This year marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It’s an important historical birthday for the United States, and we will be celebrating it all year-round with our new Free to Be series. With respect to Marlo Thomas, our Free to Be posts will be celebrating unique freedoms we enjoy as Americans. And this month, we’re looking at how we’re free to laugh.
A couple of months ago, we talked about how the right to self-expression is a time-honored and fundamental American value. But the right to laugh goes right along with it and shouldn’t be reserved for just April 1!
Colonial writers in the 18th century loved political cartoons. They may not necessarily look like what we, as 21st century Americans, think of as cartoons, but some of the most iconic images of the Revolution started as cartoons.
For instance, Benjamin Franklin’s “Join or Die” from the French and Indian War, which continued to be a powerful symbol of unity among the colonies, was originally printed as a woodcut cartoon in the newspaper.
Early colonial precedents, like the infamous Zenger libel trial, also enshrined an American tradition of protection for satirizing public officials. That right to–well–write, draw, and perform satire has progressed into the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.
At the Berryville Library, 250 years after our nation’s founding, we have plenty of resources that will keep you laughing, both satirical and not. From humorous novels to joke books to comedy movies to sitcoms, we have you covered in the laughs department.
Thank you, America!
What’s your favorite way to express yourself at the library? Tell us in the comments!
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