Garfield
Created by Jim Davis
(syndication) 1978 -
present
This space is set aside for a contextualizing narrative. It is available to either a contributing educator or for a student to submit.
Listen to the original conversation
(I have to give you my disclaimer about strong language, but I hope you enjoy listening to this as much as I enjoyed recording it).
Add to the discussion
The initial conversation addresses some of the questions that are used to analyze a primary source, but not all. With your teacher’s guidance, please record your insights on the following, and submit them to the site for publication:
What components of Garfield are specific to its time period?
Garfield never dabbles in politics or current events the same way other strips do. What does that tell you about its longevity and fanbase?
What status were cartoonists like Jim Davis able to achieve by the 1970s? Why or how?
Gallery
Garfield’s appearance developed quickly and by the end of the 1970s he appeared more or less as he does now. Since then,the character has appeared on countless merchandise and media. In fact, the initial conversation for this entry is about a set of McDonald’s glasses. Submit your pictures of all things Garfield to be included in this section.
