THE INDELIBLE LEGACY OF ‘PEANUTS’
Peanuts was written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, the cartoon ran from 1950 until 2000 amassing a readership of 355 million people in 75 countries across the world. It became renowned for its complex physiological humour, as well as its ensemble of compelling and indelible characters!
The cartoon enjoyed its peak during one of the most volatile periods in American history, from the end of the Korean War, through to the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights movement; the cartoon subtly engaged in serious national debates. Schulz himself was a WW2 veteran, having been deployed in Germany towards the end of the war and playing a role in the liberation of the infamous concentration camp, Dachau.
Snoopy soon became a cult mascot amongst soldiers in Vietnam, as he was emblazoned on equipment, patches and banners. Schulz used his characters to convey his feelings towards the war, as Snoopy famously exclaimed ‘Curse This Stupid War’ in a 1969 strip. Schulz also addressed issues surrounding the Civil Rights movement, as he introduced Franklin, the comic’s first black character, after the assisnation of Dr. Martin Luther King.
The comic was also known for its subversion of gender roles, as the female characters in Peanuts such as, Lucy, were renowned for her self-awareness, satirical humour and intelligence. Other female characters such as Peppermint Patty were also unsatisfied with the contemporary female cliches.
The comic strip is also littered with other intellectual debates surrounding: philosophy, religion, and the meaning of life. This was the genius of Schulz, as he created a strip about children which only seems to explore adult themes, thus appealing to both an older and a younger audience, which is perhaps why it has such a universal appeal.
Schulz earned over one billion dollars over the course of his career and was ranked as one of the highest earning performers in the 20th century by Forbes. The comic strip has been translated into 25 languages, turned into a broadway play, a film and now Schulz’s designs have been translated onto a collection of six timepieces, which you view here!
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