Further exploring different forms of media and developing a critical mindset towards what we consume creates the space to form a curious mind geared towards asking questions rather than mindlessly accepting popular opinion.
One such topic I explored was Dr Seuss, not as the famed author of children's books but his life outside of that persona. This paper primarily focused on Dr Seuss's world war two cartoons and the scrutiny under which he fell due to their racist undertones. Once again, not only did the process of composing this piece involve practicing the art of balanced criticism, it required delving into the depths of snippets of research that were previously glazed over to a certain extent. Compiling this information coupled with my own response to the texts I read, made this paper an interesting deep dive into the media form of cartoons and the precise attention to detail and inuendos needed to unravel the subliminal messaging within the image.
I suppose the thrill of hunting and uncovering the "truth" has become pivotal to much of my work.
Below are excerpts from this investigation.
WORKS CITED
Cartoons taken from the UC San Diego Digital Library Collections:
https://library.ucsd.edu/dc/collection/bb65202085
https://library.ucsd.edu/dc/collection/bb65202085
Text:
The Art of Dr. Seuss COLLECTION. “Ted Geisel (Dr Seuss) Racist Controversy.” The
Art of Dr. Seuss, www.drseussart.com/dr-seuss-use-of-racist-images.
Art of Dr. Seuss, www.drseussart.com/dr-seuss-use-of-racist-images.
Cho, Hannah. “The Dark Side of Dr. Seuss.” Dartmouth.edu, 2007,
www.dartmouth.edu/~hist32/History/S31 - The Dark Side of Dr. Seuss.htm.
www.dartmouth.edu/~hist32/History/S31 - The Dark Side of Dr. Seuss.htm.
Crow, Jonathan. “Dr. Seuss Draws Anti-Japanese Cartoons During WWII, Then Atones
with Horton Hears a Who!” Open Culture, 2014,
www.openculture.com/2014/08/dr-seuss-draws-racist-anti-japanese-cartoons-during-ww-ii.html.
with Horton Hears a Who!” Open Culture, 2014,
www.openculture.com/2014/08/dr-seuss-draws-racist-anti-japanese-cartoons-during-ww-ii.html.
“Fifth Column.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster,
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fifth column.
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fifth column.
Macdonald, Fiona. “The Surprisingly Radical Politics of Dr Seuss.” BBC Culture,
BBC, 2019,
www.bbc.com/culture/article/20190301-the-surprisingly-radical-politics-of-dr-seuss.
BBC, 2019,
www.bbc.com/culture/article/20190301-the-surprisingly-radical-politics-of-dr-seuss.
McCorvy, Tyler. “Dr. Suess Goes to War.” Prezi.com, 2014,
prezi.com/sbtrfheu1jbw/dr-suess-goes-to-war/.
prezi.com/sbtrfheu1jbw/dr-suess-goes-to-war/.
Minear, Richard H. “Dr. Seuss Goes to War.” Google Books, Google, 2001,
books.google.co.in/books?id=2p2qDQAAQBAJ.
books.google.co.in/books?id=2p2qDQAAQBAJ.
Minear, Richard H. “Dr. Seuss and PM.” Dr. Seuss Goes to War: the World War II
Editorial Cartoons of Theodor Seuss Geisel, 1999, p.10.
Editorial Cartoons of Theodor Seuss Geisel, 1999, p.10.
Nel, Philip. “Dr. Seuss: American Icon.” Google Books, A&C Black, 1 Jan. 2005,
books.google.com/books/about/Dr_Seuss.html?id=IjvHQsCn_pgC.
books.google.com/books/about/Dr_Seuss.html?id=IjvHQsCn_pgC.
“Political Cartoon.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
www.britannica.com/topic/political-cartoon.
www.britannica.com/topic/political-cartoon.
“Political Messages of Dr. Seuss.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 June 2020,
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_messages_of_Dr._Seuss.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_messages_of_Dr._Seuss.
Strom, Adam. “Understanding Dr. Seuss' Depictions of the 'Other' in His Political
Cartoons - Re-Imagining Migration.” Re, Adam Strom
Cartoons - Re-Imagining Migration.” Re, Adam Strom
Https://Reimaginingmigration.org/Wp-Content/Uploads/2020/09/RM-Logo-High-REZ-300x194-Copy.png, 25 Sept. 2019,
reimaginingmigration.org/dr-seuss-political-cartoons/.
Watkins, Maya. “8 Of Dr. Seuss's Best Political Cartoons.” The Odyssey Online, The
Odyssey Online, 17 Oct. 2019,
www.theodysseyonline.com/theodore-geisel-world-war-ii.
Odyssey Online, 17 Oct. 2019,
www.theodysseyonline.com/theodore-geisel-world-war-ii.
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