Post #5- The Smurfs: Are they Communists?

The spreading of rumors about cartoons exposing ‘un-American’ and ‘immoral’ values to children is not a new phenomenon that started with the purple Teletubbie, Tinkie Winkie being a homosexual. Deeply conservative groups have been claiming for years Disney leaves hidden sexual messages in his movies such as The Lion King, Aladdin and The Little Mermaid. One such example of this is the claim that the Smurfs cartoons expose children to Communist political theory.

Now before exploring some of the proof found from viewing three hours of viewing the Smurfs on the Boomerang Channel it is worth exploring some ‘literature’ on this subject. Honestly there are not many creditable sources on this subject, but there are some interesting websites, just not ones worth quoting in an academic forum. One of the few creditable ones was an article in the Argus, the newspaper of the Wesleyan University (Middleton, Connecticut). Aaron Rutkoff, the student author, explores how these connections can be made:

1. The leaders of most communist nations were dictators of one sort or another. The Smurfs were no different, living contently under the just albeit stern rule of the absolutist Papa Smurf. Papa Smurf was created in the bearded image of Lenin, and is the only Smurf to wear red a cap and trousers. Red, of course, is color symbol of communism. He is a model of Stalinistic leadership, dealing strictly with any Smurf not acting in accordance with the good of the state.

2. The Smurf village is the picture of the communist ideal. All Smurfs reside in identical huts, eat meals together in communal fashion, wear the same clothes, and have very little private property. Everyone is materialistically the same; it is a perfect example of a classless society.
Furthermore, each Smurf has a role he or she performs for the state and is known by his or her job designation. For example, Handy Smurf fixes things, Cooky Smurf cooks the food, etc. No one Smurf is more or less important the any other Smurf.

3. Though every Smurf has an essential societal role, some are viewed more negatively in the context of the show then others. For example, Greedy Smurf is often ridiculed for eating too much or being too selfish and Vanity Smurf is portrayed as bad for caring only about himself. These two Smurfs, representing both materialism and individualism, cause problems and are often chastised by Smurf society. More proletarian Smurfs, like Hefty and Handy, are always the heroes, never the problems.

4. Brainy Smurf, the intellectual in the village, is often in conflict with Smurf society. He questions the way of Smurf life and is often unhappy. In some episodes, Brainy is sent out of the village to live elsewhere. Brainy represents Trotsky, who was a high ranking official under Lenin but was exiled because of ideological conflicts with Stalin.

5. The natural enemy of the Smurfs is Gargamel and his bumbling cat Azrael. Few people recall this fact, but Gargamel’s sole mission in each episode was to catch the Smurfs and transform them into gold coins. Hence, Gargamel clearly represents the evil of capitalism, a true threat to communist peace and harmony, in the Smurf paradigm.[1]

Through viewing the Smurfs on TiVo[2] from the Boomerang Channel Rutkoff's conclusions are not only correct, but more can be added. The Smurfs represents of the ideal communistic world. In the episode To Smurf a Thief (1983) Papa Smurfs and some of the other smurfs are taking into the Human village by Artmus the wizard, Papa Smurf says this in reference to the village marketplace (a metaphor for capitalism) "It's all very unsmurfy if you ask me."[3] In another episode, Wedding Bells (1983), a quote about Gargamel, who represents capitalism, says that "He could have had a lovely bride, if he set his greed aside."[4]

Many of the Smurfs episodes feature the theme of working towards a common goal. This represents a basic tenant of Communism, that is communal living and working. In the episode, Smurf Time Capsule (1983) a smurf even states, "a twig by itself is too weak, it's twings in a bundle you seek." [5] Basically the smurfs felt that unity and working together were the only way to survive. This threatens the captialistic viewpoint that individual hardwork and perserverance is the best means of suriving.

Could this be reading too much into The Smurfs; perhaps the purpose of this communal living setting is really just to teach children to share. The evidence presented shows too much of communistic influences in The Smurfs. This does mean to stop watching The Smurfs? No. They are just cartoons and there is no reason to get up tight about how your children should not be watching them.

[1] Rutkoff, Aaron. (1998, September 22). "Fear and Loathing: Communist Smurf, Be Afraid." Argus online, Wesleyan University: Middleton, CT.
[2] As an aside TiVo is the best invention ever to use to watch cartoons. I was using the really button to show my mom how the mouth on Smurfette was not done correctly and I could go about 2-3 frames per push of a button. It really shows you more about those principles of cartoons that we discussed in one of the beginning classes and I would highly recommend it to view a few parts of cartoons in this way.
[3] To Smurf a Thief. The Smurfs. (1983).
[4] Wedding Bells. The Smurfs. (1983).
[5] Smurf Time Capsule. The Smurfs. (1983).

Photo thanks to The Smurf's Official Website.