ABSTRACT Title of Dissertation: THE PHENOMENOLOGY OF ...

player. This is certainly not a traditional minstrel puppet. In fact, it may be intended to
portray a jazz musician. The cartoonish bubble nose and broad mouth do suggest the
racialized features of minstrelsy. Yet, the shoulder plumes and sharp tails suggest a
specialized uniform, connecting the object not to formal minstrel shows, but to the regal
jazz bands of the early twentieth century. Furthermore, the wavy hair and gold earring
suggest a more exotic image than the crude designs of minstrel puppets. McPharlin’s
design is not wholly consistent with the essence of blackface puppetry he promotes.
Fig. 25. Paul McPharlin. “A Hand-Puppet Show.” Advertisment in Puppetry 5 (1936-
37): 83.
Ultimately, the context of this object is more significant than its form. It is a toy
for readers of the yearbook to purchase. The advertisement promises “notes on the
making of simple puppets and a booth for them, prepared for the needs of a child, the
teacher, or the beginner.” 153 McPharlin intends this object to serve schools or children, or
153 Paul McPharlin, “A Hand-Puppet Show,” Advertisment in Puppetry 5 (1936-37): 83.
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