By MARLENE McTIGUE
THE “WHAT, ME WORRY?” exhibit at the Norman Rockwell Museum offers an insightful look into the irreverent world of MAD magazine, a publication that has been a cultural touchstone since its inception in 1952. The exhibit explores MAD’s evolution from a humor comic book to a satirical magazine that boldly addressed societal issues, using parody as its weapon of choice.
Visitors are treated to a rich collection of MAD’s most memorable works, including iconic movie and television parodies like “The Odd Father,” a clever spoof of “The Godfather,” and “PutOn,” a satirical take on “Patton.” The exhibit also highlights the MAD Magazine Game, a quirky board game released by Parker Brothers in 1979 and delves into the history of the magazine’s unique back cover “Fold-In” feature, a tradition started by Al Jaffee in 1964.
Among the many visitors to the exhibit when we visited last month was Shane Minuk from Toronto, who made a special stop at the museum while returning home from a trip to Boston. Minuk has been a long-time reader of MAD magazine, a passion that began in her childhood.
“I’ve been reading it since I was a kid,” Minuk shared. “My older siblings or my dad would bring them home, and we always had a big stack of them. We pretty much bought it every month.
“When I was about 12, we moved, and we got rid of them. But later, at a flea market, I saw someone selling old issues, and I bought one from the 1950s. It was one of the early magazines. That started me on collecting old MAD magazines.”
For Shane, MAD magazine was more than just humor; it was a window into the past. “I really liked that it gave you a glimpse into a particular time whenever the magazine was published. The ads, especially—I’ve always been fascinated by advertising, and since a lot of the magazine was parodies of advertisements, it just feels more evocative to me than, say, a Life magazine.”
The influence of MAD on Shane’s life is undeniable, an experience many who view the exhibit echo.
“The movie parodies were particularly interesting. Growing up in the ’70s, they would spoof adult movies as well as mainstream ones. I specifically remember the ‘Jaws’ parody, which I saw in the theater. But MAD also introduced me to movies I wouldn’t have been able to see, like ‘Joe’ or ‘Midnight Cowboy.’ It was a way to learn about these films as a kid, to get a sense of what they were about.”
One of the most impactful lessons Minuk took from MAD was its critical stance on advertising and media. “The magazine taught me not to take things at face value. ‘Advertising is always lies, and you should never believe it.’ MAD didn’t have ads, so they’d mock the idea of subscriptions, saying, ‘Look at the suckers getting subscriptions.’ They made fun of themselves too, which I loved.”
Minuk fondly recalled one particular strip from the early days of reading MAD. “It was a ‘Lighter Side’ comic about leisure time. A mother yells at her hippie son for being lazy and not getting a job, saying, ‘Idle hands are the devil’s plaything.’ He brushes it off, goes into his room, and his friends are all worshiping Satan. I loved that. It was classic MAD,” she said with a laugh.
The “What, Me Worry?” exhibit not only celebrates the humor and creativity of MAD magazine but also its profound impact on generations of readers like Shane Minuk, who grew up laughing—and thinking—alongside its pages.
If you would like to experience the exhibit yourself, you still have plenty of time as it runs through October 27. The Norman Rockwell Museum is at 9 Glendale Road, Stockbridge, MA. For hours and information call 413 298-4100 or go to www.nrm.org
