Being aFreud of jokes, in pictures

Press, 14 June 1980, Page 17

Being aFreud of jokes, in pictures

(Reviewed by

Ken Strongman)

Sigmund Freud. By Ralph Steadman. Paddington Press, 1979. 113 pp. Index. $26.95.

Steadman’s avowed aim in this book is to produce a potted biography of Freud (concentrating on the dirty bits) mainly through his own (Steadman’s) inimitable drawings. However, I suspect that the real aim. was to tell, illustrate and analyse Jewish jokes. So, this is a singular book about a singular man — Freud — who invested in psychoanalysis and thereby left psychologists a legacy of saying to all and sundry that psychology is not psychoanalysis. The immediate reaction of a hoary old experimental psychologist such as myself is to be a bit dubious about anyone who, like Ralph Steadman, seems completely beguiled by Freud. Even Freud himself might have had a word or two to say about someone who so thoroughly likes his works. Also, as far as I am concerned, analysing jokes detracts from their impact. It is difficult to generalise about jokes, because a sense of humour, or lack of it, is such an individual matter. I found only a handful of jokes in this book to be funny, and only in one case did Steadman’s illustration enhance a joke. The jokes, their analysis, and the illustrations have quite separate import even though Steadman intended them to be integrated. The illustrations themselves are

excellent, if, of course, readers happen to like Steadman’s work. They are biting, severe, sharp, individualistic caricatures. However, if readers happen to be indifferent to Steadman’s style, then it all seems rather repetitive. The illustrations have an obvious accuracy, but are by no means great art. After 100 pages or so it all seems a bit thin.

I have been rather negative about this book, which is perhaps a little unfair. Steadman is a man of quality and the book is elegantly _ produced. Even the index is nicely illustrated. “Sigmund Freud” would sit well on a coffee table and a glance through its pages would promote talking points, if this is what owners want in a book.

Freud was obviously a very clever man, although more recent knowledge has shown that much of what he said is debateable. Steadman is obviously a talented man as well, but his talents could have been put to better use than in this analysis of Freud. “Sigmund Freud” adds nothing to academic knowledge about Freud, and little to the layman’s knowledge since it is so cryptically idiosyncratic. Also, Philip Roth’s novels probably give a better insight into Jewish humour. However, although I do not think the book worth the money, if you like or respect Freud, and/or Ralph Steadman, and/or very well produced books, then at least give it a glance. It might just strike a $27 chord.