Date of Award
5-2025
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School
Communication
Committee Chair
Dr. David R. Davies
Committee Chair School
Communication
Committee Member 2
Dr. Laura A. Stengrim
Committee Member 2 School
Communication
Committee Member 3
Dr. Edgar Simpson
Committee Member 3 School
Communication
Committee Member 4
Dr. Fei Xue
Committee Member 4 School
Communication
Committee Member 5
Dr. Thomas Lipscomb
Committee Member 5 School
Education
Abstract
This dissertation explores the evolving portrayal of Gulf States in American political cartoons from the early twentieth century through 2020. Drawing on a dataset of 724 cartoons by 220 American cartoonists, the study analyzes how visual satire has shaped and reflected public understanding of the Arabian Gulf region. Grounded in stereotyping theory, the research identifies recurring themes such as oil wealth, violence, terrorism, backwardness, betrayal, and cultural otherness. Through decade-by-decade analysis, it traces how global events—from the Cold War and oil embargoes to the Gulf War, 9/11, and the Arab Spring—intensified or shifted visual narratives surrounding Gulf States. Cartoons were sourced from newspapers, magazines, anthologies, and digital archives, then categorized by theme and analyzed for symbolism, caricature, and political context. The study shows how American cartoonists often used exaggerated features and symbolic elements to reinforce Orientalist stereotypes and to comment on U.S. foreign policy, media narratives, and Western anxieties. Unlike broader studies that conflate the Gulf with the wider Arab or Muslim world, this dissertation focuses specifically on Gulf States to uncover targeted portrayals and region-specific messages. The findings reveal a persistent pattern of dehumanization, ridicule, and cultural reductionism across eight decades of American media. By documenting these visual patterns, the dissertation highlights the long-standing role of political cartoons in shaping collective perspectives and urges greater media literacy and responsible visual storytelling that challenges reductive representations and fosters intercultural understanding.
ORCID ID
0009-0005-8379-4137
Copyright
Meshari Thamer Alotaibi, 2025
Recommended Citation
Alotaibi, Meshari, "Portrayals and Perspectives: The Representation of Gulf States in American Political Cartoons from Early Relations to 2020" (2025). Dissertations. 2346.
https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/2346
Included in
Critical and Cultural Studies Commons, Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons