“It may almost be set down as a law of cultural history that the vulgar amusements of today are the highbrow art of tomorrow.”
Some Cultural Aspects of Serial Cartoons; or, Get a Load of those Funnies, by Ignatius G. Mattingly, Harper’s Magazine vol. 211, issue 1267, December 1955, pages 34-39.
Ah, the fifties intellectuals. I'll grant some of the author's points--I love his {intentionally?} somewhat smart-alecky analysis of Little Orphan Annie. But mostly I'm reminded what happened years ago when I read the premiere issue of The Journal of Popular Culture. Jaw dropped...eyes glazed over...head shook in disbelief that someone could build such a mountain from so many molehills.
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