Name that dance!

[SavageBob]

So I’m working on a school project, looking at African American and African stereotypes in old Warner Bros. cartoons. In one of the cartoons I’m looking at (Porky’s Ant from 1941), there’s a scene when the African ant character dances over to Porky as the song “Sweet Georgia Brown” plays. I’ve spent the past 30 minutes or so trying to identify the dance done by the ant in this scene, but so far no luck. Are there any dance buffs out there?

The film can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX3an75uX3w

The dance starts at 5:39.

Thanks!

[SavageBob]

I just realized that this question possibly runs afoul of the “no homework” rule. If so, my apologies. The paper doesn’t rest on the identification of this one dance, though, and I am legitimately curious, so I hope I’m not breaking any rules! :smack:

[EdwardLost]

Charleston?

[samclem]

@SavageBob

I just realized that this question possibly runs afoul of the “no homework” rule. If so, my apologies. The paper doesn’t rest on the identification of this one dance, though, and I am legitimately curious, so I hope I’m not breaking any rules! :smack:

I think this one is allowable. I’ve just moved it to Cafe Society, our forum for the Arts. Probably get better results there.

samclem Moderator

[Sigmagirl]

Here are some people doing the Charleston for comparison. I’d say it’s the Charleston.

- YouTube

Porky’s Ant isn’t mentioned in Tunes for Toons by Daniel Goldmark, but if you’re not using it as a reference, I suggest it. Goldmark does say

“The song “Sweet Georgia Brown” by Ben Bernie, Maceo Pinkard, and Kenneth Casey is an unusual example, as it frequently denotes moments in the Warner Bros. cartoons when race and gender intersect. This song was used only twice prior to Carl Stalling’s arrival at the studio. Its repeaded appearance thereafter is thus attributable not just to its presence in the Warner catalogue (the studio had acquired its original publisher, Jerome Remick) but also to Stalling’s predilection for using song titles to guide his scores – in this case, the title refers specifically to an African American woman.”

Can we infer that Porky’s Ant is a lady ant?

You have caught The Isle of Pingo Pongo? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOhaXXULV3U, Clean Pastures http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UyJ42v-N-I (Sweet Georgia Brown again), *Tin Pan Alley Cats * http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUgXBQVOizU and Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXFSsKFrCgY?

Is this project restricted only to Warner Bros. cartoons? Check out the animated prologue to the 1930 King of Jazz, especially at 2:14. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9I8meUN3AU
I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead, You Rascal You from 1932, a Max Fleischer toon in which Louis Armstrong and his band turn into threatening natives dancing around the pot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NS1bwFoHQg

[SavageBob]

Thanks for the replies! I thought it looked similar to a Charleston, but I wasn’t quite sure. As for the ant’s gender, it’s never really mentioned, but I guess the use of “Sweet Georgia Brown” may indicate that Stalling thought the character was female.

As racist as some of these cartoons are, it’s remarkable how accurate the WB animators were able to represent the dances of their day. You can tell they were young guys who probably liked to go out on the town.

For this particular project, I’m focusing on WB cartoons made during WWII, so I have indeed checked most of those! Oh, and Goldmark’s book is one I wasn’t able to find, so thanks for the info there.

[ministryman]

@SavageBob

Thanks for the replies! I thought it looked similar to a Charleston, but I wasn’t quite sure. As for the ant’s gender, it’s never really mentioned, but I guess the use of “Sweet Georgia Brown” may indicate that Stalling thought the character was female.

As racist as some of these cartoons are, it’s remarkable how accurate the WB animators were able to represent the dances of their day. You can tell they were young guys who probably liked to go out on the town.

For this particular project, I’m focusing on WB cartoons made during WWII, so I have indeed checked most of those! Oh, and Goldmark’s book is one I wasn’t able to find, so thanks for the info there.

You also might want to try “Coal Black and the Sebben Dwarves”. Hint: Google “banned cartoons”