Laocoön and His Sons is in the Vatican and The Boxer at Rest is in the collection of the National Museum of Rome, though they have been displayed elsewhere.
The first one is often associated with the theme of human suffering and long struggle, and I think that the serpents’ attack on the father and the sons has echoes in some of the attempts to attack Joe Biden through attacks on his sons.
And lately, there have been mock-serious discussions in the press of who, Trump or Biden, would win in a boxing match. This is partly because each has spoken of wishing for a chance to take a swing at the other. (Trump is actually recognized by the Boxing Hall of Fame for his work in supporting and promoting the sport.) There have been cartoons and animated videos [YouTube is your friend.] showing the two of them boxing each other. And there are hundreds of photos of Trump, in his rallies, raising one or two clenched fists while the crowds roar.
The word balloon floating next to the exhausted and resting boxer suggests that he has won his long struggle.
The quote about absolute power has been variously attributed but is most likely to have originated with Lord Acton’s use of a similar phrase in one of his letters. He added that he thought that this is why “Great” men are so often “Bad” men.
The second quote is most often associated with the famous 19th century boxer Bob Fitzsimmons who certainly popularized it, but it’s origins are much older than that and it too has been variously attributed.
At the level of implication, there’s a lot going on in today’s strip. But I think it is in part a meditation on the phenomenon of the unexpected winner, the David who defeats the Goliath.
And that has clear resonance with the events surrounding the election of Joe Biden as President of the United States.
The statues…
Laocoön and His Sons is in the Vatican and The Boxer at Rest is in the collection of the National Museum of Rome, though they have been displayed elsewhere.
The first one is often associated with the theme of human suffering and long struggle, and I think that the serpents’ attack on the father and the sons has echoes in some of the attempts to attack Joe Biden through attacks on his sons.
And lately, there have been mock-serious discussions in the press of who, Trump or Biden, would win in a boxing match. This is partly because each has spoken of wishing for a chance to take a swing at the other. (Trump is actually recognized by the Boxing Hall of Fame for his work in supporting and promoting the sport.) There have been cartoons and animated videos [YouTube is your friend.] showing the two of them boxing each other. And there are hundreds of photos of Trump, in his rallies, raising one or two clenched fists while the crowds roar.
The word balloon floating next to the exhausted and resting boxer suggests that he has won his long struggle.
The quote about absolute power has been variously attributed but is most likely to have originated with Lord Acton’s use of a similar phrase in one of his letters. He added that he thought that this is why “Great” men are so often “Bad” men.
The second quote is most often associated with the famous 19th century boxer Bob Fitzsimmons who certainly popularized it, but it’s origins are much older than that and it too has been variously attributed.
At the level of implication, there’s a lot going on in today’s strip. But I think it is in part a meditation on the phenomenon of the unexpected winner, the David who defeats the Goliath.
And that has clear resonance with the events surrounding the election of Joe Biden as President of the United States.