Political cartoons provide a visual means by which individuals can express their opinions. They have been used throughout history to engage viewers in discussion about an event, issue, or individual.
The political cartoon can be traced back to the 1400s; however, it became a popular art form in the 1700s in Europe. In America, the political cartoon obtained dominance during the Revolutionary War. It made it possible to satirize events, uniting colonists in their struggle for independence against Britain.
Comic art is the most innocent form of cartoon comment. The artist’s goal is simple entertainment. This kind of art tries for a humorous and good-humored observation on daily life and problems.
Social Comments are a little more cutting edge added to the comic art. In such cartoons, the artist aspires to comment about daily life and its problems. The purpose s to bring a smile of recognition, hopefully to make life and its irritations a little easier to take. The social cartoon tends to have a more objective point of view.
Political cartoons have a very subjective view point. The goal of the political cartoon is to try to influence the viewer to adopt a particular viewpoint or make him/her take action. They are generally partisan messages for viewers about what they should think or do politically. Most political cartoons are a form of journalistic comment with regard to specific political events of the day, similar to an editorial
Propaganda Draw attention to an idea or event Present a point of view Encourage a course of action Stimulate debate on an issue or event A political cartoon can serve more than one purpose at a time.
Symbolism: any object or design that stands for something else. Exaggeration and Distortion (hyperbole): changes in size or shape that often add to the cartoon’s point. Distorting an object means changing it in some way to make it look funny, ugly, etc. Captions: words used to reinforce the cartoon’s non-verbal features. Words help the other parts of the cartoon make an overall point.
Humor and irony: Irony is a type of humor. Verbal, situational, or dramatic irony help cartoonists present an idea in such an odd way that the view seems ridiculous. Stereotyping: a simplistic view of some group. It is often insulting and does not leave room for individuality. Caricatures: a portrayal of a character’s features in an exaggerated and distorted way
Cut and paste 2 of the provided cartoons into your journal. Beside or underneath the cartoon answer/do the following in complete sentences: What issue or event does the cartoon deal with? Describe what is taking place. What is the cartoon’s message? Who is the intended audience? What is the cartoonists point of view? What groups would agree or disagree with the cartoon’s message? Identify which devices (the ones we just discussed and any additional ones you see) the cartoon is utilizing and WHY.
Create your own political cartoon on a current issue Consider your audience and purpose and make sure your point of view is clear Use at least 2 devices we discussed