Mark Twain On The Beauty Of Jews
DarrinT68
..."If statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one percent of the human
race. It suggests a nebulous dim puff of stardust lost in the blaze of the
Milky way. Properly, the Jew ought hardly to be heard of, but he is heard of,
has always been heard of. He is as prominent on the planet as any other people,
and his commercial importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the
smallness of his bulk. His contributions to the world's list of great names in
literature, science, art, music, finance, medicine, and abstruse learning are
also away out of proportion to the weakness of his numbers. He has made a
marvelous fight in this world, in all the ages; and had done it with his hands
tied behind him. He could be vain of himself, and be excused for it. The
Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Roman followed, and made a vast noise, and
they are gone. Other peoples have sprung up and held their torch high for a
time, but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The
Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no
decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his
energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal
but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his
immortality?"
David Kathman
DarrinT68
>From: David Kathman dj...@popd.ix.netcom.com
>Date: 3/8/01 7:14 PM Eastern Standard Time
>Message-id: <3AA82053...@popd.ix.netcom.com>
Sure, why the hell not!?heh DOH! Just a few of the many great Jewish artists of
our time:
MARC CHAGALL (20th century art great, born Marc Segal, russia)
ROY LICHTENSTEIN (father of "pop art")
PEGGY & SOLOMON GUGGENHEIM (of guggenheim museum fame)
AL HIRSCHFELD (caricaturist great)
PETER MAX ('60s pop art great)
JULIAN SCHNABEL (contemporary great)
RALPH BAKSHI - Director of such classic animiated films as, "Fritz the Cat",
"Cool World", "Heavy Traffic"--which features several Jewish characters; "Lord
of the Rings", and "American Pop"--which is the story of four generations of
musicians of Russian Jewish origin. Bashki has screenwriting credit on "Heavy
Traffic", "Fritz the Cat", and "Cool World."
AL CAPP - The creator of Little Abner. Born Alfred Caplin. He died in 1977.
JOE SHUSTER - The co-creator of Superman. Both he and Jerry Siegel were Jewish
teenagers from Cleveland. It has often been said that Superman was a very
Jewish character. Born on the eve of WWII to fight evil. His real last name,
"EL", is a Hebrew name for G-d. Both guys, sadly, sold their work for very
little and their court fight was unsuccesful. DC comics, in a fit of decency,
finally gave them a pension of sorts and a permanent credit on all Superman
related things. Shuster's cousin was Frank Shuster of the famous Canadian
comedy team. Nice article on Superman's Jewish roots at this web site.
Superman, bar mitzvah boy?
JERRY SIEGEL - Co-creator of Superman. BOB KANE - The creator of "Batman". He
died in 1998.
JACK KIRBY - Jack Kirby was the creator of Spider-Man, Captain America ,The
Hulk ,The Fantastic Four, among other Marvel creations.
STAN LEE - Comic book legend. In collaboration with Jack Kirby (q.v.), invented
Spider Man, Fantastic Four, Silver Surfer. etc. Born Stanley Lieber. Please
note we have a cartoon category. Soon it will be broken-up in cartoons and
cartoonists.
WILLIAM GAINES -Co-creator of Mad Magazine, Tales From The Crypt)
HARVEY KURTZMANN - Co-creator of Mad Magazine.
ARLENE KLASKY -Creator of Rugrats.
MAX LIEBERMANN - German Jewish painter who was born in Berlin in 1847. His
portraits and landscapes were widely admired in his lifetime. He was influenced
by impressionism from the 1890's on. He was Pres. of the Prussian Arts Academy
from 1920-33, when he resigned under Nazi pressure. Died in 1935. Links to
Paintings Short Bio
MAX FLEISCHER - A brilliant cartoon film creator. His most famous creations
were "Popeye", "Betty Boop", and "Koko the Clown". His invaluable partner was
his brother, Dave, who directed many of the cartoons that came out of the
Fleischer Brothers studio. The Fleischer Story
I.J. FRELENG - Known as "Friz" Freleng. Legendary cartoon creator and director.
Started with Disney; joined the new Warner Brothers cartoon division--with
short forays with MGM. After Warners' closed, he co-created the "Pink Panther"
series of cartoons. Assigning credit for crediting characters is difficult--but
Yosemite Sam and others are co-credited to Freleng. He directed over 300
cartoons--including four Oscar winners.
