Is The Central Message Of A Short History Of America By Robert Crumb

The comic strip, “A Short History of America,” rendered by Robert Crumb delivers an incredibly clear and significant message that illustrates the inevitable change and continual destruction of our environment. The central message further details that as our populous continues to increase, so does the congestion of our cities and the depletion of our natural resources. I would define my position in the audience as being sympathetic as I already acknowledge the fact that the world is consistently changing and do not need further persuasion. However, I find it fathomable that Robert Crumb was trying to reach audiences that are either neutral or resistant. By providing a progression of frames that exemplifies the changes that have already occurred, viewers can clearly see how people have overtaken nature and littered it with manufactured items. While
The story begins with an image of vast, untouched wilderness that slowly deteriorates and morphs into a small rural town. This is then replaced with the development of urbanization, which advances into an enormous, smoggy, industrialized city. A sense of longing for the simplicity of the past and dejection towards the future is palpable. Additionally, the author asks, “What's next?” in the final panel of the comic strip, as if directly questioning viewers if they will continue on this bleak path or choose to make a change for a brighter future. As a result of Crumb's ability to effectively illustrate his point of view and convey a wide range of emotions through imagery, I find this piece quite persuasive. This comic strip reveals the current reality of our country and humbly supplicates the audience to take responsibility in changing their ways and improving the environment. While I enjoyed this rendition and found it successful at communicating its message, there are a few minor things I would