Sept.28th: Hi & Lois - Snap, Crackle, and Pop!

Introduction to Hi & Lois

Hello everyone!

Today’s comic is Hi & Lois.  Hi & Lois was created by Mort Walker and illustrated by Dik Browne.  The comic strip was first published in 1954 and was originally a spin off from the comic Beetle Bailey. Walker and Browne’s sons now produce the comic. 

Hi & Lois feature the Flagston family; a typical suburban American family.  The family consists of the parents Hi (short for Hiram) and Lois and their four children.  The Flagston children are Chip (eldest child), the twins Dot (daughter) and Ditto (son), and the baby of the family Trixie (daughter).  Other characters featured in the comic are Dawg (pronounced “dog”), the Flagston family pet dog, their next door neighbours, Thirsty and Irma Thurston, and Abercrombie and Fitch, the neighbourhood garbage men. 

Today’s Hi & Lois features the Flagston children, Ditto and Trixie, having breakfast.

 Comic Breakdown – Snap, Crackle, and Pop!

“Snap! Crackle, pop!” – Noise from the cereal when milk or a liquid is added.

“My cereal is making noises.” – Ditto

“So is mine.” – Baby Trixie’s thoughts.

“Splat, splash, splurt.” The sound the cereal makes when it hits the floor.

Why is this funny?

Without considering the cultural references in this comic, this comic is simply funny because it highlights the actions of a young child and how they do not understand that they should not play with their food.  Instead, Trixie, like most young children, observes that her food can do what her brother’s food does too; it can make a noise.

Why is the bowl of cereal making noises?  What does snap, crackle, pop mean?

The children are not just eating any cereal for breakfast, they are eating Rice Krispies, also known as Rice Bubbles in Australia.  Rice Krispies cereal has been produced by the American food company, Kellogg’s, since the late 1920s and is now sold around the world.  Millions, especially Americans, have eaten this cereal for nearly a century now.

It is popular in many Western countries for children and individuals of all ages to eat dry cereals for breakfast and as a snack throughout the day.  Many like to pour milk or other liquids into their cereal before eating it. 

Rice Krispies cereal literally makes the sounds of snapping and crackling and popping when milk or a liquid is added.  This is a chemical reaction from how Rice Krispies is made and cooked.

The slogan (memorable phrase or motto) “snap, crackle, and pop” has been used to advertise Rice Krispies for decades.  Starting in 1933, Kellogg’s introduced the trio Snap, Crackle, and Pop to market the cereal. 

Today, Rice Krispies cereal is popularly sold around the world.  Their slogan and mascot, “Snap, Crackle, and Pop”, are used internationally but with different words/names based on the local language.  For example,

Germany: Knisper! Knasper! Knusper!

Mexico: Pim! Pum! Pam!

France: Cric! Crac! Croc!

Therefore many in the non-English world are already very familiar with Rice Krispies cereal and its mascots Snap, Crackle, and Pop but are unaware of what “snap, crackle, and pop” may mean in English culture. 

In conclusion, when people hear or read the phrase “snap, crackle, and pop”, they will think of Rice Krispies. 

Today’s images are from here, here, here, and here.  

Sept.27th: Family Circus - Wrigley

Introduction to Family Circus

Hello everyone!

Today’s comic is Family Circus.  The cartoon was created by Bil Keane in 1960.  Today, Family Circus is drawn and written by Keane’s son Jeff Keane.

The family consists of Bil, the father, and his wife Thelma/Thel.  Together they have four children; their eldest son Billy, their only daughter Dolly, their second son Jeffy, and their youngest child and son P.J.  The family is based upon Keane’s own family.

Today’s Family Circus is a family visit to Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Comic Breakdown – Wrigley

“Can we buy some chewin’ gum?” – Billy

Spelling: The proper way to write “chewin” (means to chew) is “chewing”.  The spelling of chewing as chewin’ (the apostrophe takes the place of the last letter) is a short form that should only be used in quotation (speech). 

Why is Billy asking his parent if he can have some chewing gum?

The family is visiting Wrigley Field, a famous baseball stadium. 

Wrigley Field is the home stadium of the Chicago Cubs baseball team.  The team was purchased by William Wrigley Jr. in 1921 and the stadium became officially known as Wrigley Field in 1927.

William Wrigley Jr. (1861 – 1932) was an American businessman who founded an industrial company in the late 1800s.  One of the company’s most popular products is their chewing gum, Wrigley’s. 

Wrigley’s chewing gum has been enjoyed by millions of people since 1893.

 

In conclusion, when people hear the name Wrigley’s they think of chewing gum.

