I would say that either the plane is made of liftwood (A Martian plant from Space 1889) or painted in Cavorite (from H.G.Wells "The First Men in the Moon" and Edginton/D'Israeli's "Scarlet Traces - The Great game").
I remember a funny ad from about 1955 that had "space age" technology all over the kitchen. The housewife -- alluringly dressed in darted and seamed high-tech fabric skirt-suit and outer-space-helmet -- would be able to vacuum, bake, toast, wash laundry, blend snacks, and send children to school with nothing more than the push of a button.
The prognosticators might have gotten a few predictions right -- the button for vacuuming and for baking, for instance -- but they missed the key concept that the frame itself would change. The biggest difference between 1955's view of the future and our real version of it isn't in the push-buttons that aid the woman in doing housework, it's in the fact that the woman is no longer required to do the housework.
Through earning potential, societal training and custom, it still seems most households are taken care of by women.
However now, in some parts of the world, there is less social pressure against men performing household chores, and there is less social pressure against stay at home dads, or men with female partners of higher earning potential.
Societal pressure (locally) now means we cannot just send our kids to school, we now are obliged to escort them door to door. We don't even have the option of school buses, as several opulent, idle generations have rejected the concept of mass transit.
Cavorite! Of COURSE! And here I thought they used magnetic levitation. The kind that only flips you over in the blink of an eye OUTSIDE retro sci-fi movies.
That french sign in the back reads: "Inn of the Fast Plane." Perhaps they simply have fast waiters?...
"The housewife would be able to [...] with nothing more than the push of a button."
Yes, but if you've watched the Jetsons, you'll know how exhausting it can be to push all those buttons, oh my! That's why they got a voice-controlled robot maid to do most of the pushing around the house.
"Several opulent, idle generations have rejected the concept of mass transit."
Newer generations are getting less and less choice but to return to more energy-saving lifestyles. I've read a very interesting "futurology" article recently, describing how life will quite likely be in about 20 years, when we're forced to cut down on pollution and oil becomes scarce. Since it's a matter of survival, of EVERYBODY's survival, I expect it'll happen. After Bush...
That video conference image is SO COOL. I feel hopelessly outdated with my webcam and wireless headphones and cathodic monitor and un-fancy clothes, all surrounded in plastic, metal and LED lights... (sigh)
Most SF I read seems to have a crisis and everyone ends up living in shanty towns.
There must be a graceful devolution to a low tech era, but everyone is in ostrich mode, and it's difficult to see anything other than catastrophe.
I just hope the medication which is so important to our family can be made from the post oil ingredients.
I know how to use hand tools, a lot of us do. Does anyone know how to make handtools though?
I was watching a feature about Smart cars coming to the US, someone commented on how they would not like to be in a collision with a taxi (Ford Crown Victoria) at 60mph in a Smart. I drive a Corolla sized car (Pontiac Vibe) and have considered down sizing to a Scion (Yaris) XA, but I too fear the countless suburbans I encounter on the freeway. Someone has to lead the way. I guess it will be me, but only when this one wears out.
Since it's a matter of survival, of EVERYBODY's survival, I expect it'll happen. After Bush...
Soon this bloody nightmare will end and Bush Jr will just be a horrible reminder of what a mentally deranged fool was like as the President of the U.S.
Since the Jetsons and Flintstones were emulating contemporary sitcoms like "The Honeymooners", it is not surprising they embraced all that was ideal in that brave new world, the world of liberation for a portion of the population.
Besides, were these merely kids entertainment? Or do they embed a subtle social commentary the same way some other toons have done.
"Unintentionally", Michael Burton? I'd say the creators of both series (Hanna & Barbera, fellow countrymen of mine) knew exactly what they were doing. I like to watch them today, they're quite informational on the period shortly before I was born.
Incidentally, Fred and Wilma Flintstone were the first couple on american television to be shown sleeping in the same bed.
I would say that either the plane is made of liftwood (A Martian plant from Space 1889) or painted in Cavorite (from H.G.Wells "The First Men in the Moon" and Edginton/D'Israeli's "Scarlet Traces - The Great game").
