Re:Blondie Joke, Is It Only a Western Culture story?

[cafemia]

Dear david10101:

Blondie is a cartoon character. Her husband's name is Dagwood. She is a simple and not at all complicated minded housewife. It looks like she had a habit of spending too much money when she went out shopping. Dagwood would feel terrible and sorry when he hears of the news that Blondie spent a whole lot of money again. So, she wanted to give him a sympathy card. 병주고, 약주고 as they say.

A Joke, when explained, loses the spontaneity and is no longer funny. Many jokes have difficulties crossing the cultural lines. However, this joke you mentioned may be felt by a Korean husband nowadays, if he is the only one earning money for the family and also if the wife brainlessly spends too much of it.

Blondie and Dagwood characters as I remember were quite popular in the fifties and the sixties in North America. Perhaps it is still nowadays. Anyways, I think the Western culture has changed somewhat since then. There are much less role playing couples, like the wives staying at home to raise the kids and husbands bringing in the bacon, that is to earn money for the family.

I get to see North American culture nowadays through my daughter. It has changed greatly since when I was her age. Feminism from my generation paved the ways for her. Now, there are so many more choices for women and along with them, there are whatever responsibilities, struggles, and pains with headaches that come along with such freedom.

It is interesting to see society as it matures. We progress and make changes in order to lessen our pains and yet we just add a few more worries and perhaps not shed the old ones.

There are cards sold for many types of occasions in the West. Like the West, it is the same in Korea in that respect. Whether Korea likes it or not, she looks like she is following much of the footsteps of cultural evolutions of the West. I wonder and wander in my mind. I thank you for this food for thought.

So much for now, talk to you later,

cafemia

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