Animals Are Us: Anthropomorphism in Children’s Literature; Celebrating the Peter J. Solomon Collection
Why do we tell stories to children through and about animals? Are there reasons why we shouldn’t? Animals Are Us invites explores these questions and more through influential historic examples of anthropomorphism in dialogue with contemporary books drawn from the collection of Peter J. Solomon (Harvard College Class of 1960, MBA 1963) and the holdings of Houghton Library. The exhibition invites you to engage critically with animal anthropomorphism, and delight in the artfulness of this enduring literary genre. Catalog of an exhibition on view at Houghton Library, Harvard University, September 1, 2021 - January 7, 2022.
Why do we tell stories to children through and about animals? Are there reasons why we shouldn’t? Animals Are Us invites explores these questions and more through influential historic examples of anthropomorphism in dialogue with contemporary books drawn from the collection of Peter J. Solomon (Harvard College Class of 1960, MBA 1963) and the holdings of Houghton Library. The exhibition invites you to engage critically with animal anthropomorphism, and delight in the artfulness of this enduring literary genre.
Catalog of an exhibition on view at Houghton Library, Harvard University, September 1, 2021 - January 7, 2022.
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39<br />
Dr. Seuss [Theodor Geisel] (American, 1904–1991,<br />
author-illustrator)<br />
The Cat <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Hat<br />
New York: Random House, 1957<br />
23 x 17 cm<br />
Houghton Library, Typ 970.57.7827<br />
Gift of H. Nichols B. Clark, 2020<br />
To counter <strong>the</strong> tedium of early reader books, Dr. Seuss<br />
created an engag<strong>in</strong>g and pioneer<strong>in</strong>g book us<strong>in</strong>g just<br />
236 different words. The Cat <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Hat appeared to<br />
great acclaim, celebrat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> mischief and mayhem<br />
wrought by an anthropomorphic fel<strong>in</strong>e. Recently,<br />
however, scholars have drawn attention to its use of<br />
racist imagery and stereotypes, po<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g out that <strong>the</strong><br />
Cat’s outfit was <strong>in</strong>spired by blackface m<strong>in</strong>strelsy as<br />
well as <strong>the</strong> smile and <strong>the</strong> white gloves of an identifiable<br />
woman of color, Houghton Miffl<strong>in</strong> elevator operator<br />
Annie Williams.<br />
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