Dykes to Watch Out For: The Rule

Cartoons, whether editorial, political, or narrative, are not just entertainment. They are societal commentary, humors that reflect and shape cultural history. They are artifacts that record public sentiment, critique power, and visualize social change. Through the combination of typography, illustration, and composition, cartoons influence both design and public discourse. 

Published February 1985, this is one of many comic strips created by Alison Bechdel that chronicled queer life and feminist politics through everyday humor and sharp visual storytelling.  Bechdel integrated typography, composition, and dialogue as tools for representation of queer identity. This specific comic strip is famous for establishing the “Bechdel Test" for movies. In order for a movie to past the test, it must have at least two women in it, and they must talk to each other about something other than men.