ReplyDeleteI remember a funny ad from about 1955 that had "space age" technology all over the kitchen. The housewife -- alluringly dressed in darted and seamed high-tech fabric skirt-suit and outer-space-helmet -- would be able to vacuum, bake, toast, wash laundry, blend snacks, and send children to school with nothing more than the push of a button.
ReplyDeleteThe prognosticators might have gotten a few predictions right -- the button for vacuuming and for baking, for instance -- but they missed the key concept that the frame itself would change. The biggest difference between 1955's view of the future and our real version of it isn't in the push-buttons that aid the woman in doing housework, it's in the fact that the woman is no longer required to do the housework.
"the woman is no longer required to do the housework."
ReplyDeleteYet, this still seems to be the way it is for most people.
Through earning potential, societal training and custom, it still seems most households are taken care of by women.
ReplyDeleteHowever now, in some parts of the world, there is less social pressure against men performing household chores, and there is less social pressure against stay at home dads, or men with female partners of higher earning potential.
Societal pressure (locally) now means we cannot just send our kids to school, we now are obliged to escort them door to door. We don't even have the option of school buses, as several opulent, idle generations have rejected the concept of mass transit.
Cavorite! Of COURSE!
ReplyDeleteAnd here I thought they used magnetic levitation. The kind that only flips you over in the blink of an eye OUTSIDE retro sci-fi movies.
That french sign in the back reads: "Inn of the Fast Plane." Perhaps they simply have fast waiters?...
"The housewife would be able to [...] with nothing more than the push of a button."
Yes, but if you've watched the Jetsons, you'll know how exhausting it can be to push all those buttons, oh my! That's why they got a voice-controlled robot maid to do most of the pushing around the house.
"Several opulent, idle generations have rejected the concept of mass transit."
Newer generations are getting less and less choice but to return to more energy-saving lifestyles. I've read a very interesting "futurology" article recently, describing how life will quite likely be in about 20 years, when we're forced to cut down on pollution and oil becomes scarce. Since it's a matter of survival, of EVERYBODY's survival, I expect it'll happen. After Bush...
That video conference image is SO COOL. I feel hopelessly outdated with my webcam and wireless headphones and cathodic monitor and un-fancy clothes, all surrounded in plastic, metal and LED lights... (sigh)
Most SF I read seems to have a crisis and everyone ends up living in shanty towns.
ReplyDeleteThere must be a graceful devolution to a low tech era, but everyone is in ostrich mode, and it's difficult to see anything other than catastrophe.
I just hope the medication which is so important to our family can be made from the post oil ingredients.
I know how to use hand tools, a lot of us do. Does anyone know how to make handtools though?
I was watching a feature about Smart cars coming to the US, someone commented on how they would not like to be in a collision with a taxi (Ford Crown Victoria) at 60mph in a Smart. I drive a Corolla sized car (Pontiac Vibe) and have considered down sizing to a Scion (Yaris) XA, but I too fear the countless suburbans I encounter on the freeway. Someone has to lead the way. I guess it will be me, but only when this one wears out.
Since it's a matter of survival, of EVERYBODY's survival, I expect it'll happen. After Bush...
ReplyDeleteSoon this bloody nightmare will end and Bush Jr will just be a horrible reminder of what a mentally deranged fool was like as the President of the U.S.
Ah, yes, these illustrations display perfectly what a classy planet the World of Tomorrow will be some day.
ReplyDeleteExcept for the giant killer robots, of course. They can be very distracting during a video-converence.
ConFerence.
ReplyDeleteSee what I meant? Distracting!
Both the Jetsons and the Flintstones provide an unintentionally revealing look at the world of early 1960s America.
ReplyDeleteSince the Jetsons and Flintstones were emulating contemporary sitcoms like "The Honeymooners", it is not surprising they embraced all that was ideal in that brave new world, the world of liberation for a portion of the population.
ReplyDeleteBesides, were these merely kids entertainment? Or do they embed a subtle social commentary the same way some other toons have done.
"Unintentionally", Michael Burton?
ReplyDeleteI'd say the creators of both series (Hanna & Barbera, fellow countrymen of mine) knew exactly what they were doing. I like to watch them today, they're quite informational on the period shortly before I was born.
Incidentally, Fred and Wilma Flintstone were the first couple on american television to be shown sleeping in the same bed.