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As reflected by the stock market, social mood Supercycle Wave (IV) Down: Sex, Drugs and Menace
climbed to extreme heights by the end of the 1920s. in the early 1930s
This climate set the stage for Felix’s impish new rival,
Mickey’s New Direction; Felix’s Demise
Mickey Mouse. Viewers today hardly recognize Walt
Mischievous Mickey’s run screeched to a halt with
Disney’s early incarnation. In Steamboat Willie (1928),
the social mood crash of 1929-1932. Suddenly, Mickey
Mickey is a prank-playing river hand who throttles a
was out of step with the times, and audiences let Disney
cat that looks quite like Felix (Figure 3). Ebullient
know it. In 1931, Terry Ramsaye of Motion Picture
audiences loved the carefree, rascally mouse.
Herald wrote:
Papas and mamas, especially mamas, have spoken
vigorously … about [the] devilish, naughty little
mouse. … Mickey has been spanked.3
Figure 4
2
The Socionomist—August 24, 2010
In the climax, Mickey eludes a buzz saw, only to
wake up in bed and realize that the whole ordeal was
a nightmare.
The post-crash plot is a major departure from
Mickey’s pre-crash adventures. Nowhere does Mickey
cause mischief. The antics and songs are gone, while the
doctor’s menace and his castle are frighteningly real.
With the subsequent rally in mood in the mid 1930s,
Mickey received yet another role: that of the heroic
leading man. The transformation mirrored America’s
shift toward optimism, and it is this triumphant Mickey
who endures today.
Meanwhile Mickey’s predecessor, Felix, failed
to adapt to the negative mood of the 1930s. Despite
the breakthrough of sound, the cat clung even to his
muteness. His audience grew similarly silent, and his
popularity plummeted. Four times since, producers
have tried to revive Felix—in 1936, 1958, 1991 and
1995, always in bull markets. The most successful was
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The Socionomist—August 24, 2010
Disney
Wave Principle of Human Social Behavior, that rising
mood celebrates heroes in “good-guy-versus-bad-guy”
conflicts; by the time mood peaks, “Everybody’s a A Censored Centaur: Sunflower, far left, Fantasia’s black
good guy.”5 centaur. Because of censoring, it is difficult to locate a color
image that contains the character. Trouble Brewing: Right,
The specials Popeye the Sailor Meets Sinbad the
the film’s bull-market hero leaves bear market audiences
Sailor (1936) and Popeye Meets Ali Baba and his 40 unfulfilled (1940).
Thieves (1937) were prototypical bull market cartoons
containing a hero’s triumph, exotic settings and Figure 7
rollicking adventure. In fact, the shorts were so popular
that theatres billed them ahead of the feature films for of their films contained dark elements, but for the most
which they opened. part, their themes were just too sunny for the times.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, released in Pinocchio is a good example. The mostly upbeat
1937, also took full advantage of the Cycle degree peak film premiered in 1940. It contains many bear
in mood. Triumph over evil, hard work and adorable themes, including imprisonment, drinking, fighting
woodland creatures in the film all reflect the strong and gambling. But the delinquency belies the film’s
positive trend. The film’s wicked witch is an ideal overall positive theme of family love. Fantasia also
villain for love to conquer, and Prince Charming is the premiered in 1940 with magic, demonic gargoyles
quintessential bull market savior. The film was a hit. and racial stereotypes. Disney’s hero, Mickey, abuses
Disney spent $1.4 million on Snow White. In the film’s powerful sorcery and gets in way over his head. But
first theater run, he recouped it all—six times over. like Pinocchio, Fantasia’s overall theme—exciting
visuals, beautiful music, Mickey being mischievous—
Cycle Wave II Down in the Early 1940s: Racism,
was too positive, and audiences of the day mostly
War, the Fall of Man
yawned, with neither film breaking even until more
Pinocchio and Fantasia Struggle to Find the Era’s Theme than a decade later.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted
Peace on Earth’s Morbid Message
52% from 1937 to 1942, and the plunging mood also
In contrast, MGM more fully captured the negative
expressed itself via worldwide anger and fear. But
mood with Peace on Earth (1939). In the short, tools of
animation studios somehow missed the memo. Some
war litter the world. A grandfather squirrel describes
now-extinct Man to his progeny. After the final two
living men kill one another, the squirrel and his fellow
woodland friends dance among Man’s remains. Only
in an extended bear market would a children’s cartoon
suggest that utopia is born of mankind’s extinction.
