A dark stain - Colonial ideals and misrepresentation in “Tintin in the Congo”

This thesis will analyse the 1931 comic “Tintin in the Congo” and look at the historical background which influenced its writing. It will look at colonialism and the propaganda that was spread to make the European general public believe that it was a positive force which helped the natives, when it was the opposite of that. In particular it will look at the Belgian Congo - what atrocities happened there and how they were able to carry them out freely. Then it will focus on “Tintin in the Congo” and analyse the misconceptions within it, what led to this misinformation and why it is still protected by the Belgian authorities. Lastly this thesis will look at contemporary colonialism and what is being done to make up for past mistakes, to create a more inclusive environment. Overall the thesis aims to evaluate the significance of artefacts like “Tintin in the Congo” and discuss what should happen to them in order to confront colonial racism, but still respect (in this case) Belgian culture.