Caricature and National Character

Caricature and National Character, Volume 1, provides an incisive examination of American cultural identity through the lens of political cartoons. Christopher J Gilbert explores the long history of United States war politics, tracing how comic representations of American values evolved from the First World War to the War on Terror. This work of history and graphic arts analyzes the power of humor and caricature to expose the complexities of jingoistic virtues and nationalistic vices.

The text investigates the artwork of four influential American cartoonists, including Dr. Seuss and Ann Telnaes, to analyze the rhetorical force of iconic symbols like Uncle Sam. By examining political cartoons, Gilbert addresses critical issues of race, class, and gender within the context of American politics and communication studies. This scholarly study of comics and graphic novels offers a trenchant look at how farce and mockery reflect a conflicted national character.