Kings Features Syndicate
4
The Socionomist—August 24, 2010
Consider Woody Woodpecker from his birth just before Primary wave 1 up to his demise just after Primary
wave 5. Early Woody (1941) was grotesque, insane and mean, a good example of the kind of characters
bear markets produce. By 1945, Primary wave 1 had removed the psychosis from his eyes and mitigated
his madness.
In the early 1950s amidst Primary wave 3, Woody was lean, determined, and blessed with clever scripts
and fun villains upon whom to exact his heroics. Critics agree that this was the era of Woody’s best cartoons,
including Termites from Mars and Socko in Morocco.
Woody’s appearance continued to sharpen into 1960, but he became increasingly benign. By the late 1960s,
Figure 12
Woody was cute incarnate and, to most critics, utterly boring. Late-bull-trend morality led to heavy censorship,
which took any remaining edge off Woody.
The move toward a benign Woody frustrated Walter Lantz, Woody’s creator. Critic Leonard Maltin
notes that:
For [Woody’s] most recent Saturday morning program on the NBC network, [Lantz] had to remove every sequence in
which a character fired a gun or hit someone on the head with a hammer. Is it any wonder that Woody and his cohorts
became blander as the years rolled on?6
To a socionomist, it is not. Woody Woodpecker’s genesis was in a bear market. He successfully adapted to bull
market tastes, but after reaching his comic peak early in Primary 3, rising mood ground away what had made the
character so funny. By the end of his run he had become so sweet that he did not evolve back to his former self when
he needed to.
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The Socionomist—August 24, 2010
Anti-Man: In Peace on Earth, cuddly creatures delight in humanity’s end (1939). Cycle Wave III Up: The Postwar
Prosperity of the Mid 1940s and 1950s
Figure 8
As Prechter and Hall pointed out in
the August 2009 Socionomist, the first
to boxofficemojo.com, the film made $3 million in its first halves of big third waves do not reflect rising optimism
release, a remarkable feat given that occupying Germany so much as declining pessimism.9 Thus, popular cartoons
blocked its screening throughout most of Europe. in the early 1940s are fun, wacky works that, at the same
time, celebrate residual bear themes. Later in the rally,
Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs
the cartoons become one-sidedly “bull market.”
Amidst the deeply pessimistic mood, the Warner
Bros. studio produced cartoons that shock viewers today. Wolfie and Red Celebrate Life’s Baser Pleasures
The best example is 1943’s Coal Black and de Sebben As Cycle Wave III began, bull themes returned
Dwarfs. In his 1983 book Of Mice and Magic, critic and pessimism resumed its retreat. MGM tapped the
Leonard Maltin writes: complex mid-1940s mood with Tex Avery’s Wolfie
The stereotyped characters and 1940s-style and Red cartoons. Red Hot Riding Hood (1943) casts
enthusiasm for sex leave modern viewers aghast. Red as a nightclub dancer and the wolf as a lustful
The dialogue is strictly jive talk, and the pulsating cad. The short was a hit with civilians and soldiers
music bounces the action along as the evil queen alike, and Avery released three more in the series to
calls Murder Inc. to ‘black out So White’ and keep thunderous acclaim.
her from Prince Chawmin’.7 Maurice Horn notes, “Avery has been hailed as one
of the most gifted and imaginative cartoon directors, a
‘Walt Disney that read Franz Kafka.’”10 Yet Avery’s real
genius was his timing: Such raunchy cartoons can work
only in a late bear or early bull market. Cartoons would
not openly address sex again for another 25 years.
