Freedom? That's COMICal!

Neoshi Shah

TYBA

Shadi Alashoush Cartoons, 2016
https://twitter.com/shaditoon/status/867842927531307008?lang=cs

                                                                     

Aldous Huxley once said,

“The perfect dictatorship would have the appearance of a democracy, but would basically be a prison without walls in which the prisoners would not even dream of escaping. It would essentially be a system of slavery where, through consumption and entertainment, the slaves would love their servitudes”.

In the modern world, we are constantly consuming various forms of entertainment and media which have evolved from mere stress busters to means of propagating necessary information. It consequently becomes important to analyze how this consumption impacts the way we think, how much of our ideologies really belong to us, and how much autonomy we have over the actions that are a result of these ideologies. Hence, in a day and age where we often talk about autonomy and democracy, it is essential to raise some important questions. Are we really free? Whom is this freedom benefiting? Who are the established protectors of freedom?

In an attempt to understand how comic books play a part in shaping thoughts, we must understand how they play a role in our everyday lives. The written content in comic books helps shape our ideologies. The daily practice of reading the comic-strip page of the newspaper (which both adults and children do) might make it a crucial component of one’s morning ritual. Since comic books are written for a younger audience, they also become an integral part of our beliefs from a young age. This happens not only because people carry out their activities in accordance with social norms but also because they really desire to obey these norms since they consider them to be right. One can say they are motivated to comply as a result of several political, religious, and social ideologies being interwoven in various forms of comic art. These books hence prescribe abstract patterns of behavior that consequently affect our daily activities and overall personalities. For instance, during the Second World War, Superman in comic books was portrayed to be the ‘savior of the oppressed’ who not only fought societal evils but also was a ray of hope for the masses. Before the war, comic book heroes like Superman and Batman were social avengers who fought outside the law to right the wrongs the government could not. But during World War II, these same heroes quickly became law-abiding patriotic citizens that encouraged Americans to support the war effort and to follow all new governmental mandates (Sheppard, 2014). Hence, the heroes were conveniently converted to patriots. The same loyalty and patriotism were expected from the masses since Superman became the ‘ideal’ image suitable for young Americans to model during the world war.

According to Parsons, cultures, social systems, and personalities have to interact in integrated ways if there is to be any social order (Cuff et al, 2006). For instance, the Archies series of comic books largely depicts the lesson of individual vs community, the latter being superior. This is where religion is equated to being ‘the ideal individual’ and is thus a reflection of the personalities of various characters like Betty who set the standard of what a ‘good girl’ should represent. This can also be explained by understanding how comic books are a combination of printed words and pictures that require to convey information as quickly as possible considering the world limit, which consequently signifies how artists use stereotypes to easily manipulate meaning. These characteristics have implications for both representation and interpretation of ideological images and meaning (McAllister, et al, 2001).

 

Betty is shown to be praying in a chapter of the Archies comic book. A reference to the Bible can be seen on the bottom right. (Reddit, 2021)

                                       

This eventually leads us to question if comics challenge and undermine the existing quo or do they help glorify and legitimize prevailing values and institutions in society?

In the so-called free market of ideas, the greatest potential for sharing content is owned by media and institutions that are part of the existing system, and propagate ideas coherent with their ideologies. This in turn does not allow an effective fight against the existing liberal capitalist system, which ultimately limits freedom. Hence, we often mistake the illusion of freedom for freedom itself. This can be better understood by understanding how as a result we tolerate conditions that may control our bodies, urges, and desires. So, is it true tolerance if individuals simply give in to the system without questioning it?

In the Indian context, one of the most famous examples is the everlasting Chacha Chaudhary novel series in which the Prime Minister is now a character. Since he was introduced as one of the characters, the content has been seen to change. The comic is now used as a primary means to communicate the government’s ideologies to the so-called ‘future voters’ of the country by incorporating themes like the benefits of Ujjwala Yojana, digitalization, and demonetization. Not just that, these have been further added to school textbooks and libraries, making it easily accessible for the youth. Since we are motivated to comply with norms even if the outcome is not always in our favor, tolerance has become a passive condition accepted by people where they prefer going with the flow without criticizing ideas. Adorno hence accuses the media of making public a “passive toy “, reduced to nod, to absorb all the material presented to it. The media would turn citizens into consumers dumbed down, objectified, dehumanized (Tim, 2012).

 

A front cover of a school comic book with the Prime Minister and the cast of Chacha Choudhary. (Times of India, 2018)

 

According to ‘Repressive Tolerance’ (Marcuse, 1965), dominant social institutions, including the “monopolistic media,” use new and dystopian forms of “technological and mental coordination” to administer what has become a “totalitarian,” self-perpetuating system. People are gradually deprived of their ability to think as rational, independent people in these societies, where "the economic and political process is subject to an omnipresent and effective management in conformity with the main interests." Hence, individuals tend to accept notions as they are and accept all their evils too because the system (which is capitalist, patriarchal, white-centered, heteronormative, and monogamous) is believed to be efficient. As such, people have lost their capacity to pursue truth through the free exercise of their individual reason, and, in turn, to create a just and humane society (Marcuse, 1965).