JACQUES LIPSHITZ - Famous sculptor who was born in Lithunia in 1893. Moved to
France, where he established himself as one of the earliest and most important
cubist sculptors. In the '30's his work became more baroque. He was forced to
move to the United States in 1940. His later work often was inspired by Jewish
or biblical themes. His sculpture "The Tree of Life" stands in front of the
Haddasah hospital in Israel. His work is in most major museums. Died in 1973.
HERB LUBALIN - A father of American typography, renowned for his radical
approach to type and page layout design; part of PushPin-Lubalin-Peckolick
studios before his death. In 1970, co-founded International Typeface
Corporation, home of perhaps the world's best type. Designer of ubiquitous
logotypes and fabulous typefaces back when they were hand-drawn, including
Lubalin Graph, Avant Garde, and Serif Gothic. The Herb Lubalin Study Center of
Design and Typography at the Cooper Union School of Art in NY carries on his
tradition.
RANAN LURIE - World-famous political cartoonist whose work is the most widely
syndicated in the world. He comes from a famous Jewish family. He can trace his
ancestry back to Rashi, the 11thC. Jewish sage. Born in Egypt, he grew up in
Israel. He served in the Israeli Army and rose to the rank of Major, with
significant combat experience.
STAN MACK - Famous American cartoonist whose work appears in the Village Voice
and elsewhere. Just wrote a cartoon history of Jewish history ("Stan Mack's
History of the Jews"). Mack Jewish Interview
PETER MALKIN - An interesting guy, no doubt. He was one of the members of the
team which captured Adolf Eichmann in Argentina. He used his artistic skills to
make-up Eichmann so he could be brought to trial in Israel. Malkin rose to head
of operations of the Mossad, the Israeli secret service. He retired in 1976 and
has enjoyed a second career as an artist with considerable success.
LUDWIG MEIDNER - German expressionist painter, 1884-1966. A World War I
veteran, he came home disillusioned with the carnage. His popularity was
greatest during the '20's and 30's. He remained in Germany until 1939, teaching
at a Jewish school. He returned to Germany after the War and was re-discovered
and officially honored.
AMEDEO MODIGLIANI - (1884-1920) Italian (Jewish) painter and sculptor.
Modigliani, of course, is considered one of the great masters of early modern
art. Like many such artists, his fame came largely after his death. Mogidliani,
like Picasso, was influenced by African forms. Perhaps it is Modigliani's
sublime color sense that makes his works so resonant. As the first following
linked makes clear, it was not until Modigliani came to Paris that he felt a
strong sense of being Jewish. One further interesting "Jewish" note:
Modigliani's brother, Vittorio, was a leading figure in the Italian Socialist
party and a strong supporter of Zionism. The first link has a very good
biography and has links to on-line paintings. We particularly liked the gallery
on the second link. The paintings are "easy to load". Enjoy, they are
beautiful. Modigliani Bio Gallery
MICHOEL MUCHNIK - A talented painter who is a member of the Chabad community.
His paintings feature depictions of hasidic life and are featured on the Chabad
community site.
LOUISE NEVELSON - Born in Russia in 1900, she came as a child to the US. Her
sculptures began in a realistic mode, but became more abstract through the
years. Nevelson was generally considered one of the best sculptors of the
20thC. She died in 1988.
BARNETT NEWMAN - Leading American abstract expressionist painter and sculptor
(1905-70). His work was and remains controversial, but he is seen as a
forerunner of "minimalism".
HELMUT NEWTON - Photographer, reknowned for fashion and erotic photography with
a unique sensibility of Eurotrash decadence. Born Helmet Neustader, he left
Germany for Australia and then England.
MERET OPPENHEIM - Swiss artist, the most important woman associated with the
surrealist movement. Her most notorious work is the famous fur covered teacup,
saucer and spoon, often erroneously attributed to Salvador Dali. She was also
one of Man Ray's favorite models, posing nude in a variety of surrealistic
positions.
JULES PASCIN - Jules Pascin (originally Pincus), (1885-1925), of Bulgarian
origins, considered one of modern art's great painters - known especially for
sensitive depictions of women. Based in Paris, he eventually emigrated to the
U.S. Prominently featured in recent exhibit of Jewish painters who worked in
Paris, at New York's Jewish Museum.
