Assign. 2-1, Analysis - Mr. Peanut

Peanuts are considered to be one of America’s favorite snack foods. They can be found everywhere. Parties wouldn’t be complete without a bowl of peanuts gracing the coffee table. No one can sit through a major league baseball game without wanting to crack them open and pop them in their mouth. Besides being easy to handle, and just plain yummy, it helps that a cute and adorable little cartoon peanut man wants to sell them to you. Yes, you know him by his golden yellow shell, black top hat and cane, white gloves, spats, and monocle. He is a nut, and everyone is wild about him. His name is Mr. Peanut.

Mr. Peanut is the Planters Peanuts logo and mascot. He has been a part of our popular culture since 1916. Planters needed a company logo, so they held a contest. (History of Peanuts, 2010). A young fourteen year-old boy from Virginia named Antonia Gentile won five dollars with his drawing of a dapper Mr. Peanut. (History of Peanuts, 2010). Later on, another artist added Mr. Peanut’s top hat, monocle, spats, and cane, reinforcing the idea that Planters Peanuts were better than other ordinary peanuts. (Planters Peanuts History, 2005).

Since his creation, Mr. Peanut has made appearances in many different forums of the media, helping to advertise and sell America’s first roasted peanut company. (Planters Peanuts History, 2005). Mr. Peanut’s popularity has made him an icon representative of something good. He is easily recognized throughout all ages of society. Although his trademark is owned by Nabisco, Inc., Mr. Peanut is a representative of all cultures of peanuts everywhere. His iconic status, and place in the history of pop culture will live on for years, even if the Planters Peanuts company dies out.

I love Mr. Peanut for his cute cartoon appearance, and for the different varieties of nuts he represents. The Planters Peanuts packaging he graces is so recognizable, and it represents a delicious treat waiting to be devoured. I cannot attend a major league ballgame without grabbing a beer and a bag of peanuts to enjoy during the game. It is as American as baseball and apple pie.


REFERENCES

History of Peanuts. (2010). Retrieved July 10, 2010 from http://bigsiteofamazingfacts.com/history-of-peanuts.

Planters Peanuts History. (2005, February). Retrieved July 10, 2010 from http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/plantnuts.htm.