Robert Crumb is one of the first, and of the most memorable comic illustrators in U.S. history. His 12-panel strip titled "A Short History of America" is an honest, artistic depiction of some of the topics we have discussed thus far in class (i.e. suburban sprawl, over-development, deforestation, etc.).
First panel: No human element present. This panel is flora, fauna, and lots of sky. Everything seems to be in its place, as far as the wilderness is concerned.
Second panel: We see a fallen tree and a different skyline in comparison with the panel before it. The most obvious addition is a railroad cutting through the treeline. The locomotive is likely a coal train, signaling the onset of the Industrial Revolution, and is spewing a fat, noxious cloud of black smoke, contrasted against the sky. The sky, consequently, is free of birds. The land, too, does not show any sign of animal inhabiting.
Third panel: Outside of the context of the remaining nine panels, this panel could, for all intents and purposes, be a nice postcard or landscape painting. Drawn with a kind of pastoral nudge toward development, we see a modest farm house, a buggy, and power lines. In this panel, America has not only harnessed its animals, but its resources as well. The birds are back, but in smaller numbers than Crumb's first panel.
Fourth panel: Industry has taken another nip out of the skyline. In this panel, crumb is commenting on the fences we put around ourselves and out homes. We can see the presence of a mail box which means by this time, America has organized our means of communication with one another, outside the restrictions of space, location, and most importantly, wilderness.
Fifth panel: We now have a little neighborhood under our power lines. The neighbors are adequately, if not comfortably clothed, there are more houses to shelter these neighbors, and the first bud of a local business looms [arguably] in the distance (perhaps a general store/mill).
Sixth panel: American infrastructure appears to begin its bustling at this point. This panel shows the presence of street signs and a variety of businesses mixed in with residential areas. This panel is significant as it is pointing out the development of suburban lifestyles, the most egregious offenders of wilderness we have today.
Seventh panel: Cable cars, many more power lines, many more businesses, and even street lights are found in this seventh panel. This is the panel where life begins to resemble our own modern-day contemporary existences. Our basic needs for survival are cushioned by the luxuries we've adapted in this particular moment of American history.
Eighth panel: Amongst street lights, superfluous shopping choices, and sidewalks, this panel is important due to the traffic jam taking place right in the middle of town. Crumb is making a statement regarding our petty need to consume (cars, fuel, lunch, time, etc.) and how this can become eerily prophetic. Thank goodness for the streetlights that quell these potential disasters (it is my belief that Crumb is being sarcastic here).
Ninth panel: In this ninth panel, Americans have cut the proverbial oak trees down from our live. Unfortunately, trees are no longer relevant to development and will not survive in a city unless it is serving an industrial purpose. For years, the town grew the tree for what seems to be the purpose of scenery, and at this stage in U.S. history, scenery is no longer a part of modern life.
Tenth panel: Major familiar neighborhood brands (i.e. Texaco, Carls Jr., etc.) can be found as we near Crumb's final panels. City life now fully resembles many U.S. streets, almost completely devoid of any trace of wilderness. It is ugly and barren. We begin to see more cars on the street.
Eleventh panel: Even more cars make up the focus of this picture. Industry booms, new businesses come and replace ones that have recently fallen. The skyline is concrete and fluorescent with the light bulbs of entrepreneurs and big businesses alike.
Twelfth panel: A real depiction of how we live today (or maybe 40 years ago). The town has been modernized, streamlined, and made to be more efficient for our fast-paced lifestyles. This is proven in the presence of signage, public transportation options, and convenience stores.
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