What's Opera, Doc?
by Paige Maguire

Jinkesvelma has a terrific post up at Vintage Rock about Chuck Jones' famous cartoon, "What's Opera, Doc?":

This cartoon, created in 1957, spiced up the by then tired Elmer Fudd and Bugs routine of hunter vs. rabbit by incorporating high brow entertainment such as opera and ballet into the perfect comic atmosphere for Elmer and Bugs Bunny to interact in.

Be sure to read her entire post, where she explains the idea behind using "high brow" mechanisms like ballet and opera in cartoons, and its affects on Jones' need to compete with Disney cartoon artists in the 1950's.

This cartoon, created in 1957, spiced up the by then tired Elmer Fudd and Bugs routine of hunter vs. rabbit by incorporating high brow entertainment such as opera and ballet into the perfect comic atmosphere for Elmer and Bugs Bunny to interact in.

Submitted by Paige Maguire (view blog) on Mon, 07/24/2006 - 18:43

Comments

 

Just talking about this!

A musician friend and I were just discussing why the general population knows so much classical music: it's the fault (in a positive way) of cartoons. It helped us all know these famous works without the shame in "liking classical music", but we could all certainly hum a tune now and again! Great post of this. It was fun to sing along with "Kill the Wabbit".

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Submitted by Kelly Wickham on Mon, 07/24/2006 - 17:43
 

Subversive Cultural Education..

I have long contended that we baby-boomers have a broader cultural education (recognition of classics in the performing arts, plus history and literature) because of the cartoons we watched. Not only from the brilliant Chuck Jones stuff but also a lot from Rocky and Bullwinkle.

Today's cartoons for kids seem sadly lacking in any subversive educational value, and the kids are the losers in this.

Debra
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Submitted by debra roby on Tue, 07/25/2006 - 06:12
 

What's the matter with cartoons that teach
kids

...to either shut up and be nice and complete abnegate themselves, or to turn into a robotic monster and blow the crap out of something? That seems quite American these days. ;)

At least Spongebob and Tinky Winky have Dobson and Falwell all atwitter.

--
media girl

Submitted by media girl on Wed, 07/26/2006 - 07:51
 

Out of all of the Bugs

Out of all of the Bugs cartoon I have watched since I was little, this one has stuck in my head over the years.

Liz
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Submitted by proffburd on Mon, 07/24/2006 - 21:06
 

Today Bugs would be too radical

A wiseacre fast-talker poseur extraordinaire who outsmarts his opponents? I gave a WB compilation DVD to my young niece, and she (and I) giggled for hours, watching the cartoons over and over. (And they really are as good as we remember them! Even better!)

Forget Mickey Mouse! I was raised by Bugs and Daffy (and Foghorn Leghorn, too). I think the Chuck Jones lesson was not to take life too seriously.

Maybe I need to get one of those compilations for myself!

Laura Scott
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Submitted by Laura Scott on Mon, 07/24/2006 - 22:16
 

Classical Humor

What I find delightful in the cartoons of yesteryear, are the scenes that married classical music with humor. If nothing else, it was the tv time with these great artists that encouraged me to return to the piano for practice time & time again. What a great way to show a kid how instrument lessons can evolve? The cartoons (print & motion) also became a twofold inspiration for me as a kid (Jones, Schultz, Disney), awakening the artist within.

Lisa, Creative Goddess
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Submitted by ecstewart on Tue, 08/01/2006 - 07:38
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