Smoothing the Jew

Both the object of admiration and anxiety, Jewish immigrants to the United States at the turn of the nineteenth century were often depicted in derogatory caricatures. Smoothing the Jew investigates how Jewish artists of the time attempted to “smooth over” these demeaning images, focusing on the first Jewish comic strip published in English, Harry Hershfield’s Abie the Agent.

Atat obiect al admiratiei, cat si al anxietatii, imigrantii evrei in Statele Unite la inceputul secolului al XIX-lea erau adesea reprezentati in caricaturi derogatorii. Smoothing the Jew investigheaza modul in care artistii evrei ai vremii au incercat sa ,,netezeze" aceste imagini injositoare, concentrandu-se pe prima banda desenata evreiasca publicata in limba engleza, Abie the Agent de Harry Hershfield.