ALASKAN POLAR BEAR ART

This hilarious towel designed during the Cold War takes the anti-Soviet sentiment of the era into the kitchen.  With cartoonish illustrations, it sets out the recipe for “Quick Frozen Alaskan Polar Bear.”  The polar bear, with a hammer and sickle on its rump, represents the Soviet Union. GI Joe, wearing a chef’s hat, is kicking the bear into a hole cut in the ice, as the first step in the recipe is to freeze the bear.  Uncle Sam’s image sits atop a totem pole, and American ships, planes and tanks, along with an Eagle, decorate the border.  Many of the Cold War’s tensions played out in Alaska, due to its proximity to the Soviet Union, and this towel reminds us of that historical era. 

The Cold War between the US and the USSR dominated post-WWII world politics for forty years or so.  But, as has always been true, political humor left its mark on the times, and this towel is a funny reminder of that. This interesting poster is great as kitchen art or as political history art and thus can be hung just about anywhere.

Condition: A