Friday, July 3, 2009

Friday, June 26, 2009 Marmaduke Analyzed


In this comic the following observations can be made:

1. A colony of ants have found a cookie crumb and have organized themselves into two lines stretching between it and their nest. Then, characteristic of their social nature, they are carrying the crumb home, piece by piece.

2. Barbie, the daughter of Marmaduke's owners, friendless and alone, has occupied herself by observing these ants in their work. Higher up the social hierarchy of nature, she offers no help.

3. Having noticed Marmaduke approaching with obvious gluttonous designs on the cookie crumb, Barbie attempts to ward him off, informing him that ants do not share. This indicates that Barbie has been out in the hot sun too long, for she apparently is laboring under the misconception that Marmaduke would be willing to share this insignificant morsel of food.

4. Marmaduke, in his characteristic disregard for all other forms of life, has absolutely no intention of sharing. He pays no attention to the girl, continuing his course unabated towards the cookie crumb, his tongue out and a voracious gleam in his eye as he prepares to devour not only the crumb, but a great number of ants as well.

And so, what hidden message can we possibly have been offered today through this depressing and somewhat frightening Marmaduke comic? Let us look at the following possibilities:

1. The ants engaged in the procuring of the cookie are at the lowest level of their colony's hierarchy. Could it be that they represent the average workers in Corporate America? Could the fact that they have organized themselves be symbolic of corporate workers organizing themselves, as in the case of forming Unions?

2. Could it be that Marmaduke represents Corporate America itself, powerful and greedy with complete disregard for the lives and the rights of the workers? Could his impending devouring of the ants be symbolic of Corporate America's devouring and crushing the workers' attempts to organize themselves?

3. Could it be that Barbie represents the Union Steward, the liaison between the workers and the corporate giant, trying to protect the rights of the workers? Could Barbie's unsuccessful attempt to ward Marmaduke off be symbolic of the unheeded voice of the Union when in fruitless negotiations with the powerful and gluttonous corporate giants?

4. Could it be that I'm reading far too much into these comics, and that I need to find some more productive ways to occupy my time?

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