Original Title/Caption: "Horseplay that Causes Accidents is Sabotage!"
Description: This World War II poster reads, “Horseplay That Causes Accidents is Sabotage!” In very small lettering at the bottom, it reads “Navy Department Safety Poster.” The center of the poster features a drawing of a person with horse-like features, including extremely large, pointy ears and oversized teeth and nose. The person is laughing and tears drop away from his face. While most of the person’s features are large and exaggerated, the eyes are small and suggestive of Asian stereotypes. This poster was produced between 1941 and 1945 and was signed by Chuck Thorndike.
Source: Thorndike, Chuck, artist. “Horseplay That Causes Accidents is Sabotage!” Poster, 1941-1945. From the National Archives at College Park, Record Group 44: Records of the Office of Government Reports, 1932 - 1947. Still Picture Records, Series: World War II Posters, 1942 - 1945. http://arcweb.archives.gov/arc/basic_search.jsp (accessed March 20, 2007).
Historical discussion: Here, the artist seems to be linking “horseplay” on the job with the Japanese enemy. Notice the large teeth and how the eyes of this figure are much smaller than the other exaggerated features. Cartoonists from the period often drew Asian figures with buckteeth and very small eyes.
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