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dc.contributor.authorDellecese, David
dc.contributor.authorStam, Kathryn; Thesis Advisor
dc.contributor.authorLizardi, Ryan; Second Reader
dc.contributor.authorKahn, Russell; Instructor
dc.date.accessioned2018-05-14T19:47:41Z
dc.date.accessioned2020-06-22T14:34:50Z
dc.date.available2018-05-14T19:47:41Z
dc.date.available2020-06-22T14:34:50Z
dc.date.issued2018-05
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12648/990
dc.descriptionA Master's Project submitted to the College of Arts and Sciences at SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Utica NY in partial fulfillment of the Master's of Science Degree.en_US
dc.description.abstractAmerican comic books were a relatively, but quite popular form of media during the years of World War II. Amid a limited media landscape that otherwise consisted of radio, film, newspaper, and magazines, comics served as a useful tool in engaging readers of all ages to get behind the war effort. The aims of this research was to examine a sampling of messages put forth by comic book publishers before and after American involvement in World War II in the form of fictional comic book stories. In this research, it is found that comic book storytelling/messaging reflected a theme of American isolation prior to U.S. involvement in the war, but changed its tone to become a strong proponent for American involvement post-the bombing of Pearl Harbor. This came in numerous forms, from vilification of America’s enemies in the stories of super heroics, the use of scrap, rubber, paper, or bond drives back on the homefront to provide resources on the frontlines, to a general sense of patriotism. This research looks to the motivations behind such storytelling in the background of comic book writers and artists as well as involvement from government agencies such as the War Writer’s Board. It’s also important to note that while comics often vilified the enemies of America through the use of terrible stereotypes and caricature, within those same pages were messages promoting solidarity among religion, race, and background for the purpose of winning the war. These mixed messages often make for very contradictory presentations, especially when looked at retroactively and allow comic books from this time period to be looked at as media artifacts, providing insight into cultural and societal ways of thinking during this period, with appropriate historical context. I have created a website supplement to this thesis where many examples of the types of images discussed have been collected and organized for viewing: https://comicsgotowar.weebly.com/en_US
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.subjectComic Booksen_US
dc.subjectComicsen_US
dc.subjectWWIIen_US
dc.subjectWorld War IIen_US
dc.subjectNational Allied Publicationsen_US
dc.subjectAll American Publicationsen_US
dc.subjectDC Comicsen_US
dc.subjectPropagandaen_US
dc.subjectAmerican Propagandaen_US
dc.subjectMediaen_US
dc.subjectJustice Societyen_US
dc.subjectJSAen_US
dc.subjectJustice Society of Americaen_US
dc.subjectMax Gainesen_US
dc.subjectMarvel Comicsen_US
dc.subjectJack Kirbyen_US
dc.subjectJoe Simonen_US
dc.subjectSupermanen_US
dc.subjectCaptain Americaen_US
dc.subjectBatmanen_US
dc.subjectDetective Comicsen_US
dc.subjectNazisen_US
dc.subjectPearl Harboren_US
dc.subjectComics as Propagandaen_US
dc.subjectFrederic Werthamen_US
dc.subjectSeduction of the Innocenten_US
dc.subjectBob Rozakisen_US
dc.subjectTom Peyeren_US
dc.subjectDave Delleceseen_US
dc.subjectHomefronten_US
dc.subjectAmerican Mediaen_US
dc.subjectNewsstandsen_US
dc.subjectAction Comicsen_US
dc.subjectThe Flashen_US
dc.subjectGreen Lanternen_US
dc.subjectWonder Womanen_US
dc.subjectHawkmanen_US
dc.subjectSocial Crusadersen_US
dc.subjectEarly superheroesen_US
dc.subjectGolden Age of Comicsen_US
dc.subjectHitleren_US
dc.subjectWar Writers Boarden_US
dc.subjectWWBen_US
dc.subjectOffice of War Informationen_US
dc.subjectWartime PSAen_US
dc.subjectPublic Service Announcementen_US
dc.subjectracismen_US
dc.subjectsexismen_US
dc.titleComic Books as American Propaganda During World War IIen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
refterms.dateFOA2020-06-22T14:34:50Z
dc.description.institutionSUNY Polytechnic Institute


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