With the surge in the trend of comic books, we see them being largely incorporated in the education system. In Indonesia, a brand-new run of comic books is being released to encourage tolerance and diversity. The organization that created the comic book series claims it is a creative and successful strategy to counter the anti-Western propaganda spread by Muslim extremist organizations. The project, which has the support of the US State Department, aims to combat Indonesia's worrisome signals of rising intolerance, such as recent conflicts involving extremist organizations and communities of people of other faiths and religions. “It is fair to say it is difficult to change the behavior, to change the mind. But for a starting point to change their awareness, to boost awareness [the] campaign is very important,” Nahrowi said (Indonesia Teaching Tolerance with Comics, 2010).

However, by curbing thoughts at a young age and promoting compliance, we can say their brains are only free within the cage of societal norms. On the contrary, when we talk about promoting compliance and tolerance, we must realize that the only reason we enjoy benefits today is because in the past, people took their issues to the streets.  They raised their voices by saying they won’t work seven days a week, by saying that women must be allowed freedom, the queer community must be allowed freedom. These progressions came about as a result of intolerance towards norms that only favored the elite. The system hence, emphasizes nonviolence. However, when people protested peacefully by kneeling in football stadiums, that wasn’t acceptable either. Hence, there seems to be no acceptable solution. Why not be violent if voices aren’t heard by peaceful protest? As John F Kennedy said, “If you make peaceful revolution impossible, you make violent revolution inevitable”. We have so much faith in the system that we applaud everything it does. In a repressive society, our protests, voting choices, and public expressions maintain the system rather than challenge it.

Hence, tolerance is an end in itself only when it is truly universal, in this case, practiced by the rulers as well as the ruled, by the lords as well as by the peasants, by the sheriffs as well as by their victims (Marcuse, 1965). There is a reason why the upper class and privileged don’t protest, isn’t there? Freedom means being free among other free people, not being free alone. Because if you are free alone and everyone else is unfree, you are participating in what makes them unfree. And to do this means more than just tolerating repressive institutions. It means being an active part of them.

Furthermore, democracy means people can contribute to political life without hesitance. But these are superficial ways to challenge the system. We need to go to the roots of what democracy had originally promised as there is a rigid underbelly to democracy that maintains capitalist exploitation and exploitation of new markets, subordination of women to name a few. Democracy is seen as a shining moment of history, but that doesn’t mean we can’t challenge it. Rather, the question is, how do we challenge the system? We can begin with recognizing the difference between the administered and coded world of economics and politics vs the free world of culture and true tolerance that doesn’t just give in to the system. Similarly, modern comics like Adarsh Balak and Royal Existentials write content in an attempt to oppose the idea of conformity and challenge pre-existing norms. Thus, media can be a powerful tool in bringing about a radical change if one decides on the right kind of content to publish.

                                

Royal Existentialists creator Artha Parthasarthi jibes at the Indian nature of taking offence.

 (Rolling Stones, 2016).

 

In conclusion, since consumption patterns greatly influence a society’s thoughts and ideologies, it is essential we monitor what is being broadcasted, who is it coming from and what hidden agenda the content really has. Furthermore, while the elite make constant attempts to propagate and impose their ideologies on the masses, it is imperative we realize how the rest of society bears the brunt of it due to the endless exploitation. Hence, in my opinion, I believe it’s time to speak up. It’s time to discuss issues that make one uncomfortable and it’s time to accept individual choices as a result of those discussions. Therefore, I’m going to delve into nostalgia from a time when comic books were written only for leisure…

 

References

Betty Cooper from the Archie's praying and calling down lightning from heaven. you go girl!: Christian Comics, comics, Archie. Pinterest. (2013, May 24). Retrieved September 18, 2022, from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/134334001357983097/

Bowie, A. (2022). 5. The Culture Industry. Theodor W. Adorno: A Very Short Introduction, 53–64. https://doi.org/10.1093/actrade/9780198833864.003.0005  

Cuff, E. C., Sharrock, W. W., & Francis, D. W. (2016). Perspectives in sociology. Routledge.

Lessons from reading richie rich comics in a plush penthouse (as a resident of a soft-socialist country)-Living News , Firstpost. Firstpost. (2019, June 3). Retrieved September 18, 2022, from https://www.firstpost.com/living/lessons-from-reading-richie-rich-comics-in-a-plush-penthouse-as-a-resident-of-a-soft-socialist-country-6726441.html  

Marcuse, H. (1965). Repressive Tolerance. https://doi.org/https://www.marcuse.org/herbert/publications/1960s/1965-repressive-tolerance-1969.pdf  

McAllister, M. P., Sewell, E. H., & Gordon, I. (2001). Introducing Comics and Ideology. https://doi.org/https://www.personal.psu.edu/mpm15/C&IChapter1.pdf

Onion, R. (2021, August 27). When comic books were America's secret superpower. Slate Magazine. Retrieved September 18, 2022, from https://slate.com/culture/2021/08/american-comic-book-propaganda.html  

Richie Rich. Harvey Comics Database Wiki. (n.d.). Retrieved September 18, 2022, from https://harveycomicsdatabase.fandom.com/wiki/Richie_Rich  

Sheppard, N. R. (2014). Invincible: Legacy and Propaganda in Superhero Comics . https://doi.org/https://scholarworks.uno.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3011&context=td

Tnn. (n.d.). PM modi in Chacha Chaudhary Comics. TIMES NIE : Home. Retrieved September 18, 2022, from https://toistudent.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/bookmark/pm-modi-in-chacha-chaudhary-comics/34391.html

Voa. (2011, September 20). Indonesia teaching tolerance with comics. VOA. Retrieved September 18, 2022, from https://www.voanews.com/a/indonesia-teaching-tolerance-with-comics-130187338/165191.html