POLITICAL CARTOONS

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POLITICAL CARTOONS

• What they are,
• what they mean
• and how we can use them.

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What is a political cartoon?
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A Political Cartoon is..

• A type of drawing used to present opinions,
  comments, or criticisms of a situation, person,
  or event.
• Cartoons help us understand information by
  presenting it in a visual and memorable way.

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Symbolism

• Cartoonists use simple objects, or symbols, to
  stand for larger concepts or ideas.
• After you identify the symbols in a cartoon,
  think about what the cartoonist means each symbol
  to stand for.

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Exaggeration

• Sometimes cartoonists overdo, or exaggerate, the
  physical characteristics of people or things in
  order to make a point.
• When you study a cartoon, look for any
  characteristics that seem overdone or overblown.
  (Facial characteristics and clothing are some of
  the most commonly exaggerated characteristics.)
• Then, try to decide what point the cartoonist was
  trying to make by exaggerating them.

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Labeling

• Cartoonists often label objects or people to make
  it clear exactly what they stand for.
• Watch out for the different labels that appear in
  a cartoon, and ask yourself why the cartoonist
  chose to label that particular person or object.
• Does the label make the meaning of the object
  more clear?

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Analogy

• An analogy is a comparison between two unlike
  things.
• By comparing a complex issue or situation with a
  more familiar one, cartoonists can help their
  readers see it in a different light.
• After youve studied a cartoon for a while, try
  to decide what the cartoons main analogy is.
• What two situations does the cartoon compare?
• Once you understand the main analogy, decide if
  this comparison makes the cartoonists point more
  clear to you.

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Irony

• Irony is the difference between the ways things
  are and the way things should be, or the way
  things are expected to be.
• Cartoonists often use irony to express their
  opinion on an issue.
• When you look at a cartoon, see if you can find
  any irony in the situation the cartoon depicts.
• If you can, think about what point the irony
  might be intended to emphasize.
• Does the irony help the cartoonist express his or
  her opinion more effectively?

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Characteristics of Political Cartoons

• Caricature - exaggerating one or more physical
  features - a large mouth to show someone who
  often speaks out on an issue.
• Symbols - using a recognizable item to
  communicate an idea - an elephant to represent
  the Republican Party.
• Caption - having the characters speak or
  summarizing the message in a few words above or
  below the cartoon.

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How do I evaluate a Political Cartoon?

• 1. What is event or issue that inspired the
  cartoon?
• 2. Are there any real people in the cartoon? If
  so, who?
• 3. Are there any symbols in the cartoon? What are
  they and what do they represent?
• 4. What is the cartoonists opinion about the
  topics portrayed in the cartoon?
• 5. Do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

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Once youve identified the persuasive techniques
that the cartoonist used, ask yourself these
questions

• What issue is this political cartoon about?
• What do you think is the cartoonists opinion on
  this issue?
• What other opinion can you imagine another person
  having on this issue?
• Did you find this cartoon persuasive? Why or why
  not?
• What other techniques could the cartoonist have
  used to make this cartoon more persuasive?

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Interpret the following cartoons based on the
questions from the previous slide.
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More Recent Cartoons.

• On a separate sheet of paper analyze the cartoons
  on the handout.
• Answer the 5 questions from this presentation for
  each cartoon.

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