Download Red Iceberg Text-student paragraphs File

Some of the better paragraphs from Student Commentaries on The Red Iceberg
Introductions: [important because you can address many of the Criterion A items]
The Red Iceberg was a comic book cover illustrated by Impact Publications in the 1960s. Following the
Second World War, the Soviet bloc countries engaged with the US-led Western powers in a period of
hostility for over 40 years. Since the publication date of the comic book fell within this time frame, this
indicated that this piece of art was one of the many propaganda posters created by the US government
during the Cold War to promote capitalism and demote communism. The image clearly represents a comic
book cover due to the prominent features such as the price of the comic book, publication company,
publication date and a title in bold letters for emphasis. The target audience of this comic book, and
propaganda poster, is young American children. The US government targets young American children
through comic books published by Impact Publications in order to inform misleadingly about the danger of
Communism by utilizing rhetorical devices, symbolism and allusions.
The Red Iceberg is the name of the comic book cover that was published during the 1960s by Impact
Publications. This specific period of time is famous for the Cold War, where the US and the Soviet Union
(USSR) were fighting each other but they never directly got involved in a military conflict. The US and the
Soviet Union were competing for influence over many countries and continents and were trying to spread
their ideologies: capitalism and communism. During the 1960s, most of the US civilians thought that the US
is in danger due to the fact that many communist countries were getting stronger. The US government at
that time used various media sources to inform the civilians that US is in fact in grave danger. This
propaganda poster is actually a cover of a comic book. One can know this by looking at the ten-cent sign at
the top right corner of the poster and by Uncle Sam, which is drawn in a comic grading style. Linking this
fact, one can assume the audience of this poster, which is American civilian teenager (young adults). By
using Impact Publications, the US government is able to convey the message of the hidden threat of
communism that could potentially lead US to collapse through the use of symbolism, rhetorical techniques,
and allusion to young American adults.
Symbolism:
This specific comic cover is full of rich direct and indirect symbolism. The first thing that catches our eyes is
the color of the iceberg, which is expressed as red, contrary to an ordinary cartoon drawing of an iceberg.
The color red generally represents blood, death, and others that have negative connotation for most of the
time. In this case, red also represents communism, since the communist countries favored red over other
colors. Soviet Union and China, the first two countries that come up to mind when we think of Communism,
have a flag with color red. On the top of the iceberg, there is a typical symbol of Soviet Union, expressed
with a hammer and sickle. Other communist countries are expressed as tombstones on the iceberg,
bringing up an image of death. Furthermore, it shows that the communist countries that are already
influenced by Soviet Union have taken over and met their doom. On the other hand, Uncle Sam, a typical
representation of the US in cartoons, is riding a boat with ‘USA’ written. The boat is heading for the huge
iceberg, giving the audience a sense of fear, as it is able to assume that the boat is going to crash into the
iceberg. Thus, through the use of symbolism, the author effectively demonstrates the devastating future of
the US if it becomes susceptible to the influence of Communism.
 Teacher’s Note: this whole paragraph is good. The author only spends the final sentence discussing
the effects of symbolism on the reader: to cause fear in the audience. He could discuss the “effects” of
symbolism more thoroughly]
Metaphor of the Titanic
Besides symbolism and rhetorical techniques, the poster uses allusion to signify the danger that US is in.
The US is represented as a large boat in this poster. The boat links to an unfortunate incident, the sinking
of Titanic. One can see that Uncle Sam is unaware of the fact that he (US) might crash with the iceberg.
The American government wants their civilians to know that US might sink like Titanic after crashing to a
red iceberg (communism or USSR). The Titanic incident was something that the whole world was aware of.
Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean in 15 April 1912 after colliding with an iceberg during her maiden
voyage from Southampton (UK) to New York City (US). Since the Titanic incident is linked with US, the
poster brings out the emotions of US civilians. Therefore, it creates a link with the audiences’ minds and
the Titanic incident. The US government and the Impact Publications used this sensational incident to
create fear of communism.
 Teacher’s Note: What comparisons can you make between the Titanic and the U.S.A.?]
Criterion A: Knowledge and Understanding of the Text and Subject matter
text type: comic book cover (evidence: 10 cents)
Speaker and Context: published in 1960 by Impact Publications, a Catholic publication for
Catholic school children); during the Cold War at the height of the “red scare” following
McCarthyism and not long after the Korean War
Intended audience: American children and the parents of children, who buy comic books
(comic book format of colored cartoon with text, which appeals to children)
Purpose: the American “ship of state” is in imminent danger of being “sunk” by Communist
threats, both visible and hidden
Note: Make sure you use evidence from the text to support any points you make