There are many things that I will miss when I leave the UK, but that everything is so bleeding old around here is not one of them. I dropped History in school when I was 14 and haven’t looked back since (get it) but here it’s staring me in the face at every corner: in the bust of Virginia Woolf that stood in front of my first-year hall, in the free-to-access collections at the British Museum (alternatively known as the Shrine to the Empire), or in the weathered storefront of newly 35-year-old bookstore Gay’s the Word.
Okay, maybe history has its plus points.
Y’know which bit of “history” needs to go, though? This damn thing.
No.
Produced in 1939, this propaganda poster wasn’t actually publicly circulated during World War II and was instead just recently rediscovered as a commercial goldmine. It encapsulates so much of what exasperates me about this world and the study of its past: wars, nationalism, and overdone memes.
Now I’m talking history because this month is Femslash February LGBT History Month in the UK. I may not like old things but I do like queer things, and as I was perusing the history section at Gay’s the Word in some vague hope of finding a serious topic to write about, it occurred to me that (a) there’s so much more to romanticised wartime nostalgia than the ubiquitous “keep calm” franchise, and (b) you can really read lesbian subtext in anything, can’t you? So here I present to you my humble contribution to this month’s celebration of queer history, 100% made up in my head.
1.
Because women in uniform, amirite?
2.
AND INTO MY ARMS
3.
G-d, I thought he’d never leave.
4.
Ladies and gentlequeers, do we need to talk again about how important it is to keep your nails clean?
5.
“How many times is anything to do with hands funny?” “Two.”
6.
Focus! The fate of the Alliance depends on how dapper you look today.
7.
“King-sized bed?” “Separate bedrooms?” “Dibs on middle spoon.”
8.
CIRCLES, PAPI!
This is brilliant, and I am now debating whether or not to send this to my grandmother, who loves WWII propaganda-type-stuff, esp when it’s being made fun of.
But then I might have to explain “CIRCLES, PAPI!” to her, and I don’t think I can deal with that.
Number 3 is too goooood. Also, I have been on an eternal quest for a hat exactly like the one on the top left in number 7. People who know stuff about hats, what kind of hat is that?
It looks like a straw boater hat.
http://www.brooksbrothers.com/The-Great-Gatsby-Collection-Straw-Boater-Hat-with-Navy-and-White-Striped-Ribbon/MT00121,default,pd.html
YES! Thank you. Armed with this new knowledge, I will continue my great quest for that hat but for approximately 90 fewer dollars.
There are plenty about in the summer. You can get them for about $20 if you hunt about in menswear depts.
That hat is called a Boater. It’s straw and was common in the early part of the century. I was unfortunate enough to have to wear one as my high school marching band uniform hat (it was the early 70’s, and we wore a blazer and skirt and those boaters, OMG).
It’s funny, I found the “old things” to be one of the most difficult things to leave behind when I emigrated. Aside from family of course.
I always go on a history binge when I visit home – castles, Stonehenge, historic houses, towns (York, Bath etc).
Y’know how people say “100 years is old in the US, and 100 miles is far in the UK”? I come from a 48-year-old nation that’s 42km measured end-to-end, so large numbers in both dimensions were virtually unfathomable to me till very recently. I mean, they made sense in my head ofc, but they didn’t really register as possible things.
(I have done none of those historic things you talk of in my 2.5 years here!)
Stonehenge is worth it. I’m not much for new age, touchy feely stuff, but I found it very peaceful and grounding.
It’s just so damn ancient.
So cool!
I see you copping a feel brunette lady in number 3, I see you.
Oh Man. I needed these.
Haha :)
ah! super relevant! #6 was mentioned in last nights Pawn Stars ep and first thing I thought was that it was so queer! I was wondering if there were others like it. THANK YOU!!!!
I have a bit of issue with the caption for 6.
The poster says “I wish I were a man” and the caption is “But then I wouldn’t be able to go to A-Camp, so maybe not.”
I know that cis men aren’t able to go to A-Camp, but not everyone that goes to A Camp identifies as a woman. A-Camp is open to people of many different gender identities. A Camp is not just for queer women. I personal don’t identify as a woman and I’ve been to A Camp and will continue to go to A Camp. When I see things like this caption or something that equates going to A Camp with identifying exclusively as a woman it makes me feel hurt and isolated.
Jay, I don’t think that’s what Fikri meant to imply. There are lots of ways to not be a man besides identifying exclusively as a woman — and all of those variations of identification are welcome at A-Camp!
I know that it wasn’t the intention. It’s just that some people who go to A Camp DO identify as men, and that caption is a bit invalidating of their identities.
This was a poor oversight on my part, and I’m really sorry! It has been removed.
This is amazing. I’d like to think that #2 is British Betty McRae and #1 is her army friend…
These are perfect.
A most interesting read. Its def picked up my friday!!! Who knew we could find lesbian context in EVERYTHING =p
Oh my gosh I love all of these hahaha
My little graphic designing heart loves this stuff. The unintentional gayness is of course an added bonus. *must buy #8*
I love these. So,eome should print it and post it on the walls at camp
Brilliant.
This is funny as hell! I’m laughing so hard at #8!