Caricature shaped American views of Islam, 1880 to 1922

Between 1880 and 1922, American caricatures established visual cues, like the fez, turban, sword, and harem, to represent Islam and the East.

Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, interest surged in understanding Islam within the United States. Historian Marianne A. Retz examined American cartoons from this period, finding they created a visual language for depicting Muslims and the broader “Orient.” Retz argues these cartoons weren’t simply illustrations, but records of how Americans visually constructed their understanding of Islam.

A simple item of clothing, such as a fez, quickly became shorthand for Turkish, Muslim, or generally Eastern identity. The curved sword transformed into a symbol of tyranny, while the harem represented the position of women in Eastern societies. These images often blurred the lines between different cultures.

An “Oriental” figure in American cartoons might combine elements of Turkish, Indian, Chinese, Arab, or other cultures, simplifying diverse groups into a single, homogenous “Other.” This process was particularly noticeable in depictions of New York City’s “Little Syria” neighborhood, where the visible Muslim residents were sometimes overshadowed by imagined figures wearing traditional clothing. Even as real interactions with Muslim immigrants increased, the visual shorthand of the fez and turban continued to dominate the American imagination.

The caricatures also extended to representations of gender and the body. The harem became a space of fantasy, linked to power, jealousy, and the subjugation of women. Simultaneously, elements of harem fashion, loose trousers and ornate jewelry, found their way into American women’s fashion, reflecting a paradoxical interest in Eastern styles as a symbol of liberation. These images, built over time, continued to influence later depictions of Islam.