Tom and Jerry Discover Slapstick Hilarity
MGM also gave violence a bull market spin with
its Tom and Jerry series. Says Horn, “Their whimsical
atmosphere, frenetic motion and choreographed
Warner Bros.
6
The Socionomist—August 24, 2010
Figure 11
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The Socionomist—August 24, 2010
more anthropomorphic. The trio also develops distinct, The Wave Principle of Human Social Behavior
complex personalities. The gags become layered, and (1999) pointed out Disney’s Cycle wave III successes,
the worst that ever befalls any character is a spinning with the hits Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, 101
beak or singed whiskers. Plots lack villains; violence is Dalmatians, and others.13 We call special attention to
caricatured and derives mostly from zany rivalries. Sleeping Beauty, released in 1959 after the midpoint
The studio’s beloved Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner in rising mood. Sleeping Beauty signaled a new
series (1948-1966) centered entirely on conflict. Yet the direction for the studio. The film uses stylized, angular
shorts aired during a roaring positive-mood period, and illustrations for characters and background, a departure
in an extreme expression of inclusionism, both rivals from the roundness of Disney’s 1930s productions. With
manage to win our empathy. We want Wile E.’s elaborate social mood strongly positive, the animation style would
inventions to succeed, yet we also delight when the same define Disney for the remainder of Cycle III—as well
inventions backfire. We know the spectacular failures as during Cycle V. n
will result in a long, whistling fall punctuated by a puff —Citations, page 11
of dust. Positive mood appreciates mollified violence;
successful cartoons deliver it. This concludes part one of our study. Part two will explore
censored, banned and X-rated cartoons, look at animation from the
1960s through today, and offer a forecast for what the coming mood
should mean for the medium. —Ed.
AUTHORITARIANISM UPDATE
WikiLeaks Takes Center Stage; Government Reactions Intensify
In his two-part April and May study published Unlike the explosive Pentagon Papers published in
in The Socionomist, Alan Hall predicted that: The New York Times during the Vietnam War in 1971,
• A continuing long-term trend toward negative the files don’t show top U.S. officials misleading the
social mood will cause society to become public about the war’s course.2
increasing fearful. This movement will lead
But the dismissive attitude changed rapidly. On
to polarized views toward authoritarianism.
July 25, WikiLeaks’ founder, Julian Assange, claimed
• Increases in surveillance and other
he had evidence of possible war crimes. On July 27, he
authoritarian activities will lead to escalating
started a war of words:
anti-authoritarian actions.
• Anti-authoritarian activity will in turn He scoffed when the Frontline’s moderator spoke of
generate legislation and other actions to British soldiers “giving their lives” in Afghanistan.
curb freedoms. “To what?” he asked.3
• Whistleblower websites like WikiLeaks will
increasingly illustrate that an unfettered “The Washington Post called for the
Internet undermines governments’ ability
U.S. government to break international
to control information. The days of such
unrestricted sites on the Web are numbered. law if necessary to stop WikiLeaks.”
• Paranoid governments will seek the authority
to shut down large blocks of the Internet,
Just two days later on July 29, the U.S. government
citing security concerns.1
suddenly went from soft on WikiLeaks to very pointed:
Hall’s forecasts are playing out in rapid fashion. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs
of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen strongly
WikiLeaks Becomes the Hotspot condemned WikiLeaks … . Gates said the [early
In early July, WikiLeaks released 91,000 secret July] leak was “potentially severe and dangerous for
documents related to the war in Afghanistan. It was our troops, our allies and our Afghan partners … .”
