Cartoons as Propaganda: NOT a new thing

Published on January 27, 2005 By Gideon MacLeish In Current Events

Now I will be the first to admit that I am less than enthusiastic about the whole cartoon characters "promoting tolerance" (when "tolerance" is defined, as it is, as embracing lifestyles with which I don't agree). However, as a student of history, I can tell you that popular culture throughout history is replete with examples of popular culture used as propaganda, and cartoons are not immune to this trend.

I could write many blogs on the use of popular folk songs to express dissent, rally individuals to action, or as "code" to pass along messages (the spirituals as code for fleeing slaves is but one example). But for the purposes of this article, I will confine my argument to the genre of cartoons, which enjoy a fascinating history of propaganda.

During World War II, Warner Brothers was heavily involved in the war effort. References to "Victory Gardens", "Rosie the Riveter", and many other propaganda tools are inserted in cartoons of this era. Two of my particular favorites are the "Gremlin" Bugs Bunny episode, where a gremlin is trying to sabotage Bugs' bomb building efforts (and containing the memorable phrase "WELL, IT AIN'T WENDELL WILLKIE!"), and the episode where Porky Pig is pressured into contributing to the war effort by caring for Rosie the Riveter's brat.

Throughout the Cold War, the Red menace made repeated appearances in Warner Brothers cartoons. And in my own childhood, I remember well the countless cartoons that promoted environmental concerns (Smoky the Bear and Woodsy the Owl).

To fault these cartoonists for contributing to a cause they believe in is unreasonable, as cartoonists have ALWAYS used their "bully pulpit" to press their ideologies (does noone remember "BC" getting raked over the coals for a perceived anti-semitic statement). While I may not believe in these ideologies, I fully support these cartoonists in their free expression, while at the same time reserving MY right to censor the culture to which my children are exposed. My rights are fully exercisable with the universal remote, and I have availed myself of this censorship tool on MANY occasions.

Respectfully submitted,

Gideon MacLeish

Comments

bakerstreet

on Jan 27, 2005

" I fully support these cartoonists in their free expression, while at the same time reserving MY right to censor the culture to which my children are exposed. My rights are fully exercisable with the universal remote, and I have availed myself of this censorship tool on MANY occasions."

hear, hear. The only problem with the "We are Family" thing is that 61,000 dvds and teachers materials are going out to schools, where parents don't have the right to change channels.

You hit on something interesting, though. Why do you think cartoons so abruptly STOPPED dealing with patriotism and war? Were there the WB war cartoons for Korea or Vietnam? I wonder if there could ever be an Iraq war patriotic cartoon?

Everyone says they support the troops, and the cartoon need not make any statement further than that. It seems like someone would have done it, doesn't it?

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