Support Your Local Pornographer

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Text on Button SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL PORNOGRAPHER
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The sexual revolution emerged during the counterculture movement of the 1960s. Younger generations rebelled against the nuclear family lifestyle of the 1950s by means of self expression through protests, wearing eccentric clothes, and growing out their hair, distancing themselves from the squeaky clean image from the generations before. In response to decades of conservative values that were the backbone of American culture, the sexual revolution espoused liberal attitudes toward sex, reproductive rights, sexual orientation, and fetishism. 

In 1969, the Supreme Court made a landmark decision regarding the right to privacy in possessing pornographic material. Leading up to this historical moment was an evolution of modern pornography that dated back to the late 1800s when photography became commercially available to the general public. By the 1920s, erotic photography had evolved into erotic film, also known as "stag film." During this time, pornography was considered taboo, however by the 1970s, it experienced an explosion in popularity and acceptance, ultimately becoming a billion dollar empire.

Sources
Wikipedia contributors. (2024a, July 23). Stanley v. Georgia. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_v._Georgia 
 
Sexual liberation and sexual revolutions. (n.d.). Encyclopédie D’histoire Numérique De L’Europe. https://ehne.fr/en/encyclopedia/themes/gender-and-europe/demographic-transition-sexual-revolutions/sexual-liberation-and-sexual-revolutions 
 
Weiss, R., Ph. D, LCSW, CSAT. (2020, July 2). The evolution of pornography the medium may change, but the needs of our species do not. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/love-and-sex-in-the-digital-age/202007/the-evolution-pornography 

 

 

 


 

Catalog ID HU0198

Reinventing Television

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Text on Button REINVENTING TELEVISION
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Curl Text illegible CHICAGO, IL
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The television has its origins as early as the 1800s, with rudimentary mechanical devices transmitting images to a screen. The first electronic television was created in 1927 by Philo Taylor Farnsworth, and as the number of television sets began to grow, the first TV stations soon appeared. 

Television sets would not become commercially available until the late 1930s, but from then on popularity began to soar. By 1952 around 20 million Americans owned a TV set. After the remote control was invented in 1955, and color TV became ubiquitous in the 1960s, an already popular device became even more so. By 1993, 98% of Americans owned at least one TV.

Sources

Hur, J. (n.d.). History of the television. BeBusinessed. https://bebusinessed.com/history/history-of-the-television/#:~:text=Thi…

Catalog ID HU0197

Oedipus Loved His Mother

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Text on Button OEDIPUS LOVED HIS MOTHER
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Curl Text ©THE BUTTONMAN - 124 McDOUGAL ST. NEW YORK, N.Y. 10012
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Oedipus was a figure in Greek mythology who was prophesied to kill his father and marry his mother.  Abandoned on a mountainside by the order of his father the king, Oedipus was rescued and raised by a shepherd.  He learned from the oracle at Delphi that he would kill his father and marry his mother, so he left his home to avoid this fate.  In doing so, Oedipus encountered and killed a stranger who would turn out to be his biological father King Laius. He continued his journey to Thebes where he defeated the Sphinx and married Queen Jocasta, his biological mother.  Unbeknownst to Oedipus, he had fulfilled the prophecy of killing his father and marrying his mother. The Oedipus complex is a concept introduced by Sigmund Freud in 1899 where a child may possess an unconscious sexual desire for the opposite-sex parent.

Catalog ID HU0196

Now That I Know Everything

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Text on Button NOW THAT I KNOW EVERYTHING, WHAT DO I DO?
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$1.00 MADE IN U.S.A. ©1981 HALLMARK CARDS

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Graduation from school is an event that recognizes the intellectual growth of an individual. In this case, that recognition is humorous, as the individual may have learned many things, but does not know how to begin implementing that information and starting their career.

Hallmark began in 1910 when Joyce Clyde Hall started selling postcards. He had little money—not even enough to take a horse-drawn cab to his lodgings at the YMCA—but he had an entrepreneurial spirit and the determination of a pioneer. Hall quickly made a name for himself with the picture postcards he sold. Rollie Hall joined his brother in business, and the company was named Hall Brothers. On January 11, 1915, a fire destroyed their office and inventory. They took the only salvageable item, their safe, and set up shop again. With $17,000 in debt, they decided to press onward. As postcard sales declined, they recognized the public’s desire for more privacy in their communication, so they started offering high-quality Valentine’s Day and Christmas cards mailed in envelopes. The fateful fire resulted in the Hall brothers’ decision to buy printing presses and begin producing their own greeting cards in 1915. Hallmark eventually made the move to manufacture and sell collectable memorabilia including pin-back buttons, most of which revolve around holidays and other special events.