Mullen was even more direct and said that WikiLeaks
the largest intelligence leak in U.S. history. The White
“might already have on their hands the blood of some
House at first downplayed the revelations as well-
young soldier.”4
known problems. The media did as well:
8
The Socionomist—August 24, 2010
A former CIA director followed up by describing the encourage this surveillance, and the potential for
leaked documents as “priceless” to America’s enemies. punitive disconnections by private actors, without
On August 3 the Washington Post joined the chorus, adequate court oversight or due process.6
calling in an editorial for the U.S. government to break
international law if necessary to stop WikiLeaks. The Negative social mood is eroding fundamental rights
government should “contravene customary international in the European Union (EU). Member states have
law” and use “intelligence and military assets to bring varying standards of civil liberty. The Union allows
Assange to justice and put his criminal syndicate out each country to use a “no-evidence-needed” European
of business,” it said. Arrest Warrant to require any other member state to
On August 3, just nine days after the White arrest, detain and extradite criminal suspects—even if
House dismissed the revelations as old news, a U.S. those suspects have committed nothing deemed a crime
Congressman said that U.S. Army intelligence analyst by the extraditing state.
Private Bradley Manning, the alleged source of the The number of European Arrest Warrant detentions in
leaks, should be executed for treason. Britain has risen 43-fold since 2004 … . They can spend
long periods in jail – here and abroad – for … offences
Rising Polarization which are not crimes in Britain. Foreign prosecutors
WikiLeaks’ quick rise to firebrand status is but do not have to present evidence to the British courts,
one fulfillment of our forecast for increasing conflict just demand the person be “surrendered.”7
over authoritarianism. In the three short months since
Hall’s study, the Washington Post published its “Top Why This is Happening
Secret America” investigation, a two-year project that In April, Hall explained how such major
describes the immense post-9/11 national security ideological conflicts can develop rapidly in formerly
buildup in the United States as “a hidden world, concordant societies:
growing beyond control.” Even more significant is A society’s authoritarian impulse is rooted in social
mood ... A bearish mood can push a society with
very low interest in authoritarianism into a significant
“The Baltimore Chronicle describes authoritarian/anti-authoritarian conflict.8
the proposed law as a ‘kill switch for
Hall’s study included a five-step graphic illustrating
the (entire) internet.’” the process. Figure 12 shows step 3, which depicts where
Hall believes the U.S. is situated currently. To see the full
the “Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset Act of graphic from the April issue, click on the figure below.
2010,” introduced by U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman on
June 10. The law would empower the president to “shut
Anarchist
down the Internet, disconnect its networks, and force
web sites, blogs, providers, search engines and software
companies to ‘immediately comply with any emergency
measure or action.’” The Baltimore Chronicle describes
the proposed law as a “kill switch for the Internet.”5
Meanwhile, a number of other nations continue Far Left Far Right
to negotiate the sweeping Anti-Counterfeiting Trade
Agreement (ACTA), which the European Commission
says would establish international agreement on
enforcement of intellectual property rights but which anti-
authoritarians claim will curb freedoms. An international Authoritarianism/Totalitarianism
panel convened in June by the American University
Washington College of Law said the ACTA has: Mood decline accelerates: Polarization
increases, as do calls for separation, opposition
… grave consequences for the global economy … . and destruction of the status quo. Society’s
[It would] curtail enjoyment of fundamental rights sense for what is “normal” loses definition.
and liberties, … encourage internet service providers
to police the activities of internet users, ... [and] Figure 12
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The Socionomist—August 24, 2010
The Socionomist is a monthly publication of the Socionomics Institute designed to help readers understand and
prepare for major changes in social mood. To learn more and receive additional excerpts from The Socionomist and
other socionomics resources, sign up to receive free occasional email updates from the Socionomics Institute at:
www.socionomics.net/august-email-updates
Upcoming Socionomics Conference: Our plans for a one-day conference in Atlanta are coming together. We expect
a small, intimate gathering, which will give attendees a chance to soak in new ideas and mingle with top socionomics
thought leaders and like-minded individuals. Speakers tentatively include Robert Prechter, John Casti, Cambridge
Research Fellow Matt Lampert and others from both inside and outside the Institute. If you would like more information
on details as we settle them, please email a request to conference@socionomics.net. —Ed.
citations
of mice and mood
1Turner, T. (Producer). (1991). Cartoon network 1991 presentation reel. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=b0Wm-VaYxeA
2Horn, Maurice, Felix the Cat. (1980). The World encyclopedia of cartoons. New York City: Chelsea House
Publishers, 271.
