Calvin and Hobbes
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Not all arguments are explicitly stated.
When looking at this comic strip, pay
attention to not only what Calvin literally says
but what Hobbes implies.
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This strip has two arguments: the character’s
argument (Calvin’s) and the artist’s argument
(Hobbes’).
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Take a minute to write down what you think
the arguments are.
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The artist is using humor to make a point (in
this case, through exaggeration).
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The argument literally stated by the
characters are rarely the artist’s actual
argument.
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The artist often leaves visual clues hinting at
his or her true argument:
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Background details
Foreground details
Character expressions
Etc.
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When breaking down any argument, it helps
to move from big picture things to small
picture things.
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Big Picture Analysis
◦ What the characters are saying (claim)
◦ What the characters aren’t saying (claim)
◦ Why the characters are saying what they are
(reasons/foundations)
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Small Picture Analysis
◦ What foreground details did the artist include?
◦ What background details did the artist include?
◦ What kinds of facial expressions did the artist use
on his or her characters?
◦ How did the characters say what they did?
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Take a minute to look at your ideas about the
arguments.
◦ Have they changed any?
◦ Can you add anything to them?
◦ Remove/change anything?
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Let’s look at the big picture analysis of the
Calvin and Hobbes comic strip…
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What is Calvin claiming?
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We should always have high self-esteem, so
we should lower our expectations so we can
always meet them.
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What are some of the reasons behind this
claim?
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Some potential reasons:
◦ Expecting too much of ourselves damages our selfesteem.
◦ Expecting mediocrity means that any time we go
above that standard, we receive higher self-esteem.
◦ Why put in more effort than strictly necessary?
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Some potential foundations:
◦ Expecting too much of ourselves damages our selfesteem
 …because, if we fail to achieve our high goals, we
don’t feel good about ourselves.
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Some potential foundations:
◦ Expecting mediocrity means that any time we meet
or exceed that standard, we receive higher selfesteem.
 …because mediocrity means everyone succeeds.
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Some potential foundations:
◦ Why put in more effort than strictly necessary
 …because if something is good enough, there’s no
reason to continue.
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Keep in mind that this is the literal argument
in this comic strip.
Now, let’s dig a little deeper and see what the
artist’s real claim is.
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Spend a minute thinking about what the artist
is really trying to say in this comic strip.
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Encouraging mediocrity for the sake of an
inflated self-esteem is not good for the
country.
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What indicates that this is the artist’s main
claim?
Think on this for a minute and discuss it with
your neighbor.
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Signs of the Artist’s True Argument:
◦ Hobbes’ counterstatements
◦ The incomplete snowman
◦ The exaggerated emphasis on Calvin’s argument
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What are Hobbes’/the artist’s reasons for his
claim?
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Potential Reasons:
◦ Mediocrity does not produce the kind of innovation
a country needs to remain competitive.
◦ Mediocrity is bad for business.
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Potential Foundations:
◦ Mediocrity does not produce the kind of innovation
a country needs to remain competitive.
 …because innovation, particularly technological
innovation, is vital to many of our industries.
 …because non-innovative countries fall behind
innovative ones.
 …etc.
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Potential Foundations:
◦ Mediocrity is bad for business .
 …because businesses which can’t keep us with
customer demand go out of business.
 …because mediocre employees lead to mediocre
products and services.
 …etc.
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Things to observe:
◦ The unfinished snowman
◦ Calvin’s apparent pride in his unfinished snowman
◦ Hobbes’ less than enthusiastic expression in the
last box
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Things to observe:
◦ The way that Calvin connects homework to selfesteem
◦ Hobbes’ counterarguments
 His negative interpretation of Calvin’s statements
 Hobbes saying, “Remind me to invest overseas.”
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There are many potential reasons and
foundations behind a claim, so it can be hard
to tell at times why an author/artist claimed
what he or she did.
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That said, however, we can still get a pretty
good idea with thorough enough analysis.
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Arguments are not always straightforward.
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Also, arguments are often supported by
unstated reasoning.
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When analyzing an argument, like analyzing
sources, start with big picture items (what
was being said) and move to smaller picture
items (how things were being said).
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Thoroughly analyzing an argument takes time
and requires a lot of attention to detail.
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Analyzing arguments, like analyzing sources,
is impacted by your own personality,
background, biases, etc.
That said, however, it is possible to get the
gist of a claim and its reasons and
foundations.