Representations of Islam in United States Comics, 1880-1922
Book Description
This scholarly exploration reveals how American popular culture shaped perceptions of Islam and Muslim peoples during a pivotal period in history. Through careful analysis of cartoons, comics, editorial illustrations, and serialized advertisements from 1880 to 1922, author Maryanne A. Rhett uncovers the visual narratives that influenced American understanding of the Islamic world.
The book examines how these cultural artifacts created a particular lens through which Americans viewed both domestic and international relationships with Muslim communities. By studying this diverse collection of popular media, Rhett demonstrates how widespread cultural representations contributed to shaping public opinion during an era often characterized as one of American disengagement from Islamic regions and peoples.
For readers interested in understanding how spiritual and religious communities are portrayed across cultures, this work offers valuable insights into the power of visual storytelling. The analysis spans over four decades of American popular discourse, revealing patterns in how the "Oriental" was depicted and understood by mainstream audiences.
This examination of historical representations provides contemporary readers with important context for understanding how cultural perceptions develop and persist. The book serves as a thoughtful resource for those seeking to comprehend the complex relationship between popular media, religious understanding, and cross-cultural awareness in American society.
Through its focus on visual culture, this work illuminates the often-overlooked influence of everyday media on spiritual and cultural consciousness.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Short (< 200 pages) (~5 hours)
📄 Length: 184 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore History and criticism
- ✓ Explore World History (History)
- ✓ Explore Muslims in literature
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects
- ✓ Explore History
- ✓ Explore Caricatures and cartoons
- ✓ Explore Comic books, strips
- ✓ Explore Islam in literature
