Today in 1920s Turkey: 30 August 1923 (Back to School Edition)
(Cartoon by Ahmet Münif, Kelebek or “Butterfly,” 30 August 1923, no. 21, page 1.)
English
— My son, school is starting soon and you are going to start wandering the streets again. At least study your lessons during (i.e. while it’s still) break.
Türkçe
— Oğlum yakında mektepler açılacak yine sokak sokak gezmeye başlayacaksın. Bari tatilde derslerine çalış.
(Entire page, Kelebek or “Butterfly,” 30 August 1923, no. 21, page 1.)
Comments:
Published ninety-five years ago today, this cartoon reminds us that late August has meant “back to school” for many for quite a long time. The text below the image provides humorous insight into the average schoolboy’s priorities. His father points out that during the school year the boy is unproductive suggesting that maybe the time for work is during vacation. In this way the father shines a light on the inappropriateness of slacking off when one should be working by juxtaposing this with the more ridiculous notion of studying during summer break.
Ahmet Münif was Kelebek’s staff artist in 1923 and a large opening cartoon or illustration by him usually graced its front cover. He often did not sign his cover cartoons in 1923 but because his name appeared on the credit line below the journal’s nameplate that year the works can be safely attributed to him. Today in 1920s Turkey has covered a number of examples from Münif’s oeuvre, see:
The Liberated Nation: Master of What?
Geographic Vestigial Dismemberment
Innocent Istanbul, You Deserve Better
This article has been updated and modified from its first iteration published right here on Steemit on 23 August 2016. For the original version see:
13. Today in 1920s Turkey: 23 August 1923 (Back to School Edition)