DILBERT
(A Satire of the Corporate World
Dilbert is one of the most iconic comic strips in history, known for its surgical precision in capturing the absurdity, bureaucracy, and incompetence that permeate the work environment of large corporations.
Author's Biography: Scott Adams
Scott Raymond Adams was born on June 8, 1957, in Windham, New York. Before becoming a world-renowned cartoonist, Adams experienced firsthand the routine he would later satirize.
Corporate Career: He worked at Crocker National Bank (1979–1986) and Pacific Bell (1986–1995). It was in these companies that he observed the pointless meetings, confusing hierarchies, and the behavior of managers that served as inspiration for his characters.
The Transition: Adams would draw during meetings and in his spare time. In 1989, Dilbert was launched by United Feature Syndicate. He continued to work at Pacific Bell until he was "invited to leave" in 1995, by which time the strip's success was already global.
History of the Strip
Originally launched on April 16, 1989, the strip initially did not focus solely on the office, but rather on Dilbert's personal life and his bizarre inventions. However, Adams noticed that reader letters showed much greater enthusiasm when the theme was the workplace environment.
Visual and Thematic Evolution
In the beginning, Dilbert had an upward-curling tie (which became his trademark) and lived with his dog, Dogbert. Over time, the supporting cast expanded to include universal office archetypes:
Wally: The veteran employee who dedicates 100% of his intelligence to avoiding work.
Alice: The competent, overworked engineer with a short fuse.
The Pointy-Haired Boss: The epitome of managerial incompetence.
Most Famous Strips and Recurring Themes
Although there are thousands of strips, several arcs and concepts have become part of the business vocabulary:
The Dilbert Principle: A variation of the Peter Principle. Adams argues that "companies tend to systematically promote their least-competent employees to management views in order to limit the amount of damage they can do to the production."
The Eternal Meetings: Strips where characters spend days in conference rooms discussing "buzzwords" (like synergy or paradigm) without reaching any conclusion.
The "Sensitive Tie": Dilbert's tie, which moves according to his state of mind or the level of oppression in the office.
Cultural Influence
The influence of Dilbert was so vast that it transcended the pages of newspapers:
Corporate Language: Terms like "Cubicle Farm" were popularized by the strip.
Business Books: Scott Adams wrote best-sellers such as The Dilbert Principle and Dogbert's Top Secret Management Handbook, which are read by disgruntled employees and CEOs alike.
Animation: In the late 90s, an animated series was produced, winning a Primetime Emmy and featuring prominent voices like Daniel Stern and Chris Elliott.
The Cubicle Wall: For decades, it was the most clipped and taped comic strip on office walls worldwide, serving as a form of "silent protest" for employees.
Recent Controversies
In recent years, the image of both Dilbert and Scott Adams has been significantly shaken. Adams became a polarizing figure on social media, expressing political and social views that many considered extremist or racist.
In February 2023, following controversial comments by Adams on his vlog, hundreds of newspapers (including The Washington Post and The New York Times) canceled the publication of the strip. Currently, Dilbert continues independently via the Dilbert Reborn platform on the site Locals.
Legacy: Regardless of the author's controversies, the body of work produced for Dilbert between 1990 and 2010 remains the most accurate—and hilarious—historical record of corporate culture at the turn of the millennium.)