Gumby Goes Global
Posted on 21. Jun, 2011 by Libby in Lifestyle
While Gumby is an American cultural icon, he is also a cultural ambassador. Unlike many American creations, Gumby is loved the world over. There is now no place in the world where you can’t find a Gumby.
Gumby is also one of the rare creations to never have been banned by anyone, anywhere, at anytime. That is quite a spectacular achievement by any estimation.
Since the creation of Gumby more than 50 years ago, Gumby has taken something of a real life of his own. There are movies, television shows, video games and books. Gumby is also the most popular spoof character ever created. When the actor and comedian Eddie Murphy spoofed Gumby on the infamous television show Saturday Night Live it became the most popular spoof in history. It was so popular that it became a regular skit for the duration of Murphy’s time with the show.
Gumby as a cultural icon is a bit mystifying until you look beneath the surface. Gumby is made of a flexible rubber plastic and painted green. But it’s more what he is a symbol of than what he is in actuality. Gumby is much like all of us. He’s a bit awkward and funny. Gumby is loved because of how he is the image of us all. We all want to be loved and accepted faults and all. Gumby makes us laugh for that reason as well.
Gumby has the rare ability to lighten up the most serious room by his mere presence. He can cheer up a sick patient in a hospital, make an imposing businessman seem more human and even make a trip to the dentist entertaining. Wherever Gumby resides there is happiness. That’s quite an accomplishment for a single toy.
Gumby is more than just a toy though. Gumby is actually a symbol of a necessary part of adulthood. Adults understand that happiness and joy are important parts of life. But when many adults forget is that silliness is also an important part of being an adult. The ability to be silly and to laugh at ourselves shows that we are finally mature adults.
It’s also important to note that Gumby is now something that we can share not only with our children but our grandchildren. This is a toy that we had as children. We were then able to share it with our children. Now at long last we are able to share it with our grandchildren.
Gumby humor, jokes and movies are something that all generations can participate equally in and understand. That is a gift that the Gumby creators have given us and it is worth more than gold. One item, a flexible plastic toy, and it can be understood, love and appreciated by multiple generations across the world. Gumby unites us all.
Pull out your old Gumby, buy a few new ones to spread the silliness around and share some Gumby stories with your friends and family. Life is short. Gumby makes life happier!
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