Monday, August 22, 2011

Smurfs Communism



           The theory of the Smurfs representing the communist society within a children’s cartoon show has been disputed for quite some time.  Antoine Buéno, a French sociologist, has even written a book, The Little Blue Book, that reinforces this idea that the Smurfs hold more political ideals than what we realize.  During an interview with Thierry Culliford – the son of the creator, Pierre Culliford – had stated, “… [this] is positioned between the grotesque and the not very serious… My father absolutely wasn’t interested in politics.  When there were elections, he asked my mother, ‘What should I vote?’” (Horn).  Just because Thierry Culliford states his father was not a communist, does not mean the show did not hold a communist message.
            If we are to view the Smurf society as a communist society, we must deconstruct what we are given.  From the beginning, we can see the Smurf society has absolutely no form of currency and trade.  Furthermore, there seems to be no need or desire for such a commodity.  Instead, we find a society that is based on the equality of everyone who lives within it.  Even the village itself is a representation of perfection that is communism, everyone working together to better the community.  Thus, the village is placed far away from the outside world (capitalism), so the Smurfs can work uninterrupted.
            Each Smurf is even given a name based on their job title, examples being, Doctor Smurf, Handy Smurf, Baker Smurf, and so on.  Being that each Smurf’s name is designated by their job title, it shows the importance of that Smurf within the community.  This is also helpful for the audience to differentiate between all the Smurfs, due to the fact that they all dress and look the same.  As each member of society looks the same, wears the same outfit, lives in tract mushroom housing, and even eats the same things shows true communist equality amongst the people, no one is better than the other.  Except for one Smurf, Papa Smurf.

            Papa Smurf is the only true individual in this utopian society.  He wears a fully red outfit, – as opposed to the white outfits everyone else wears – he has a beard, and is given the highest position in the village.  His position is never given in detail, but it is assumed that he represents a wise father figure.  Papa Smurf does not force his opinions upon the people, but he does advice them how to live their life in the best manner possible.  His appearance has been compared to that of the father of, The Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx.  People have even theorized that the word Smurf is an acronym for, Soviet Men Under Red Father.  Further, showing ties between the Smurfs and communism.

            The only adversary the Smurfs have is Gargamel, who represents capitalism.  He is the embodiment of everything that is horrible about capitalism, greed, ruthlessness, and self-gratification.  Gargamel is seen to have absolutely no friends or outside contact with the world, his only companion is his cat.  His representation helps to illustrate the idea that capitalism is a based on the needs and wants of an individual as opposed to the needs and wants of the society.  Although, throughout each episode of the Smurfs they constantly defeat Gargemel, which proves the idea that communism is stronger than capitalism (at least according to the writers).
            Thus, the Smurfs represent the ideals of Marxism, “historical specificity of human affairs and the changeable character of social formations whose core features are located in the material conditions of existence” (Barker 12-13).  However, since the original author has never claimed that the Smurfs were created as the communist utopia, people can only deconstruct what they see.  Even Antoine Buéno agreed with this, “I believe that his work (like others) conveys and concentrates a certain number of stereotypes given to a certain society and period. The analysis of the Smurfs tells us more about the sociopolitical environment of Peyo than about Peyo himself" (Horn).

Work Cited
  • Barker, Chris. Cultural Studies: Theory and Practice. London: Sage, 2008. Print.
  • Horn, Heather. "The French Debate: Are Smurfs Communist Anti-Semites? - Global." The            Atlantic Wire. The Atlantic Wire, 6 June 2011. Web. 21 Aug. 2011.       <http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2011/06/french-debate-are-smurfs-communist-           antisemites/38534/>.

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