http://youtu.be/PeFY2-KtD0w
Much like a baby’s skull, The Art of Bleeding has a soft spot — spot in question being a fondness for of old safety educational films. Above is a prime parodic example in which catnip tidily substitutes for the bogeyman LSD. Odd fact: creator Jason Willis is actually one of the kids in the “Halloween Safety” film we remixed a couple years back. His recollections of that experience make for an interesting read.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgpfmehW7iE
Thanks, Skary Nurse, for reminding us about this video….
(From Wikipedia)
Benway is the name of a character in many of William S. Burroughs’ novels, including Naked Lunch. Usually referred to as “Dr. Benway” or “Doc Benway,” (his first name is not revealed), he was used by the author to parody the medical profession and, perhaps, the misuses of science in general. More of a maverick surgical artist than a doctor, Benway lacks a conscience and is more interested in his performance (and his next fix) than his patients’ well-being. Benway is a manipulator and coordinator of symbolic systems, an expert on all phases of interrogation, brainwashing and control. He is also a master of disguise and gender ambiguity, playing the role of ‘mild mannered doctor’ stateside, whilst simultaneously maintaining the persona of ‘fadela- the bitch queen’, leading a carde of lesbian lovers in the medina and puppeteering a drug network.
The exhibition “Health for Sale” currently at the Philadelphia Museum illustrates the story of commercial medicine through an intriguing collection of posters hawking nostrums, panaceas and health advice in a time before the FDA meddled in such things.There’s more than 50 pieces featuring alabaster skinned beauties seeking anemia cures, virile men donning electro-galvanic belts, families posed in health-giving underwear, bears swigging cough syrup, the spectral figure of Tuberculosis knocking at the door on Christmas Eve. It’s closing in July, so get there soon. And while there, you must of course drop in at the Mütter Museum. Thanks to Abraham Schroeder for alerting us to the to the show.
Thanks to Laughing Squid for alerting us to this production which takes that “literal” music video approach in a slightly different direction. It’s by the Wilmginton, NC based live theatre troupe Pineapple-Shaped Lamps.
Ask your doctor if it’s right for you.
Continuing our thread from the last post about the marketing of tranquilizers, we offer some snippets from “The Relaxed Wife”, a pharma-pushing film produced by Pfizer in 1957.
“Of all the states across this nation, the happiest by far is the state of relaxation”
Regardless when the Rolling Stones offered their smirky musical comment on the subject, the reckless use of prescription meds to counteract suburban angst and ennui is hardly a thing of the past. Yet there’s a certain irreproducible naivete (or is that naked cynicism?) in some of these ads from back in the day.
Better living through chemistry, indeed!
More retro health & safety PSA goodness. Sing along with the singing pills: “We’re not candy. This is serious..serious, we could make you Delirious.” Really? If your pills are singing to you, isn’t there a good chance delirium has already set in?
Glue-sniffing, bennies, grass! A hepcat “magician” attempts to sell kids drugs on the playground in this 1974 “Why Do You Think They Call it Dope” PSA.
