Somerset House.
A must for culture vultures.
My visit to Somerset House to see “The Art of Breaking the Rules”, was eagerly anticipated. It is an exhibition that charts the history of and pays tribute to The Beano.
The Beano has been making us chuckle since it was first published in 1938. In those days many children were brought up to learn about the British empire, to tug their forelock to a person of higher status or older age, and later be conscripted into national service. A child’s first reading of The Beano must have had a similar impact to hearing Little Richard or seeing The Sex Pistols for later generations.
Many of the characters in The Beano are subversive, railing against the authority of their parents, their teachers and anybody wearing a uniform. However, on almost every occasion things don’t work out like they wanted them to do and they suffer the consequences, which often was a dam good whacking.
All the characters are celebrated at the exhibition. Dennis the Menace, Roger the Dodger, Minnie the Minx, Billy Whizz. Lord Snooty and many others.
My own favourites are the anti swots of British education, The Bash Street Kids. Every week we have been able to enjoy their constant attempts to undermine and reject the dull and lifeless curriculum that has been presented to them.
Poor old teacher. No matter how hard he tries, his plans always end in chaos.
I would not want to take his register and teach all of his lessons!
Gordon's Gubbins. 