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Catalog ID HU0195

More Shopping Days

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Text on Button ONLY MORE SHOPPING DAYS 'TIL ARMAGEDDON
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Curl Text DONNELLY/COLT BUTTONS BOX 188 HAMPTON CT 06247 860-455-9621
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Armageddon is a biblical term meaning “Hill of Megiddo” in Hebrew. The ancient Palestinian city of Megiddo sat at an important crossroads between Egypt and Mesopotamia, and was the site of numerous military conflicts due to its strategic position. Armageddon is mentioned only once in the Bible in the Revelation to John, and is prophesied to be the final battlegrounds between the forces of evil and the forces of God. The term Armageddon has since taken a much broader use, meaning anything from nuclear apocalypse, to being used to dramatize and catastrophize ordinary scenarios. 

Sources

Lerner, R. E. (2022, October 18). Armageddon. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Armageddon

Catalog ID HU0193

Mahatma Gumbhi

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Text on Button MAHATMA GUMBHI, MAN OF PEACE
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Curl Text DONNELLY/COLT BUTTONS BOX 188 HAMPTON CT 06247
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Mahatma Gandhi led the Indian independence movement against British rule in the years from 1915 to 1947. He used nonviolent civil disobedience and encouraged peaceful negotiation. Gandhi succeeded in leading India to independence and he inspired similar civil rights movements around the world. Born in October 1869, he studied law and worked in litigation for a little over 20 years in South Africa where he developed an interest in politics. He then moved back to India in 1915 and after a short while assumed leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1921. Once in a position of influence, Gandhi led campaigns of civil rights and self rule. In January 1948 at the age of 78, he was assassinated.

Gumby is a green humanoid claymation character created by Art Clokey. Gumby made his first appearance in a short film in 1953 and a couple years later, NBC asked for the creation of a short 11-episode series. Early on, the orange pony, Pokey, was introduced as Gumby's best friend. Gumby and his pal Pokey went on to star in two television series, a movie, and several other projects including a documentary and comic book.

Catalog ID HU0192

God is Alive

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Text on Button GOD IS ALIVE HE JUST DOESN'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED
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The message "God Is Alive—He Just Doesn’t Want To Get Involved!" was just one of many powerful and provocative messages that could be found scrawled across the walls of urban areas during the rise of graffiti art in the late 1960s. At this time, graffiti became a popular form of expression for young people who wanted to make a statement and be seen and heard. It was a way for them to rebel against the mainstream and show their creativity in a way that was not restricted by society's rules.

Despite its popularity, graffiti was viewed by many as an act of delinquency and vandalism, rather than an art form. However, this perception began to shift in the 1980s when art galleries started to showcase graffiti as a legitimate form of artistic expression. This recognition of graffiti as art opened doors for many young artists who had previously been dismissed as vandals.

One such artist was Jean-Michel Basquiat, who gained fame for his graffiti-inspired paintings and went on to become a significant figure in the art world. Basquiat's work was a reflection of the gritty, urban environment in which he lived, and his bold, colorful images captured the raw energy and emotion of the streets.

Today, graffiti continues to be a powerful force in urban art and culture. While some still view it as a form of vandalism, others recognize it as a legitimate and important form of artistic expression. Whether it is viewed as an act of rebellion or a celebration of creativity, graffiti continues to captivate and inspire audiences around the world.

Sources
“The History of American Graffiti:” From Subway Car to Gallery. (2011, March 31). PBS NewsHour. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/the-history-of-american-graffiti-from…
Catalog ID HU0191

Farty is the New Forty

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Text on Button FARTY IS THE NEW 40
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Curl Text JON MARTIN'S 40 & FARTY CELEBRATION 2011
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Phrases like "forty is the new thirty" or "forty is the new twenty" can be both a humorous quip to quell negative feelings associated with aging, as well as a statement aimed at younger generations' behavior (which is sometimes seen as less rigid than previous generations). Similar aphorisms—such as "forty is the new forty"—exude a comfort with aging and all the ways that might look for each of us. The slogan seen here takes this comfort to the next level, with the help of some fart humor.

Sources

Brand, D. S. (2019). 40 is the new…40. And that’s okay. The Week. https://theweek.com/articles/818251/40-new--40-thats-okay

Good Luxe Vintage. (n.d.). Vintage style pinback buttons – 60s 70s 80s misc. novelty pins – you choose – reproduction retro pin button – 1” 1.25” 2.25” [Etsy listing]. Etsy. https://www.etsy.com/listing/1729684873/vintage-style-pinback-buttons-60s-70s

Grant, S. (2020). Life begins at Farty [blog post]. Yvonne Vincent. https://www.yvonnevincent.com/post/life-begins-at-farty

Reuters. (2008). World’s oldest joke traced back to 1900 BC. Reuters News. https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyle/worlds-oldest-joke-traced-back-to-1900-bc-idUSKUA147851/

Wild Paisley Button Co. (n.d.). Farty is the new forty 2.25” button keychain 1970s 1980s 40th birthday present magnet pin badge vintage funny humor retro gift dad joke fart [Etsy listing]. Etsy. https://www.etsy.com/listing/954594777/farty-is-the-new-forty-225-button

Catalog ID HU0190