Senior Thesis Project Summary:
For my senior thesis, I explored the intersection of animation, race, and cultural representation, with a focus on the harmful impact of racial stereotypes in animated media. Growing up with classic cartoons like Looney Tunes, Popeye, Betty Boop, and Felix the Cat, I was drawn to their humor and animation styles. However, as I studied animation history more deeply, I came to understand how these early cartoons were often shaped by harmful racial caricatures, particularly through the lens of blackface and minstrelsy.
The Jim Crow persona—rooted in these dehumanizing traditions—was not only a social and political tool but also a pervasive influence on animation, contributing to negative portrayals of Black identity. These stereotypes, which persisted well into the 20th century and were syndicated for decades afterward, perpetuated false narratives that impacted self-perception and social attitudes. In my project, I sought to shed light on the historical origins of these portrayals, while challenging their continued existence in modern media.
A key example of this ongoing issue is the Mexican animated character Memín Pinguín. Created in the 1940s, Memín Pinguín is a cartoon character that has sparked controversy due to his exaggerated, racially charged features and his portrayal as a black boy from a poor, working-class background. While Memín was created within a specific cultural context, his design and portrayal embody many of the same racist tropes that have been present in American animation. His character reflects the legacy of minstrelsy and blackface, both of which dehumanize and marginalize Black people through the use of stereotypes.
In my thesis, I used Memín Pinguín as a case study to examine how these damaging stereotypes persist across different cultural contexts, even in countries like Mexico, where racial dynamics are distinct yet still influenced by the global reach of American media. By redesigning Memín Pinguín and other characters that continue to perpetuate racial tropes, I aimed to give newer audiences a more accurate understanding of where these stereotypes originated and how they continue to shape perceptions of Black identity.
My goal was to challenge the cultural norms that continue to allow such depictions to exist while offering alternative designs and stories that promote dignity, respect, and positive cultural representation. Through this project, I hope to inspire social change by encouraging creators to move beyond harmful stereotypes and towards more thoughtful and inclusive portrayals of marginalized communities in animation.
Here's my finished project on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qKahpcKiZJE…Senior Thesis Project Summary:
For my senior thesis, I explored the intersection of animation, race, and cultural representation, with a focus on the harmful impact of racial stereotypes in animated media. Growing up with classic cartoons like Looney Tunes, Popeye, Betty Boop, and Felix the Cat, I was drawn to their humor and animation styles. However, as I studied animation history more deeply, I came to understand how these early cartoons were often shaped by harmful racial caricatures, particularly through the lens of blackface and minstrelsy.
The Jim Crow persona—rooted in these dehumanizing traditions—was not only a social and political tool but also a pervasive influence on animation, contributing to negative portrayals of Black identity. These stereotypes, which persisted well into the 20th century and were syndicated for decades afterward, perpetuated false narratives that impacted self-perception and social attitudes. In my project, I sought to shed light on the historical origins of these portrayals, while challenging their continued existence in modern media.
A key example of this ongoing issue is the Mexican animated character Memín Pinguín. Created in the 1940s, Memín Pinguín is a cartoon character that has sparked controversy due to his exaggerated, racially charged features and his portrayal as a black boy from a poor, working-class background. While Memín was created within a specific cultural context, his design and portrayal embody many of the same racist tropes that have been present in American animation. His character reflects the legacy of minstrelsy and blackface, both of which dehumanize and marginalize Black people through the use of stereotypes.
In my thesis, I used Memín Pinguín as a case study to examine how these damaging stereotypes persist across different cultural contexts, even in countries like Mexico, where racial dynamics are distinct yet still influenced by the global reach of American media. By redesigning Memín Pinguín and other characters that continue to perpetuate racial tropes, I aimed to give newer audiences a more accurate understanding of where these stereotypes originated and how they continue to shape perceptions of Black identity.
My goal was to challenge the cultural norms that continue to allow such depictions to exist while offering alternative designs and stories that promote dignity, respect, and positive cultural representation. Through this project, I hope to inspire social change by encouraging creators to move beyond harmful stereotypes and towards more thoughtful and inclusive portrayals of marginalized communities in animation.
Here's my finished project on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qKahpcKiZJEWWWWWWWW…