3Maltin, Leonard. (1980). Of Mice and magic: a history of american animated cartoons. New York City: Penguin Books, 37.
4Ibid, 110.
10
The Socionomist—August 24, 2010
5Prechter, R. R. (1999). The Wave principle of human social behavior and the new science of socionomics. Gainesville, GA:
New Classics Library, 232.
6Maltin, Leonard. (1980). Of Mice and magic: a history of american animated cartoons. New York City: Penguin Books,
186.
7Ibid, 250-251.
8
Bailey, Steve. (2003, April 04). Imdb user reviews for coal black and de sebben dwarfs. Retrieved from http://www.imdb.
com/title/tt0035743/usercomments
9Hall, A, & Prechter, R.R. (2009, August). The Wave principle delineates phases of social caution and ebullience. The
Socionomist, 1(3), 3.
10Horn, Maurice. (1980). Tex Avery. (1980). The World encyclopedia of cartoons. New York City: Chelsea House Publishers,
103.
11Ibid. 683.
12Galasiewski, M. (2006, July 14). Social mood and automobile styling. The Elliott Wave Theorist, 7(28), Retrieved from
http://www.elliottwave.com
13Prechter, R. R. (1999). The Wave principal of human social behavior and the new science of socionomics. Gainesville, GA:
authoritarianism update
1, 7Hall, A. Authoritarianism:the wave principle governs fear and the social desire to submit. (2010, April, May).
The Socionomist. 1April, May, entire issues; 7May, 1.
2Page, Susan. (2010, July 27). Army begins probe of leaked secret afghan war files. USA Today, 1.
3Associated Press. (2010, July 7). Editor says source of afghan info is unknown . Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/
printedition/news/20100729/wikileaks29_st.art.htm
4Zetter, Kim. (2010, July 30). Wikileaks posts mysterious ‘insurance’ file. Retrieved from http://www.wired.com/threatlev
el/2010/07/wikileaks-insurance-file/
5Lendman, S. (2010, July 15). Under threat: a free and open internet. Retrieved from http://baltimorechronicle.
com/2010/071510Lendman.shtml
6Text of urgent acta communique. (2010, July 23). Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property. Retrieved from
http://www.wcl.american.edu/pijip/go/acta-communique
7Gilligan, A. (2010, August 21). Surge in britons exported for trial. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/
newstopics/politics/7958202/Surge-in-Britons-exported-for-trial.html
8The wave principle governs fear and the social desire to submit. (2010, May). The Socionomist, 1.
9Galant, R. (2010, July 16). Wikileaks founder: site getting tons of ‘high caliber’ disclosures. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.
com/2010/TECH/web/07/16/wikileaks.disclosures/
10Mackey, R. (2010, June 17). Victory for wikileaks in iceland’s parliament. Retrieved from http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.
com/2010/06/17/victory-for-wikileaks-in-icelands-parliament/
The Socionomist (so-she-on-oh-mist) is published by the Socionomics Institute, Robert R. Prechter, Jr., president. Alan Hall, Ben
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Most economists, historians and sociologists presume that events determine society’s mood. But socionomics hypothesizes the opposite: that social mood
determines the character of social events. The events of history—such as investment booms and busts, politics, population, and even peace and war—are the
products of a naturally occurring pattern of social-mood fluctuation. Such events, therefore, are not randomly distributed, as is commonly believed, but are in
fact probabilistically predictable. Socionomics also posits that the stock market is the best meter of a society’s aggregate mood, that news is irrelevant to social
mood, and that financial and economic decision-making are fundamentally different in that financial decisions are motivated by the herding impulse while
economic choices are guided by supply and demand. At no time will the Socionomics Institute make specific recommendations about a course of action for any
specific person, and at no time may a reader, caller or viewer be justified in inferring that any such advice is intended.