Mad Magazine (Magazine)
Author Biography:
n/a
Published by: DC Comics (Time Warner)
ISSN: 0024-9319
Genre: Humor
Reading Level: Grades 8 and Up
Reader’s Annotation:
Published since 1952, Mad Magazine constantly mocks, parodies, and thumbs its nose at the world and its people. No pop culture icon, politician, movie, or television show is safe from the magazines crude jokes and snide humor, making it an amusing read for a remarkably wide audience at a bimonthly rate.
Summary:
Mad Magazine has made a mockery of just about every celebrity and public figure since its inception, with recent examples such as the television show Mike and Molly and the protagonists eating habits to the Twilight movie and its fans. Articles, comics, and nasty jokes punctuate the article and are often mercilessly critical of their subjects or downright gross, such as a chart of various states of man bosoms. The magazine isn’t content to only take jabs at popular culture, but makes its fair share of snarky remarks about politicians – such as the 2012 presidential elections. The magazine is also home to the famous Spy vs. Spy comic strip, with two opposing spies doing everything they can to maim or kill each other, often with humorously dark results.
Critical Evaluation:
You won’t find any particularly illuminating or intellectually stimulating articles in Mad Magazine. It is, for good and ill, the equivalent of junk food for the mind. It’s funny, strange, gross, violent, and full of malice and poor manners, making it a highly popular read among anyone looking for a break from the gloom and doom of the world. Some of the art can be downright racy at times, so librarians should be prepared for a challenge or two from parents. While Mad Magazine is quite possibly the lowest common denominator to entice teens to read, it will likely be a successful one as you hear them guffawing over the latest celebrity lampooning.
Curriculum Ties:
Challenge Issues:
Book Talk Ideas:
n/a
Why This Book?
Mad Magazine’s devotion to humor and toilet humor will likely be a hit among reluctant readers. With its focus on politicians and the most recent popular news, teens will also find what they learned in school twisted with a humorous edge.
n/a
Published by: DC Comics (Time Warner)
ISSN: 0024-9319
Genre: Humor
Reading Level: Grades 8 and Up
Reader’s Annotation:
Published since 1952, Mad Magazine constantly mocks, parodies, and thumbs its nose at the world and its people. No pop culture icon, politician, movie, or television show is safe from the magazines crude jokes and snide humor, making it an amusing read for a remarkably wide audience at a bimonthly rate.
Summary:
Mad Magazine has made a mockery of just about every celebrity and public figure since its inception, with recent examples such as the television show Mike and Molly and the protagonists eating habits to the Twilight movie and its fans. Articles, comics, and nasty jokes punctuate the article and are often mercilessly critical of their subjects or downright gross, such as a chart of various states of man bosoms. The magazine isn’t content to only take jabs at popular culture, but makes its fair share of snarky remarks about politicians – such as the 2012 presidential elections. The magazine is also home to the famous Spy vs. Spy comic strip, with two opposing spies doing everything they can to maim or kill each other, often with humorously dark results.
Critical Evaluation:
You won’t find any particularly illuminating or intellectually stimulating articles in Mad Magazine. It is, for good and ill, the equivalent of junk food for the mind. It’s funny, strange, gross, violent, and full of malice and poor manners, making it a highly popular read among anyone looking for a break from the gloom and doom of the world. Some of the art can be downright racy at times, so librarians should be prepared for a challenge or two from parents. While Mad Magazine is quite possibly the lowest common denominator to entice teens to read, it will likely be a successful one as you hear them guffawing over the latest celebrity lampooning.
Curriculum Ties:
- Politics
- Popular culture
- Parodying
Challenge Issues:
- Crude humor, racy art
- Have the library's collection policy on hand and memorized. Even though you may have it committed to memory, being able to show specific provisions as proof with strengthen your position.
- Be familiar with the book. Having great knowledge of it will prove you understand the content and the way the challenged matters interact with each other.
- Cite any awards the book may have. Though the patron may disagree with the book, showing that it is well known and seen as having great literary merit will strengthen your defense.
- Have a few reviews ready from respected sources such as Amazon or VOYA. At the very least, you can prove you understand the material and reviews will corroborate that.
- Have a strong idea WHY that item is in the library. Explain its merits, who the intended audience is, and so on.
- State your library's commitment to providing intellectual freedom as written in the Library Bill of Rights.
- Stay calm. Getting defensive or hot under the collar will only weaken your position.
- And finally, be open to discussion and LISTEN. Even if you do not agree with the patron, their concerns are still legitimate and you should show that you are engaged with them. Listening to their concerns may be enough to take the edge off.
Book Talk Ideas:
n/a
Why This Book?
Mad Magazine’s devotion to humor and toilet humor will likely be a hit among reluctant readers. With its focus on politicians and the most recent popular news, teens will also find what they learned in school twisted with a humorous edge.