthemainfocusoneachofthethreecomicbookcovers?

2. Distinguishamongthethreetypesofviolenceshownonthecomicbookcovers.Whichdoyouthinkhasthemostpotentialtobeconsideredharmfultoyoungreaders?Why?

3. ShouldthecoverofPanicbeconsideredaviolentsceneorasocialsatire?

4. Whichofthethreeplotsummariesdidyoufindthemostengaging?Why?

5. Howwasrevengeusedintheplotyouselectedinansweringquestion4?

6. Whichplotmosteffectivelysurprisedthereader?Why?

Worksheet4:CorrespondenceSenttotheCommittee

LetterfromEugeniaGenovar,November24,1953

LetterfromBobStewart,June12,1954(Page1)

LetterfromBobStewart,June12,1954(Page2)

LetterfromRobertMerdian,June22,1954

LetterfromBrianMulholland,September28,1954

Worksheet4Questions:

1. WhatdotheselettersreflectabouttheinfluenceofDr.FredericWerthamonthepublicopinionsaboutcomicbooks?

2. Whichletterdidyoufindtobethemostpersuasive?Why?

3. WhatdotheselettersshowabouttherelationshipofCongresstothepublic?

Worksheet5:ReviewQuestions

1. Whatdoestheevidenceinthislessonsuggestabouttheimportanceofcrimeandhorrorcomicsasa1950shistoricaltopic?

2. WhatdoestheprimarysourcematerialinthislessonshowaboutCongressasaninstitutionofrepresentativegovernment?

3. Asaresultofthesubcommittee’sinvestigation,thecomicbookindustrydecidedto

policeitselfbybanningextrememurderandhorrorcomics.Wouldyousupportthispolicy?Whyorwhynot?

Worksheet 1: The Background of the Senate Judiciary … · leaders linked comic book reading to...

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