Comics and the World Wars: A Cultural Record (Palgrave Studies in the History of the Media)

Comics and the World Wars argues for the use of comics as a primary source by offering a highly original argument that such examples produced during the World Wars act as a cultural record. Recuperating currently unknown or neglected strips, this work demonstrates how these can be used for the study of both world wars. Representing the fruits of over five years team research, this book reveals how sequential illustrated narratives used humour as a coping mechanism and a way to criticise authority, promoted certain forms of behaviour and discouraged others, represented a deliberately inclusive educational strategy for reading wartime content, and became a barometer for contemporary popular thinking. Comics and the World Wars argues for the use of comics as a primary source by offering a highly original argument that such examples produced during the World Wars act as a cultural record. Recuperating currently unknown or neglected works, this book demonstrates how these can be used for the study of both world wars. Representing the fruits of over five years team research, the authors reveal how sequential illustrated narratives used humour as a coping mechanism and a way to criticise authority, promoted certain forms of behaviour and discouraged others. Comics also served as a deliberately inclusive educational strategy for reading wartime content, and became a barometer for contemporary popular thinking Introduction -- A Proposed Theory And Method For The Incorporation Of Comic Books As Primary Sources -- Haselden As Pioneer: Reflecting Or Constructing Home Front Opinion? -- Proto Comics As Trench Record: Anti-heroism, Disparagement Humour And Citizens' Journalism -- The Rise And Fall Of The World War One Gullible Worker As A Counter Culture -- Adjusting To Total War: Us Propaganda, Commerce And Audience -- The Cultural Construction Of Women: Pin-ups, Proactive Women And Representation In Combat -- Collective Culture As Dynamic Record: The Daily Worker 1940-43 -- Conclusion. Jane Chapman, Anna Hoyles, Andrew Kerr And Adam Sherif, University Of Lincoln, Uk. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This transnational, interdisciplinary study argues for the use of comics as a primary source. In recuperating currently unknown or neglected strips the authors demonstrate that these examples, produced during the World Wars, act as an important cultural record, providing, amongst other information, a barometer for contemporary popular thinking.