IRVING PENN - Born 1917. Penn is one of the most celebrated living
photographers. In the 1940s, he began as a fashion photographer. He still does
some fashion work. But he has expanded his work into many other areas of
photography: ethnographic studies; still lifes; nudes; and travel. Good short
bio on following link. There are a few photos, too. Biography
CAMILLE PISSARO - Leading post-impressionist, 1830-1903. Always ranked among
the top painters of the 19th Century. Born in St. Thomas, the Virgin Islands of
a Sephardic Jewish family of Portuguese origin. Many of Pissaro's ancestors
were Jews who were forced to convert to Christianity and later returned to
Judaism when they were outside the grip of the Inquisition. His own
relationship with his "Jewishness" was extremely complicated. Following is a
link to a long, but very well done biography. At the bottom of the biography
there are links to other articles on Pissaro and to Pissaro's masterpieces.
Pissaro is buried in the "Jewish" section of the famous Pere Lachaise cemetery
in Paris. It is an interesting place to visit. We cannot help but add that the
St. Thomas synagogue is one of the most beautiful and interesting synagogues in
the world. The floor has clean white sand on it as a reminder of the time when
Jews, under Spanish rule, had to muffle the sounds of their footsteps so they
would not be heard at Jewish prayer. The second link is to the synagogue's web
site. Biography St. Thomas Synagogue
HANOCH PIVEN - Israeli-born illustrator whose work appears in several major
magazines. Famous for celebrity caricatures made from collages of objects.
ARCHIE RAND - Contemporary painter, stained glass artist, and muralist. His
work often features Jewish themes. Most notably the completely muraled Orthodox
B’nai Yosef synagogue in Brooklyn. Really interesting article on Rand from
"Hadassah Magazine" on link. Rand and Jewishness
PAUL RAND - B. 1914/ D. 1996 One of the most influential graphic artists/art
directors of the 20thC. He brought Bauhaus and Constuctivist design looks to
advertising copy. He designed the logos for IBM, ABC, and many other companies.
Due to Rand's influence, advertising graphics and lay-out become much more
clean focused. He was born Peretz Rosenbaum to an Orthodox Brooklyn family.
MAN RAY - Surrealist photographer, filmmaker,and fun loving guy. Born Emanuel
Radnitsky. (1890-1976). When there was an avant-garde in America, Man Ray
personified it. Now his work would be noticed, processed, and used in the
latest MTV video.
HERB RITTS - Famed celebrity photographer. His work is exhibited in many
museums.
LARRY RIVERS - Born in 1923 in the Bronx as "Larry Grossberg". He was a jazz
player and changed his name for his musical career. Rivers, a painter, has been
identified as a father of "Pop Art". His style is hard to pin down, but he is
often knowingly clever in his semi-realistic portraits and other works.
Represented in virtually every major modern art museum.
MARK ROTHKO - (1903-70) Born in Russia, he came to the US at age ten. His
career as a painter took off after WWII and he was associated with the Abstract
Expressionist movement. Generally ranked among the top painters of the post-war
era, his works are in most major museums and command truely incredible prices
at auction.
CHARLOTTE SALOMON - (1917-42) Talented German Jewish painter who left an
extraordinary final art work. Born in an affluent Berlin family, she went to
France in the '30s. She was interred in a French concentration camp and
eventually deported to Auschwitz, where she was killed--four months pregnant.
Before her final deportation, she created a work called "Life"? or "Theater"? A
multi-media work featuring her paintings, text she wrote, and music she
composed. She hid this work with a family friend and it survived the war. It is
now (2000) touring America--and it is an extraordinary testament to her talent.
GEORGE SEGAL - Sculptor whose "trademark" is plaster human figures in various
situations. Perhaps best known for the figures at the US Holocaust Museum.
MAURICE SENDAK - Born in Brooklyn in 1925, he is both the author and the
illustrator of wonderful children's books such as, "Where The Wild Things Are"
and "In the Night Kitchen". Sendak's biography and speeches in his honor are
found on the following link. Sendak
RICHARD SERRA - Born 1939. Sculptor of often monumental abstract pieces.
American. His work is very highly regarded in art circles. However, the general
public often does not appreciate it as much and one of his pieces in lower
Manhattan was removed a few years ago after years of complaints.
BEN SHAHN - American painter and photographer. Well-known for his social
realist paintings/posters. Painted murals at Rockefeller Center. (1898-1969).
Jewish Museum Exhibit
CHARLES SHERMAN - Southern California based sculptor who has done a bronze
series of "Biblical sculptures" and many other works. He is represented in
major museums.
EDWARD SOREL - Famous illustrator and cartoonist (often political) whose work
has appeared in scores of magazines including the cover of the New Yorker and
elsewhere. He was born in 1929 in the Bronx.
