Peanuts (comic)
"Peanuts" is a renowned comic strip created by Charles M. Schulz, featuring a cast of child characters who express themselves with the wisdom and complexities of adults while maintaining the unrestrained innocence of youth. First published in the late 1940s, the strip initially appeared under the title "L'il Folks" before being renamed "Peanuts." Schulz's unique approach was influenced by his childhood experiences and his belief that cartoons could convey meaningful messages about human existence.
The characters, including the iconic Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, and Schroeder, embody relatable personality traits that resonate with readers, addressing themes of friendship, anxiety, and the intricacies of human emotions. As the strip gained popularity through the 1950s, it introduced concepts such as the "security blanket" into mainstream vocabulary, facilitating cross-generational dialogues. Schulz’s work was not only celebrated with multiple awards, including the Reuben Award, but also sparked cultural phenomena, with characters appearing in various media formats, including television specials and books. The lasting impact of "Peanuts" on American culture is further underscored by Schulz receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor in 2000, recognizing his significant contributions to the world of art and literature.
Peanuts (comic)
Identification Syndicated comic strip
Date First published on October 2, 1950
Artist Charles M. Schulz
By using psychological and social commentary, Peanuts helped introduce pop psychology and philosophy to the public and became a cultural phenomenon during the 1950’s.
Key Figures
Charles M. Schulz (1922-2000), creator of the comic stripPeanuts
Using child cartoon characters who seemed to speak as adults but without the inhibitions usually developed by adulthood was the signature approach to the Peanuts personae developed by artist Charles M. Schulz, who had experienced a sense of bland anonymity as a child. After serving in the military in World War II, Schulz was employed by Timeless Topix, a Roman Catholic comics magazine that was the first to print his cartoons. In 1947, the St. Paul Pioneer Press became the first to publish his newspaper strip, which then was known as L’il Folks. By age twenty-seven, Schulz found himself speaking through Charlie Brown, Shermy, and Patty in Peanuts, his renamed strip. Schulz considered his art a calling and, in his mind, his way of preaching. Believing that cartoons and humor should have a message, he invested his work with experience, reflection, and meaning.
The children who populated the world of Peanuts were identifiable personality types who laid out human gifts and foibles in a time when the American citizenry was becoming more familiar not only with psychological thought but also with understanding the sheer humanness of ordinary folk. The bland-faced, long-suffering Charlie Brown, the overbearing Lucy, the musical Schroeder, the thinking Linus, and others brought to life ordinary human quirks, grappled with concerns, and shared the values of honesty and friendship. By 1955, Peanuts and its growing cast of characters had taken such hold that Schulz was presented his first Reuben Award, the highest honor afforded cartoonists.
Impact
Putting forth psychological and social commentary, the comic strip provided contemplative reflection on the human condition as people recognized themselves in the comic strip characters. This was a new idea for mid-twentieth century Americans, who were far more accustomed to comic strips that were action- or comedy-oriented. By the late 1950’s the members of the Peanuts contingent were becoming household words. Phrases such as “security blanket” found their way into ordinary vocabulary. Cross-generational conversations were opened by and used the shorthand of Peanuts characters and their dialogue. Peanuts had become a cultural meeting point. The characters were printed on greeting cards, seen on television specials and in any number of books, quoted in sermons, and used by theologian Robert Short in his works The Gospel According to Peanuts (1965) and The Parables of Peanuts (1968). The impact of the comic strip and its artist was recognized by the United States when Schulz was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 2000.