the haunting image of a "best newsboy" kid's costume from Target

ALSO ALL THE BATWRITE LINKS FOR JULY

All I wanted was to start this post with a little joke about a newsies paperboy saying “extra, extra, read all about it: the BATWRITE schedule for July is up.”

So I googled newsies.

And i found this

A haunting image if i’ve ever seen one for several reasons in no particular order:

1. the boy is very small in the frame. why not make the picture bigger so we can see more of him and connect with him viscerally? this boy feels detached, disconnected, not himself interested in the work of being a newsboy nor a model for a newsboy costume

2. the boy’s satchel says “best newsboy” which is not something any self-respecting newsboy would ever have on his bag. with the artifice laid bare, we are made to reckon with our own inauthenticity. we are all striving to be the best while knowing we aren’t AND knowing that we know AND pretending not to

3. there are no reviews for this product

4. this item is not sold in stores

5. is this item real?

6. is this boy real?

7. there are two more photos, each more haunting than the last. notice the boy looking away, unable to face the camera, unable to face himself, estranged from his role in his community because the market has made him proclaim himself the best. horrid, awful stuff.

   

8. The bowtie is stupidly big and makes him look like an idiot

9. Oh god I didn’t realize there was a description:

   THE PAPERBOY IS HERE TO DELIVER THE PAPER! Come and get yours! PRODUCT INCLUDES: 1x jumpsuit (looks like a top and pants) 1x cap 1x bag VERSATILE: Whether it's Halloween, birthday parties, or even a fun-filled night, disguise is good for everything! ADDITIONAL FEATURES: Made of super-soft comfortable material! Available in sizes Small (4-6), Medium (8-10), and Large (12-14) Easy wash and care.

9. VERSATILE

10. Wait it’s a jumpsuit??? It’s not even a real top and pants? so its a suicide mission for this boy

11. What kind of sicko shows up to a kid’s birthday party dressed up as a newsie? “Hey bud your friend Reggie is here and he’s…a news boy??”

12. “A fun-filled night” go to hell

13. There’s more copy (parts bolded by me)

    • The Paper Is Here! The cutest paperboy in town is here to deliver your newspaper. Your kid will love the primitive though stylish combination and will make a run for it! With the jumpsuit and attached suspenders, he is sure to look the part.

    • Newsboy - The jumpsuit looks like a top and knickers with attached suspenders. The buttons and collar artwork design is completed with the checked bow-tie making the costume cute & attractive. The costume has a velcro closure on the back for an easy fit.

    • Practical Design - The 20's paperboy costume is made with high-quality material for the utmost comfort and durability. The costume is easy to wash and dry.

    • Great For All Year Round - The newspaper boy costume is great for Halloween, themed parties, photobooths, role play, and theater. Enjoy hours of fun!

14. Make a run for it? what?

i spoke to the writer of this copy

Mike (not his real name) broke down crying right away. Saying he wished he’d never written it, especially the use of the word “utmost.” He can’t sleep, Mike can’t.

I told him not to worry.

I told him about BATWRITE.

A place where he could write alongside other people. Cool weird artist types who are doing their own thing.

For the first time since I’d met him, he smiled (we were on zoom stfu).

He smiled and he said “sign me up.”

And I said I’d send him this piece once I wrote it.

So Mike, I love you man, let me know when you’re in NC.

Here’s all of the BATWRITEs for July

• BATWRITE #012A - Wed July 9, 4-6p est

• BATWRITE #013 (spooky?) - Sat July 12, 10a-12p est

• BATWRITE #015 - Tue July 15, 4-6p est

• BATWRITE #016 - Wed July 16, 10:30a-12:30p est

• BATWRITE #017 - Tue July 22, 4-6p est

• BATWRITE #018 - Thu July 24, 9-11a est

• BATWRITE #019 - Sat July 26, 10a-12p est

• BATWRITE #020 - Tue July 29, 4-6p est

• BATWRITE #021 - Thu July 31, 10a-12p est

And here are all the RSVP links

Every event above already has an event page lu.ma thing that you can click on and register so its on your calendar and your family knows about it.

OH and importantly, ALL of the images for this month’s event pages were illustrations from Histoire naturelle des dorades de la Chine (1780) including: