1. Reading Political Cartoons: Vocabulary for Visual Rhetoric
Iconic vs. Indexical Allusions
Substitution Synecdoche
Superimposition Fusion
Juxtaposition Chiasmus
Narrative Caricature
Developed by Anne-Marie Womack for the Writing Programs Office
Key Terms and Definitions Based on Walter Werner’s “Reading Visual Rhetoric: Political Cartoons”

2. An iconic sign resembles what it represents
An iconic sign resembles what it represents. An indexical sign is established through convention.
Consider Uncle Sam and George Washington. Which character is iconic? Which character is indexical?

3. George Washington is iconic.
An iconic sign resembles what it represents. An indexical sign is established through convention.
Consider Uncle Sam and George Washington. Which character is iconic? Which character is indexical?
Uncle Sam is indexical.
George Washington is iconic.

4. Indexical Signs: signs established through convention;
Indexical Signs: signs established through convention; capable of changing over time
In the 19th century, Mrs. Columbia was commonly used to represent the United States.
Today, Uncle Sam is widely recognized as a representation of the United States.

5. Caricatures: iconic signs that exaggerate and distort
Caricatures: iconic signs that exaggerate and distort for a certain effect
Which features are exaggerated in each caricature?
What message does each convey about George W. Bush?

6. Substitution: when a prominent visual element is used
Substitution: when a prominent visual element is used to symbolize something visually absent
Identify the issue.
Identify the substitution.
How does color function in the cartoon?
What group would sympathize with this cartoon?
What makes the cartoon amusing? At whose expense?

7. Superimposition: a word-on-image or image-on-image,
Superimposition: a word-on-image or image-on-image, which creates a visual metaphor
What metaphor is created by this superimposition?
What role does scale play?
What meanings are generated?

8. Fusion: two images are synthesized or merged into one,
Fusion: two images are synthesized or merged into one, creating a visual metaphor
What is the context?
(Hint: World Cup)
What two things/ideas are fused?
What message is conveyed?

9. Synecdoche: a part represents the whole; consider what
Synecdoche: a part represents the whole; consider what attributes this device highlights
What 2 elements make up the synecdoche?
What do the sheep represent? What text originally created this metaphor?
What is the effect of the synecdoche? What does it highlight about Pope John Paul II?

10. Juxtaposition: placing binary opposites side by side to draw
Juxtaposition: placing binary opposites side by side to draw attention to their differences
What groups do the 2 men represent? How do you know this?
How are the 2 men juxtaposed?
How does the title work within the cartoon?
What meanings are generated in the cartoon?

11. Chiasmus: transposing words (“crossing over”) to create a
Chiasmus: transposing words (“crossing over”) to create a novel meaning out of a more commonly expected idea
What is the initial meaning of the words?
How are they altered? For what effect?

12. Narrative: a current event is linked to a future outcome,
Narrative: a current event is linked to a future outcome, suggesting a narrative structure
What is the current event?
What is the implied outcome?
What is highlighted in this progression?
For what effect?

13. What cultural elements are present in these cartoons?
Allusions: cartoonists often create analogies by drawing on a wide bank of cultural knowledge including art, literature, or popular sayings
What cultural elements are present in these cartoons?

14. What cultural elements are present in these cartoons?
Allusions: cartoonists often create analogies by drawing on a wide bank of cultural knowledge including art, literature, or popular sayings
What cultural elements are present in these cartoons?
TV Cartoon: Elmer Fudd
History: Berlin Wall
Board Game: Monopoly
Nursery Rhyme: “Jack Sprat”

15. Putting it all together: What are the various elements in this political cartoon? What are their effects?

16. Writing Prompts for Cartoons
Have students study the cartoon & write questions to answer in class discussion or in groups.
How does this cartoon relate to the standard we are studying?
Explain the symbolism in the cartoon.
What is the theme or message of the cartoon?

17. Writing Prompts for Cartoons
What groups would have agreed or disagreed with the cartoon’s message & why?
Cartoon Analysis Worksheet
Have students draw their own political cartoon related to a standard & have other students analyze it.

18. Works Cited
Ares. “Not made in Berlin.” Cartoon. Best of Latin America: Cagle Cartoons. 3 Apr July
31,
Bennett, Clay. “Pope John Paul II.” Cartoon. The Christian Science Monitor Online. 4 Apr.
2005. Cagle Cartoons. Apr July
Boldt, Thomas, “Tab”. “Supply and Demand.” Cartoon. The Calgary Sun. 14 March 2005.
Cagle Cartoons. Mar July
Breen, Steve. “Independence Day 2006.” Cartoon. San Diego News Tribune. 2 July 2006.
Copley News. July July
Cagle, Daryl. “Buffett Donation.” Cartoon. MSNBC.com. 27 June Cagle Cartoon. June
July
Cagle, Daryl. “Community Chest.” Cartoon. Daryl Cagle’s Professional Cartoonists Index 7 June MSNBC. 12 Apr <
Cagle, Daryl. “Special 9-11: Nation Mourns.” Cartoon. MSNBC.com. 8 July Cagle
Cartoons. July July
Cole, John. “Bush Caricature.” Cartoon. Cagle Cartoons July 2006.
Francisco, Manny. “World Football Fever.” Cartoon. Manila. 17 June Cagle Cartoons.
June July
Johansson, Olle. “Bush Caricature.” Cartoon. Cagle Cartoons July 2006.
Komarnitski, Christo. “Bush and Gay Marriage.” Cartoon. Cagle Cartoons. 6 June July
Lane, Mike. “Jack Stock Market and His Wife Big Oil.” Cartoon. Cagle Cartoons. 28 June 2006.
31 July

19. Works Cited Continued
Lowe, Chad. “A Heartbeat Away from the Nuclear Button.” Cartoon. The South Florida Sun
Sentinel. 14 Feb Comics Page. Feb July
comicspage/main.jsp?file= edlow-ap.jpg&refresh_content=1&component_
id=3&custid=69&catid=1178&dir=%2Fchanlowe.
Matson, R. J. “Bush Caricature.” Cartoon. Cagle Cartoons July 2006.
Nast, Thomas. “1863 Thanksgiving Day.” Cartoon. Harper's Weekly. 5 December Prints
Old and Rare July
O’Ferrell, Vince. “Bush Caricature.” Cartoon. Cagle Cartoons July 2006.
Parker, Jeff. “Bush Caricature.” Cartoon. Cagle Cartoons July 2006.
Parker, Jeff. “Sick of Fat.” Cartoon. Florida Today. 22 July Cagle Cartoons. July 2006.
31 July
Parker, Jeff. “Wage Gap.” Cartoon. Florida Today. 14 Apr Cagle Cartoons. Apr
Payne, Henry. “Divorce Terms.” Cartoon. Right Wing Cartoon Watch Blue Herald. 14 Dec July 2006 <
Reynolds, Dan. “Cake Delivery.” Cartoon. Reynolds Unwrapped. 28 Nov Cagle
Cartoons. Nov July 31,
Werner, Walter. "Reading Visual Rhetoric: Political Cartoons." International Journal of Social
Education (2003):
Wright, Larry. “Future of Network News.” Cartoon. The Detroit News. 6 Apr Cagle
Cartoons. Apr July