Calvin and Hobbes

Calvin and Hobbes, the long-running comic strip by Bill Watterson, is in many ways a cut above most daily comics. Watterson's artistic creativity, his many subtle (and not-so-subtle) references to philosophy and literature, and his sense of joyous childhood fun give Calvin and Hobbes a special place in the hearts of their readers. More than most strips, Watterson pushed the limits that a newspaper places on artwork through his wide use of color, his elaborately detailed scenery, and his insistence that his strip not be shrunk over the years. Watterson also used his characters to introduce literary and philosophical references, many of which went over the heads of his younger readers, but that kept his adult readers mentally engaged. He always assumed that his readers were intelligent enough to keep up.
            Perhaps the most important aspect of Calvin and Hobbes is the incredible heart that the characters and the strip itself embody. Calvin is a mischievous kid, there's no doubt about it, and the adventures he has (and the subsequent tight spots he finds himself in) are true-to-life while remaining interesting. For my project, I want to explore the various messages of the strip (environmentalism, freedom, the restrictions imposed on children by school and parents, a child's interaction with television and other emerging forms of media, etc.) while also keeping in mind the aspects of the strip that made it stand out from other cartoons, and the impact that the strip had (and continues to have) on American culture. I believe that Calvin and Hobbes made a significant contribution to the ever-developing idea of childhood in the 1980s and 1990s, and I can support that statement with literary criticism, interviews with the author, and my own interpretation of specific strips.

--Sophie Grossman