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“BOOP-OOP-A-DOOP”: BETTY BOOP, THE SEXIEST CARTOON EVER
What have the streets of Manhattan got in common with the streets of Ibiza port in summer? Not only their proud cosmopolitanism, with the world walking their pavements, but also the high proportion of souvenir shops. Therein, in the “New World” across the Atlantic, all are in love with the city that never sleeps. On the other side of the pond, here in the Mediterranean, Ibiza also has its profoundly enamoured devotees…However, recently we notice an element in common in the window displays on both sides of the world: the tireless proliferation of an icon of the city of the skyscrapers in the small buildings of the historic old town of Ibiza. This icon is the sweet and sensual: Betty Boop.
This character born at the start of the 20th century is still high fashion. Betty is a flapper, a “break the mould” woman of those who cut their hair back in the 30s. Her creator was Max Fleisher and her image was based on an actress on contract at Paramount called Helen Kane.
This cartoon character is known as the first to display open sensuality, and has had many detractors as well as fans over the decades and now nearly a century. During WWII the American pilots chose her as a symbol and her slim figure was painted on many planes. With time and due to the sensors, her dress got longer and her initial independence and seeming frivolity was transformed as her roles were changed for, amongst others, that of school mistress.
With the arrival of colour in the cinema, Betty Boop took a rest. However, she was resurrected as a symbol of the countercultural movement of the 60s. In the film Easy Rider there is a scene with an old poster of this great star in the background. In 1988 she was a secondary character in the film Who framed Roger Rabbit?, just to mention a couple of the tributes she has received over the years.
Now, when you carry any of the thousands of merchandising products with this “small great icon” of all time cartoon history, you’ll be aware of the importance of your actions…
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