CHAIM SOUTINE - Born in Lithuania in 1893, he moved to France as a young man
and shared a garrett with Modigliani (who was his mentor). His expressionist
paintings feature heavy textures and usually depict tortured scenes. Soutine is
ranked among the masters of the 20thC. He went into hiding during WWII and his
death in 1943 is attributed to bleeding ulcers brought on by stress.
RAPHAEL SOYER - American painter, born 1897 in Russia. His father was a Hebrew
teacher. Raphael, and his twin brother, Moses, became well-known in the 1930's
for their "social realist" paintings and illustrations which often depicted the
lives of working people. They also both created some works with a Jewish theme
or works that had Jewish subjects. To some degree, they were left behind by
later movements in art. However, they always attracted a loyal following and
their works are represented in almost all major modern art collections. Raphael
died in 1967 and Moses died in 1974.
SAUL STEINBERG - Famous cartoonist/illustrator for the New Yorker who died in
1999. Perhaps his best known work is the cartoon which depicts a New Yorker's
view of the United States (New York huge, rest of country--small). He was born
in Rumania, and came to the United States just before WWII. Bio
MAX WEBER - Born in Poland, he came to the U.S. at age 10. His work began in a
cubist mode, later became more abstract. His subject matter was often
Jewish-oriented. He was also a talented sculptor.
Once again, choose any field, and you will find that Jews have excelled in it.
Tom Reedy
"DarrinT68" <darr...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010308225747...@ng-de1.aol.com...
I nominate this as the greatest post on HLAS for 2001!
TR
Charles Gillen
>Sure, why the hell not!?heh DOH! Just a few of the many great Jewish
>artists of our time:
[snip]
Hey, you forgot Mel Brooks (or is he just trying to pass as a Jew?)
You also left out the majority of the last century's most famous violinists
and pianists, plus a few opera singers, plus Joseph Heller who invented
"Catch 22".
--
NoSpam address: gillenc at home dot com
Charles Gillen -- Reston, Virginia, USA
DarrinT68
>Date: 3/8/01 11:42 PM Eastern Standard Time
>Message-id: <Xns905EF130D7...@24.2.2.74>
>
>darr...@aol.com (DarrinT68) wrote:
>
>>Sure, why the hell not!?heh DOH! Just a few of the many great Jewish
>>artists of our time:
>[snip]
>
>Hey, you forgot Mel Brooks (or is he just trying to pass as a Jew?)
>You also left out the majority of the last century's most famous violinists
>and pianists, plus a few opera singers, plus Joseph Heller who invented
>"Catch 22".
I assumed he wanted a list of "artists" in a literal sense. Which is why I
chose to list painters, sculptors, cartoonists, etc. Otherwise, If I sat here
and listed every Jewish celeb and notable, we wouldn't have enough years to
mill over such a list! All in spite of comprising just 1/4 of 1% of the world's
population. Jews created Hollywood, remember!? From STEVEN SPIELBERG to LOUIS
B. MAYER, GEORGE BURNS (Born Nathan Birnbaum) to WOODY ALLEN (Born Konigsberg),
THE MARX BROTHERS to THE THREE STOOGES, Jews have always been synonymous with
ingenious creativity!! P.S. MEL BROOKS was born KAMINSKY! And yes, he too is a
sweet Jew!ehe
Erik Nielsen
crackpot gets a computer.
David Kathman
>
> Shakespeare, however... unequivocally not Jewish. Until some other
> crackpot gets a computer.
Erik, you underestimate the human capacity for foolish beliefs.
*Of course* there are people who believe that Shakespeare was
Jewish. Here is the web page of one such person, who corresponded
with me several years ago until I let the correspondence die:
http://www.ziplink.net/~entropy/
There's also a woman in Israel, Florence Amit, who has been bugging
the SHAKSPER mailing list for years with her theories that
Shakespeare was Jewish and inserted all kinds of Hebrew into the plays.
She knows this with the absolute certainty of a true believer, and
no amount of counterargument has been able to convince her otherwise.
Dave Kathman
dj...@ix.netcom.com
John W. Kennedy
> Of course, Milton knew Hebrew. Is there any reason to suppose a somewhat
> educated Elizabethan wouldn't have known some, as well?
As far as I know, Hebrew was strictly a "preachers track" subject, then
as now -- apart from the odd words that any Christian knows, often
without even knowing they're Hebrew.
--
John W. Kennedy
(Working from my laptop)