American Cultural Hegemony and Classical Children’s Cartoons: Dynamics of Identity and Alterity in Representations of the Foreigner

Abstract

The article focuses on the problems related to the image of a foreigner in American cartoons in the second half of the 20th century. The author is analyzing cartoons produced by Walter Disney Studios as well as various children’s TV productions. The author focuses on the ways a representation of the image of the other is constructed. He undertakes an attempt to move away from the negative stereotyping of a foreigner to the creation of a more positive archetype of otherness in children’s productions.   Keywords: other, stereotyping, archetype, cartoons, Disney Industry, societal dynamics, cultural hegemony