Popular Culture Review Vol. 10, No. 2, August 1999 | Page 137
American Popular Culture and
the Politics of Race
in Dr. Seuss’ The Sneetches
Cartoons, particularly editorial or political cartoons, make use of the ele
ments of caricature to explain or make light of current politics and social issues.
Caricatures in American picture storybooks are satirical, sometimes bizarre fool
ishness - plastic representations, or descriptions - which through gross exaggera
tion of natural features, make cartoon characters appear ridiculous, while also try
ing to make clear a particular point of view.
Some picture storybooks about politics also try to explain troubling is
sues, giving a somewhat realistic or embellished representation of the obvious
facts. According to Professor Roger A. Fisher (1996: p. 122), “By its very
nature, political cartoon art in a democratic society has been one of the purest
artifacts of popular culture, seeking to influence public opinion through its use of
widely and instantly understood symbols, slogans, referents, and allusions.”
Humorous cartoons, therefore, have been an integral part of our journal
ism, the media and American popular culture. Nonpolitical cartoons, moreover,
have become enormously popular with the development of the color funny papers
of major newspapers, and printed book presses.
Perhaps the greatest and most distinctive cartoon picture book illustrator
for children in America was Theodor Geisel, better known as the fictitious Dr.
Seuss. Indeed, Dr. Seuss’ inimitable artwork and wit have had a profound influ
ence on contemporary American popular culture, and his quaint and outrageous
ideas have given a new dimension to the cartoon picture storybook. In fact. Dr.
Seuss or Theodor Geisel, as a children’s book author, “revolutionized the very
idea of what writing for children should be, and [he] wrote and illustrated over
forty world famous books” (Sendak, 1995). Furthermore, Dr. Seuss’ expressive
and dafiy drawings and unfettered imagination and work expanded to include im
portant, political and thoughtful social commentary as well as personal satire.
Dr. Seuss’ work, which has had enormous appeal, and is still popular
today, is basically meant for children, but many of his odd stories, like The Sneetches,
are also suitable for adult understanding and entertainment, and are inextricably a
part of our cultural landscape.
In other words. The Sneetches, a landmark in illustrated cartoon books,
which turns weird pictures into a strange story, is intended to instruct not only
children but adults as well about the problems of being prejudiced or different. In
fact. Dr. Seuss’ penchant for wry humor and his ability to starkly explain how