Edgar Rice Burroughs: THE TARZAN COVERS

I don’t know of any kid that grew up in the Nineteen Sixties that didn’t attempt at least once to imitate the “Tarzan Yell.” We were thrilled by the series of movies starring Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O’Sullivan and the yell was a distinctive and fundamental element of Tarzan’s mystique and allure. Not only were kids amazed by it but everyone (including the adults) loved to hear Carol Burnett’s rendition of Tarzan’s victory cry from the Weissmuller films. She was fond of doing it on her variety show when asked by any audience member. There were many screen versions of Tarzan; he has been portrayed by many actors but Weissmuller’s is the definitive his version will always be “The” Tarzan for film lovers.

My introduction to Tarzan was through film. The films were by no means faithful adaptations. It was later that I would read the novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs and learn the true depth of the character and establish a respect for the writings of Burroughs that the movies had only hinted at. Tarzan was British, though raised by apes in the jungle. He was later to become educated and always possessed and exhibited a respect for the tribesmen of Africa that was absent from the movies. Tarzan was conceived as a character of mythological proportions that inhabited a world more of the imagined and fantasy than the real world. That I believe is part of his universal and enduring appeal. It has been said that truth is stranger than fiction but I know of no truth that is more compelling than the fictions of Burroughs, especially his most famous; Tarzan.

There are few if any more recognizable characters than Tarzan. Mickey Mouse, Sherlock Holmes, Wonder Woman…perhaps   but they are all in an equal stratosphere of fame and familiarity. Tarzan is truly among the world’s best and lives in that realm of the immortals of literary fiction. It is this product of the mind and imagination of Burroughs that has sparked legions of fans and other artists. The influenced of the Tarzan books live on. The covers of many of the books are as exciting and intriguing as you will find among any illustrations. Never judge a book by it’s cover? I ask but it is a fact of the literary field that certain cover artist’s works do increase sales. Boris Vallejo and Neal Adams are two artists in this select club. They are among the very best practioners to have the honor of interpreting the Burroughs vision of the Jungle Lord and are featured here for the pure pleasure of viewing their works.

In the spirit of adventure and tales of the heroic there are none greater than Adams and Vallejo and Edgar Rice Burroughs is the King of his realm of the literary.

Exclusively Our Own



Norman Rockwell-"Freedom of Worship"



Exclusively our own:

The way we walk, talk, the  clothes we wear, the books we read and those we don’t all define and tell others who we are. Our jobs, professions and vocations are perhaps even greater markers of ourselves. The greatest of defining elements in our lives is probably our commitment to a faith/religion or the non-practice or participation in any recognizable or organized religion. We are what we believe. It is also a great thing that we can believe in any way we choose, any faith. We can also not believe in anything if that is what we choose. Free will is a wonderful thing. Our personal life’s journeys can unfold and take us to whatever place we choose or whatever destination is revealed to us.

The world’s three great religions all have a common beginning; Abraham. In that we are all brothers but like all brothers we do disagree. We have little spats that grow sometimes into major out of control disputes. We have to learn to think that maybe the other guy does have a point and he is also committed to his beliefs. Many times he is more dedicated to his faith than we to our own but let’s work it out and at least respect each other. God; almighty is so vast, so massive, so beyond even our comprehension that we dare to limit him with our pettiness in an attempt at knowing the unknowable. We then try to force the other guy into following us. I have no doubt that we can know some part of the divine and that part is unique to us as individuals while at the same time it is collective (we sometimes agree). There is one God. The God that created the universe and has given us the greatest gift; the gift of life and the capacity to appreciate it’s richness and beauty along with the many difficulties. Life is the great challenge and the great joy. We pray to him and call to him with different names and he answers in turn.

Norman Rockwell-"The Four Freedoms"

“The Four Freedoms” were a series of paintings done by Norman Rockwell in 1941. They were taken from FDR’s State of the Union Address to congress. The freedoms that Roosevelt spoke of were considered by him to be essential human rights. Freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear were the freedoms addressed by Roosevelt. It is without question that Rockwell’s interpretations will be considered dated. A contemporary artist would express these sentiments very differently from Rockwell. The irony is that there is probably no contemporary artist that would desire to execute such a series today. This in spite of the current “Occupy Movements” and in light of the worldwide protesters seeking these very freedoms.

We continually seek and in doing so continually find. Let us both seek and find that part of the eternal that we can embrace and know in our lives through faith.

Christmas

It is the Hope and Promise witnessed in a new Birth.

The Miraculous envisioned in a new life; an Eternal Life.

This Glorious Gift most Generously Given.

It is the Greatest of Seasons.