Representing Oriental Characters in Terry and the Pirates. From Stereotypes to Perceptions of Authenticity

Abstract

This paper analyzes the evolution in the construction of the image of the Chinese and Japanese characters in the series Terry and the Pirates by Milton Caniff. The impact that this representation had on the American society of its time is also studied. Analyzing Caniff's work, it is evident that initially there is an absolutely stereotyped and caricatured representation of “the other”, of all those characters who are not of American origin and especially Chinese. Although the series will evolve and the author will try to give it a more realistic character, it is clear that he will continue to be conditioned by the stereotypes of his time due to his lack of direct experience of what was happening in China. What is interesting, however, is that, despite this stereotypical representation, Caniff's image will be what many Americans will consider to be the image of China and the Chinese population, to the point of being recruited by the United States Office of Information as an authority on the matter.