Today's images are from here, here, here.

Lastly, I forgot to post the link to yesterday’s image.  I do apologize, here it is.

Introductions

Hello everyone!

This is an educational blog devoted to developing and expanding one's cultural knowledge and literacy of Anglo-American culture through the medium of comics.  I hope to post at least once a week. 

What is cultural literacy?

The term was coined by the American educator E.D. Hirsch.  Cultural literacy is one’s ability to fluently understand and participate receptively and actively in a language and its culture through proper context in various ways such as reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

Both native and second language speakers may lack cultural literacy outside of their own country or society.  One may be fluent in Standard English but may not be culturally literate in another English society.  Each culture, society, country, and even region may have their own terms and expressions that are specific to their locale. 

A great example is that American and British English, though similar, do have some noticeable differences.  One example is their differences in vocabulary.  Take the word “pants”; it is a lower body outer piece of clothing in North American English.  In British English, “pants” refers to one’s underwear/underpants.  The British equivalent to the North American definition of pants is “trousers”.  Using the term pants without being culturally literate of what its exact definition is in either English culture can lead to misunderstandings ranging from hilarious to rude depending on who you are with and the environment that you are in. 

What is this blog’s purpose?

This blog was created with the purpose of helping ESL (English as a Second Language) students that are fluent or near fluent in English to gain a greater understanding of cultural literacy through the aid of comics.  I am using the medium of comics as a way to teach and breakdown cultural ideas, beliefs, norms, and humour that are common in English that might be harder for one of an ESL background to understand. 

Even individuals of an ESL background that are fluent in academic English often struggle with casual conversation due to their more limited cultural exposure.  The English language found and used in non-professional and non-academic settings uses a lot of expressions, slangs, idioms, and other literary devices that are a norm for most native English speakers but not most second language speakers.  Without further practice and understanding of another language’s cultural origins and norms it is easy for basic ideas and messages to be taken for its literal meaning.  The message or idea will be misinterpreted or misunderstood.

Why did I choose comics as my medium of instruction? 

-        Comics are quick and easy to understand for the most part. 

-        Comics provide easy to follow pictures and images. 

-        Like the saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words” having an image may help break down the message’s meaning in a more instructive way than words can. 

-        Comic are not long and difficult to read. 

-        For the audience to understand the humour and hidden meaning in a comic they must be culturally literate to some extent.  If not, the comic will provide a short and simple lesson for future references. 

Who would benefit from this blog?

Other educators – You can take posts from here to use in lessons and activities with your own students.

ESL students – You can read this blog to increase your cultural knowledge and understanding of Anglo-American culture.

English Speakers that are not from Britain or North America – There are many different countries and cultures around the world that speak English.  Also, there are many variations of English and Standard English around the world.  One may use this blog as a way to increase their understanding of Anglo-American (particularly North American) cultural beliefs and norms.

Anyone – It could be just fun to read. 

The meaning behind my blog’s name: Angles Comic Café

My background is as a secondary school social science teacher with a focus in history and politics.

Angles

1)      The Angles were one of the main Germanic tribes to settle in Britain after the Romans left in the Early Middle Ages.  The term Angle overtime evolved into English. 

2)      The word angle is another word (synonym) for perspectives.  I hope my posts can provide new and different perspectives for my readers. 

Comic – This is self-explanatory.  Comics are the main medium of focus on this blog. 

Café – Cafés were and continue to be vibrant places of socialization and discussion.

Disclaimer:

I am a Canadian that has lived and worked in the United Kingdom.  I try to be as neutral as possible but the views and breakdowns presented in this blog are related to Anglo-American culture and context.  This blog in general will be overall more North American-centric.  Most comics will also be of American origins.  I am a Canadian, though I've had lifelong exposure to American culture and many American friends, therefore if any post appears to lack or misinterpret some deep American cultural understanding I do apologize but I will try my best.  The goal is increase Anglo-American cultural literacy in general.

Why British and American English?  Students studying English around the world today are most commonly taught British or American English.

Please note: This is an educational blog.  I am not making any profit from this blog.  All posts and interpretations are my personal views.  Please feel free to comment and to add your own thoughts to posts.  Differing interpretations and views will enrich everyone’s experience. 

All images and comics uploaded on this blog were obtained through searches on Google Images.  I do not hold nor did I purchase the copyright to any of the visual images on this site.  I will cite, give credit, and link the image’s online origins whenever possible.  I do not plan to infringe upon any copyright laws.  All visual images on this site are under the domain of creative commons or if copyrighted I am using them for commentary and teaching purposes.