We are so used to taking the mickey out of those in power that it seems hard to believe that there was ever a time when we were supposed to be more reverential. The proper grown up term for “taking the mick” is satire and the magazine that was renowned for it was Punch, a British magazine established in 1841 which had its editorial meetings at the pub!
Punch has had a huge influence on media including giving us the concept of a “cartoon” from the Italian cartone, for a sketch on a large piece of cardboard. Punch appropriated the term to refer to its political cartoons, and the popularity of the cartoons led to the term’s widespread use. So the next time you open up The Press to the opinions page for the cartoon you can think back to Punch. Taking the mick has a long history!
You can now search the Punch Historical Archive 1841-1992 by keyword or browse issues by date to explore the social, political and historical concerns of a time span of 150 years. It is especially relevant in exploring attitudes towards World War One in this its anniversary year with truly fascinating iconography. The cartoons of the suffragettes are also amazing – how far we have come!
You can access this resource in libraries or from home using your library card number and password/PIN. Use and enjoy!
The first exhibition in 1881 shows off Christchurch art criticism to good effect (CANTERBURY SOCIETY OF ARTS. The Press, Volume XXXV, Issue 4822, 18 January 1881, Page 3):
No. 52 on the catalogue, by Captain Temple, is entitled ” Early Settlers,” and depicts a landing of Captain Cook when he is interviewed by Maoris of an enquiring turn of mind, who appear particularly struck with the pigs that the explorer has brought to shore with him. ” The Sea Spell” is an effective picture of a drowning man.
… dominated the cultural life of Canterbury for nearly a century, and played a vital role in the development of New Zealand art … For almost 100 years the CSA provided valued support for the arts, exhibiting the early work of generations of leading New Zealand artists, including Petrus van der Velden, Raymond McIntyre, Margaret Stoddart, Rhona Haszard, Frances Hodgkins, W. A. Sutton, Colin McCahon, Michael Smither, Neil Dawson, Andrew Drummond and Pauline Rhodes … the CSA secured Christchurch’s reputation as the artistic capital of New Zealand in the middle years of the 20th century.
The CSA’s first purpose-built premise designed by Mountfort in 1890 was the first art gallery to be built in Canterbury. You might remember it as a rather lovely red brick building, demolished in 2012. As a a heritage listed building, Rarangi Taonga: the Register of Historic Places has detailed information on its history Canterbury Society of Arts Gallery (Former) – 282-286 Durham Street:
The Canterbury Society of Arts Gallery consists of two buildings – the first designed by Benjamin Woolfield Mountfort (1825-1898) in 1890. The second, erected next to the first, was designed by Richard Dacre Harman and completed in 1894.
The Women’s Art Environment, CSA Gallery, Christchurch : women in the tepee space. [1977] In 1977 the Women’s Artists Group organized the Women’s Art Environment at the Canterbury Society of Arts. The artists exhibiting included Joanna Paul and Allie Eagle. “The event was conceived as an opportunity for women to come together in one place to discover their particular identity as women, in a situation where their expression would be uninhibited by men. The exhibition was opened exclusively to women for the first five days … The objects which remained on display after this were evidence of the deeply felt need of the participants to search for the sources of their identities as women ” — The Press, 11 June 1977, p. 22 CCL PhotoCD 7, IMG0037Canterbury Society of Arts exhibition [1906] Pictures being prepared for an exhibition in the CSA gallery, corner of Durham and Armagh Streets. CCL PhotoCD 7, IMG0007
We are so used to taking the mickey out of those in power that it seems hard to believe that there was ever a time when we were supposed to be more reverential. The proper grown up term for “taking the mick” is satire and the magazine that was renowned for it was Punch, a British magazine established in 1841 which had its editorial meetings at the pub!
