Judge, 1921-08-27 · page 5 of 36
Judge — August 27, 1921 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Ballade Freudienne" by Lester Markel This satirical poem mocks Freudian psychology's popularity in 1920s American culture. The repeated refrain "Have you a little complex in your dome?" ridicules how Freudian terminology—particularly the concept of psychological "complexes"—had become trendy cocktail-party conversation. The poem catalogs absurd anxieties and phobias (Spoonabia, à Coup Sur) that wealthy society figures obsess over, suggesting that fashionable people were increasingly attributing every worry or character flaw to Freudian psychology rather than addressing real problems. The illustration of a woman gazing at her fish tank represents "The Nature-Lover," one example of the satirized personality types. Overall, the piece lampoons how psychoanalytic jargon had become intellectually fashionable shorthand for explaining human behavior among the upper classes.
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Drawing by Joun Hevp, Jr. Epic Poem by Grorce MITCHELL. Ballade DO you dream of funny things at night— Of purple dragons comin’ through the rye? Of scarlet fairies sailing on a kite Across a dappled, heliotrophic sky? Of Pilsner beer or hops or pumpkin pie? Of Yap or Vladivostok or of Nome? Of vitamines or raging bacilli? Have you a little complex in your dome? Re Guarding Her Talent Ethel—Has that handsome life- guard taught you how to swim yet? Clara—Yes; but he doesn’t know it! A Very Hector: Stout Citizen—How on earth did Doolittle ever get such a reputation for courage? Slim ditto—Oh, he makes a point of telling all his friends that their first baby is a very ordinary looking specimen! By LESTER MARKEL Whene’er you slumber dees a silver sprite, Encased in moonshine from fields on high, Come wafting to your couch and halt gleaned her flight To drop a kiss and, smiling, flut- ter by? Is there a damose! for whom you sigh, Another Venus risen from the foam? Is there within your breast a stifled cry? Have you a little complex in your dome? L’Envoi Friend, you may contradict, dispute, deny, Pooh-pooh from early morn until the gloam; For ev’ry dream there is a What and Why. Have you a little complex in your dome? Drawn by Art HEUrANT. Employer—ARE YOU IN THE HABIT OF SAY- ING “YES, SIR” TO YOUR BOSS? Office. boy—No, sir. 5 | She doted on her sportive fish If she jools. | | THE NATURE-LOVER Whose each and ev'ry golden wish ranted (drat the silly fools!) must pawn the family Freudienne How often do the clouds enshroud the light! The hopes that soon and die; Suppressed desires and bite; They yelp like yapping curs that terrify. Have you a psychic mote within your eye, Me A skeleton that stalks about your home? A Hidden Fear that smites you, hip and thigh? Have you a little complex in your dome? blossom, wither seratch and claw Spoofabia Platonic love is when a man thinks he is a hero, and looks like a fool, while the woman goes about with that conceited air of having got some- thing for nothing. 4 Coup Sur To attempt a short cut to Wealth is to arrive at Notoriety; to attempt a short cut to Fame is to arrive at Notoriety; to attempt a short cut to Love is to arrive at Notoriety, so why not go after the thing itself?