2. What is a Political Cartoon?
Of or referring to government
Cartoon
Caricature of an person, place or thing / event
Highlights a political viewpoint through illustration
Image usually exaggerated to be humorous or get point across
Informative
Creates an argument
Found in newspapers and online

3. How to Read a Political Cartoon?
Labels: Name certain things in their cartoons so that it is apparent what the things represent
Symbolism: Use simple objects to represent larger ideas or concepts
Analogy: Compare a simple image or concept to a more complex situation.
Irony: Express an opinion on a topic by highlighting the difference between the way things are and the way things should be.
Juxtaposition: putting 2 things side by side to compare and contrast
Stereotypes and Caricatures: exaggeration by means of often distortion of parts or characteristics

4. Visual Symbols and Metaphors
Peace - dove, olive branch, victory sign
United States - Uncle Sam, flag, stars and stripes, shield
Democrats – donkey
Republicans – elephant
Death - vulture, skeleton with shroud, skull and crossbones, grim reaper
Love - heart, Cupid, Venus
Money - dollar bill or dollar sign

5. Visual Distortion
Changes or exaggerations in size, shape, emotions, or gestures often add extra meaning to the symbols the cartoon includes. For example, a dragon often symbolizes China. A huge snorting dragon will make a different point than a tired, limping, meek dragon.

6. Irony in Words and Images
Irony is well suited to political cartoons, which often seek to mock something and show how false, unfair, or dangerous it is.
Irony always entails a contradiction. Often an amusing image undercuts and reverses the meaning of the words in a caption.

7. An Argument, Not A Slogan
A good editorial cartoon is more than a slogan. It invites you to consider its argument or reasoning.
At its best, a cartoon offers visual and written features that together “make its case.” In other words, it presents reasons to support its view, or at least it hints at or suggests those reasons.
Even though biased, the cartoon gives you grounds for responding and arguing back.

8. Uses and Misuses of Political Cartoons
Editorial cartoons may be funny, outrageous, or even insulting. Yet above all, their aim is to provoke thought about some issue in the news.
They cannot be taken as simple reflections of “the way things were.” Yet that is a common misuse of them.
Political cartoons reveal cultural assumptions, prevailing moods, and even real insights about events and trends. They can be used as evidence of all these things.

9. Political Cartoon Analysis
Working with an elbow partner, analyze each political cartoon I show. For each cartoon, identify and analyze the following:
Visual symbols and metaphors
Visual distortion
Irony in words and images
Argument

10. Political Cartoon #1

11. Political Cartoon #2

12. Political Cartoon #3

13. Potential Topics and Subtopics
Create a political cartoon based upon the topic of education. Choose one of the following subtopics on which to base your cartoon:
Inequality in education
Standardized testing
Technology in education
Conformity in education

15. Rubric visual symbols and metaphors ____/5
visual distortion used ____/5
irony in words, images, or both used ____/5
stereotype or caricature used ____/5
argument is created (not a slogan) ____/5

16. After constructing your political cartoon, complete each of the following questions:
How are visual symbols and metaphors used?
How is visual distortion used?
How is irony in words, images, or both used?
How is a stereotype or caricature used?
What argument is created? (not a slogan)
How effective is the argument? Why?