Politics of the Funnies Part 1
Walt Kelly is famous for coining the phrase, “we have met the enemy and he is us,” But not many people have met Kelly’s characters, who have more to say about the world inside and outside their fantastical swamp.
Imaginary Worlds · Eric Molinsky | Daylight Media
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Show Notes
Once upon a time, the funnies or the comics pages dominated newspapers – back when newspapers were the main source of information for most Americans. In those days, Walt Kelly and Al Capp were titans of the funnies. Their strips Pogo and Li’l Abner were cultural sensations. Both artists were groundbreaking in the way they incorporated satire into their fantastical worlds, back when the comics page was supposed to be an apolitical neutral zone. Even though their strips are not front and center in pop culture today, we are still feeling the ripple effects of what they accomplished. In part one, I talk with Mercer University professor Jay Black, BYU professor Kerry Soper and Harper College professor Brian Cremins about how Pogo met the enemy, and why he is us.
Link to Jay Black's book, "Walt Kelly and Pogo: The Art of the Political Swamp"
Link to Kerry Soper's book, "We Go Pogo"
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