For as long as comics have existed, there are comics that have used the medium as a talking point. Most of us have seen political comics, created specifically to convince us of one thing or another. Sometimes these are negative caricatures meant to demean or speak poorly of specific groups, while other times they can be used to draw attention unfair situations and call forth sympathy for those involved. While occasionally negative, comics can also be used to give voices to those most often silenced and to cause those in positions of privilege or power to consider a situation more critically

Media and Negative Representation

When we think of the word caricature the first thing the mind is typically drawn to are the old cartoonish images made with the intention of demonizing or dehumanizing minority populations that most assume have gone out of style. There are those who’ll think this practice is over and done with, but that’s far from the case. Take for example the comics that circulated during the second term of Obama’s presidency. There were a great many caricatures of the presidential family created at that time in order to advocate for the presidency of Trump. Many of those also had underlying features of racism or sexism such as one piece released by Ben Garrison which depicted Michelle as a hulking brute while alternatively depicting Melania as the traditionally ideal feminine woman.

FIG 1

MICHELLE VS. MELANIA

This is an example of caricature and comic used maliciously. It’s the perfect example of how visual media can take preexisting assumptions and biases and attempt to weaponize them. The figure absolutely relies on the implication that one of these women is ‘wrong’ for the way in which they appear. One of them is made to feel grotesque because that’s the bias being presented here. Which is why it’s a vital argument for critical awareness when viewing comics. In the article, The Content of Our Caricature: African American Comic Art and Political Belonging, a racist looking caricature is presented of a black boy standing outside a founding father’s house while he writes the Bill of Rights. Most take this as a racist caricature without a second glance, but a critical reading indicates that the artist is actually trying to critique the hypocrisy of the founding fathers (3.) While, yes, the image provided by Wanzo is intended to have a positive reading and Figure one isn’t, it still provides a similarly valuable lesson when it comes to the awareness we must possess in the consumption of comics.

Media and Awareness

On the topic of awareness, comics are valuable in that they provide a voice to those who often aren’t allowed one. Like allowing minorities of color to draw attention to microaggressions or as with the provided image they allow handicapped populations to vent their frustrations about being demeaned.

FIG 2

A FRUSTRATED FIGURE IN A WHEELCHAIR BEING PATRONIZED

Comics can teach us a lot about voices that can’t be heard in other pieces of media. One good example is Bibliotherapy as described by McGrail, Ewa, and Rieger. Bibliotherapy is the act of exposing young children to media centralized around disabled populations, especially comics, to try and normalize these groups. It depicts regular everyday struggles for these groups while also helping to normalize them without turning them into an other (37.) Once this baseline understanding is achieved, people are then able to extrapolate upon their understandings.

Media and Extrapolation

Extrapolation is the act of applying information you’ve learned to a new situation you think might be similar to ones you’ve already experienced. In this context, it’s the act of applying lessons learned through comics to our daily lives.

The beauty of visual arts is that it doesn’t tell a viewer how to think so the viewer is forced to extrapolate for themselves and come to a realization all on their own. Some images might include dialogue or words in order to guide a reader, while others are intentionally vague. Regardless, they ask the reader to ask their own questions and come to their own answers, like the following image that asks about what rights we’re actually afforded in this country

FIG 3
LADY LIBETY BEING DETAINED BY THE SECRET POLICE

What does any of this actually mean or matter though? Well, comics in particular can be use to draw a reader’s attention to specific circumstances and have them ask themselves whether this is fair or not. They ask the reader to form their own conclusions about the merits of right or wrong. For a long stretch of time, comic books have been geared towards the concept of heroism in relation to able bodied cis male whiteness. Those who fall outside this spectrum are often turned into villains or victims by the various others in the comic (Phillips & Strobl, 170.) That’s starting to change though, and the more inclusion we’re able to fit into our visual media the more we’re able to get those within privileged positions to question why. Once people finally start to extrapolate and ask questions, that’s also when we finally start to see people taking action.

During my hunt for resources one book caught my eye. Batman and Ethics. First and foremost, I am a law major, so I knew I wanted to use this book when the author started to actually apply real ethical concepts to the dark knight. It addresses how Batman falls more under a utilitarian style than deontology, and what actions he could take to improve moving forward (White, 13.) A reading like this is born from extrapolation in and of itself. When we truly use artistic mediums to their full potential we’re able to use these beloved characters to cause other people to question why the world operates in such a way and point out inconsistencies and unfairness’s, such as in this one final comic where batman becomes the victim of a hate crime, an obvious reference considering his suit is all black (Fig 4.)

FIG 4
BATMAN FACES POLICE BRUTALITY DUE TO HIS BLACK SUIT

Conclusion

While it’s very easy for comics to be used with negative intent, comics can also be used for the sake of drawing attention to situations that might otherwise be ignored despite being unfair. They can bring attention to those who are disadvantaged and encourage those who are advantaged to think more critically. Once people are thinking critically about the actions of themselves and others, they’re able to start taking action. Media plays an important role in education and morality, especially in an age where it’s so prevalent. In turn, comics also play a key role. Every little kid wants to be a hero, and they learn how to from the media they consume. In providing everyone with a voice and posing these question early on, we’re better able to teach future generations to be the heroes they want to be.

Citations Phillips, & Strobl, S. (2013). Comic Book Crime. In Comic Book Crime. NYU Press. Wanzo, Rebecca Ann. The Content of Our Caricature: African American Comic Art and Political Belonging. New York University Press, 2020. White, Mark D. Batman and Ethics. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2019. McGrail, Ewa, and Alicja Rieger. “Increasing Understanding and Social Acceptance of Individuals With Disabilities Through Exploration of Comics Literature.” Childhood Education, vol. 92, no. 1, Routledge, 2016, pp. 36–49,