The comic entitled ‘The Red Iceberg’ evokes an anxiety and discomfort in the viewer while simultaneously calling upon an encultured faith in the U.S. government. The iceberg, red and foreboding, is placed in the foreground of the cover while Uncle Sam on his boat is placed further back. This placement of the iceberg and of Uncle Sam deliberately effects the viewer's perceived distance from the two subjects, manipulating the sense of time in the piece. As the boat seems to draw closer to the iceberg, there is an imminence associated with the potential catastrophe of the USA being sunk by communism.This fear is exacerbated by the allusion to the Titanic and the grave stones of countries this red iceberg has claimed. In fact, a dramatic irony is almost achieved as the viewer feels the boat is going to crash while Uncle Sam gazes calmly onward somewhere over the horizon that is the viewer. However, being only a picture, there is an eternal suspense that keeps the viewer entertaining the worse but that also creates time for the viewer to consider salvation in Uncle Sam. The viewer hopes and then finally accepts that Uncle Sam will see the iceberg and steer the USA away from danger. Ultimately, the only solace the viewer can take is that Uncle Sam won’t let them down. Hence, the pathos in this piece plays with imagination of the viewers, painting a potentially devastating scene and offering a glimmer of hope in the star studded hearts of the American people.
~Eva
I agree with your perspective. I think the illustrator does a good job of provoking a feeling of fret from the communist/iceberg threat, but also provokes patriotism on the other side.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your perspective. I think the illustrator does a good job of provoking a feeling of fret from the communist/iceberg threat, but also provokes patriotism on the other side.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the fact that the picture caused fear in its viewers. I also think it is interesting how your group chose to analyze the cover of the comic as a piece of art, rather than the contents of the comic book.
ReplyDeleteFear was definitely a goal of the comic, and much of the cold war was driven by fear in the United States. The agree that despite the danger of the iceberg, the comic aims to also instill a faith in Uncle Sam who does not seem to fear the iceberg.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you with that at first glance, "The Red Iceburg," instills fear in the American heart - communism, incarnated as an iceberg, and it's potency for subjugation seems imminent as you said. But, upon looking closer at the comic, we see the steadfast confidence on Uncle Sam's face, signifying that America will be triumphant in the war against communism, regardless of the obstacles it thrusts in our way.
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