Archie - 4pts

 1. Who do you think buys and reads Archie?  Why do you think they buy and read it?

I think a younger generation of kids read these comics because the main characters themselves are high school students. So it’s likely middle schoolers who are about to go into high school and know what it’s like. Kids who are going through their first struggles of discovering how relationships, or want to know how they work. Preparation for high school.


2. What in Archie repeats?  What characters, situations, ideas, props, themes or other factors repeat through the various decades of Archie?  What ideas or emotions do you think get attached to these repeating aspects of the storytelling?  What is important in Archie?

Archie seems to be a ladies man who’s conflicted between two girls. Jughead is sort of the opposite of him. The complications of interpersonal relationships. The struggles of high school. Coming of age situations. A lot of high school situations. But Betty and Veronica are Archie’s two choices. Betty is a girl who understands him while Veronica is the girl he’s constantly trying to impress. 


3. What isn't in Archie?  Are all aspects of teenage life in Archie?  Does the World of Archie reflect or mirror the world you know?  An essential component of observing is noticing what is and what isn't there and considering the implications.


Archie is unique because of its iconic characters. There are repetitive situations but it wasn’t chronological. I think Jughead can represent kids who are considered strange or different but he doesn’t care and is okay with being himself and is sort of opposite the iconic idea of Archie. He’s the source of diversity and teenage phases or on a different path than the average teenager. He’s a non-conformist but he’s contained. He represents teenage rebellion. This shows how Archie comics are very safe and non-risky. There’s no sex or drugs in it even though it surrounds high schoolers which is part of discovery in high school life. There aren't any characters of color until later in the comics. 


4. In a summary sort of way, what in the end do you think Archie is about?  What is its meaning in context?  Why do you think it is culturally significant? Notice that none of these questions involve whether you like Archie or not.  Rather these questions go to what you observe and surmise; what you make of what you see.


Archie is a very American comic and can be labeled as such. You can see throughout the comics what is culturally acceptable to the time period in America. It’s the classic choice of people who are in capitalist society in America. Do I go for something more than what I am, for a higher life, or do I stick to the life I was given and where I’m told I belong. Should I be aiming for more and this is the dilemma that Archie faces and it’s depicted with him trying to decide between Betty and Veronica. 

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