Amerika

by Robert Crumb

Não seria absurdo dizer que, neste início de século XXI, há um consenso a respeito dos malefícios que o chamado império norte-americano vem causando ao planeta. Do escritor Gore Vidal e os fundamentalistas muçulmanos, passando pelo cinema europeu e pelas grandes bandas de rock, ao intelectual Noam Chomsky e mais recentemente ao explícito cinema anti-Bush de Michael Moore, o mundo volta seus olhos àquele país que se autoproclamou o paraíso da democracia e da liberdade. Dito isso, não é difícil entender a importância deste álbum de Robert Crumb, América.

O pano de fundo na maioria de seus trabalhos no tempo da Zap Comix, ou em personagens como Fritz, The Cat ou Mr. Natural (todos publicados pela Conrad Editora), é uma fina e corrosiva crítica à sociedade americana - mesmo que nem sempre seja este o alvo principal de suas histórias. No entanto, em América - que reúne histórias da década de 1970 até 1997 -, Robert Crumb mostra as diversas nuances de uma sociedade abduzida pelo consumo, um país que produziu heróis da democracia e da contracultura e parece ter perdido o fio da meada. O que acontece com a América? Essa é a pergunta que Crumb nos faz, entre a angústia e o cinismo.

As histórias desta coletânea são seus trabalhos mais explicitamente críticos e politizados. De certa forma, a auto-ironia mesclada à perplexidade e o sarcasmo fundido ao ressentimento e impotência fazem Crumb buscar uma América idílica, vista pelo retrovisor, e despertam nele profundos sentimentos niilistas diante do presente. Talvez por tudo isso, o que chamamos de estilo crumbiano esteja aqui representado com 40 graus de febre.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Humor, Graphic Novels Comics

95 pages, Paperback

First published June 23, 1994

About the author

Robert Dennis Crumb (born August 30, 1943)— is an American artist, illustrator, and musician recognized for the distinctive style of his drawings and his critical, satirical, subversive view of the American mainstream.

Crumb was a founder of the underground comix movement and is regarded as its most prominent figure. Though one of the most celebrated of comic book artists, Crumb's entire career has unfolded outside the mainstream comic book publishing industry. One of his most recognized works is the "Keep on Truckin'" comic, which became a widely distributed fixture of pop culture in the 1970s. Others are the characters "Devil Girl", "Fritz the Cat", and "Mr. Natural".

He was inducted into the comic book industry's Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1991.

Reviews

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is pornographic, misanthropic, misogynistic, anti-semitic, racist, and just about any other -ics or -ists you can think of. Yet it is fascinating. It makes my head swirl trying to figure out its appeal. Is he putting us on or is he sincere? If he hates everyone, does he hate himself? Are we all to blame for the mess the world is in?

One of the cartoons comes from 1989. The cartoon is called "Point the Finger." Guess who he points the finger at for being "one of the more visible of the big-time predators who feed on this society?" Donald Trump. Yes THAT Donald Trump.

Trump is described as "crass and venal" and "so arrogant he seeks out the spotlight and publicly boasts of his disgusting exploits." One of "Trump's lesser crimes against humanity" is "singlehandedly making the world an uglier place to live in." He gave out eviction notices to "line his pocket." Even though "he's already got billions," he keeps doing it.

Who knew that such a man would inspire millions to vote for him in the name of "conservatism?" How could such a thing happen?

[StrictlySequential ArtNarrative · Rating 4 out of 5]

UK's Knockabout "Crack" Edition = £8.99

It's shamelessly searing and offensive but so much is true that it's sickening.

His 1970 kidnapping (by his strong female entourage) and berating of the virile and cranially-hirsute Donald Trump is the best one-> especially because of the defeat/win double-ending where he tells it like it would happen then is forced by the editor to include the artist-wins ending!

[Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me, reading R. Crumb's America:


"Jeez, mister, you're even angrier than I am."

[Dominick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something of an eclectic collection of strips published over a couple of decades, loosely-linked in that they tend to offer critiques--usually satirical--of life in America. There are some Crumb classics here, uncluding the controversial "When the Niggers Take over America" and "When the Goddamn Jews Take over America," along with a few lesser pieces. Probably nothing here a dedicated crumb fan hasn't seen before or does not already have, but a decent collection.

[Douglas Macrae Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not for kids - it's a twisted anxious mind looking at the twisted anxious mind of America. Crumb is fascinating but here he's fascinated with all thats wrong in humanity's fear and loathing.
Reminds me a bit of France's super sexualized cartoons from the 1980's.

[Ravanagh Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard-hitting because the truth hurts, and at the time it was written (drawn), it was still legal to speak it!

[Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything is fine

[Davi Fortes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Afiado, cáustico e sarcástico, como tem que ser! Excelente.

[Pedro Balduino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um livro muito cruel e sincero, como maior parte da obra do Crumb. É interessante como falta ao autor qualquer pudor em apresentar a própria face e se colocar como um crítico tão desprezível quanto seus objetos criticados. Um dos trabalhos em quadrinho mais verdadeiros e sintéticos que já consumi, numa edição brasileira bem acabada.

[Joseph Hirsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is pitch black, morally outraged satire. Nothing escapes Crumb's enraged artistry. Very few artists are willing to let their id fly loose on the page, certainly nobody with Crumb's talent (especially not fellow Baby Boomers, despite their supposed mantle of being "counter-culture"). There is one section in particular about Donald Trump, which is more relevant now than ever. And of course, even if your politics don't jibe with Crumb's (and at some point, his trampling of taboos is probably going to offend you), the heavily crosshatched, intricate artwork can be appreciated and admired as a thing of beauty in and of itself. Highly recommended.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although some of his depictions of blacks make me squirm, I do relish his misanthropy and agree with much of what he says against our beautiful nation.