1. Understanding Political Cartoons
“A Picture Says a Thousand Words”
GAHS Social Studies

2. Political Cartoon—an illustration containing a commentary usually relating to a ______ _____or ______
current event
person
Who is the person?
What is the event?

3. Persuasive Techniques
objects
Symbolism—using simple ______ to stand for larger concepts or ideas
Republicans
Democrats
American People
What are the three objects?
What does each represent?

4. Think, Pair, Share
1. Think—Complete your Common Symbols Used in Political Cartoons worksheet on your own (5 minutes)
2. Pair—Team-up with a partner and discuss your answers (5 minutes)
3. Share—We will discuss your answers as a class (10 minutes)

5. What feature is exaggerated on each person?
physical
Caricature—exaggerating _______ ________ to illustrate a point or add humor
features
Richard Nixon
Jimmy Carter
John Kerry
Nose & Jaw
Teeth
Chin
What feature is exaggerated on each person?

6. Labeling—using labels to make the ________ of ________ more clear
meaning
symbols
Osama bin laden
Auto Industry
The Poor
Banks
Who does each person represent?
What is the commentary? (Who is better off?)

7. Analogy—a __________ between two ______ items unlike
comparison
Analogy—a __________ between two ______ items
unlike
What is the illustrator’s commentary on the candidates?
The 2008 Presidential Race is being compared to a talent contest

8. message
Irony—when the illustrated ________ and the underlying ________ are not the same
meaning
What is the illustrated message?
What is the underlying meaning?

9. What is the irony expressed in this cartoon?

10. Satire—using humor to poke fun at bad ______, ________, _______ or other shortcomings
habits
mistakes
abuses
Former Senator John Edwards had an affair that resulted in a child out of wedlock.

11. it often includes _____ irony
it can be harsh—“in satire, irony is _______”*
militant
Mitt Romney did
not do well
with _______
voters in 2012.
women
*Northrop Frye, literary critic

12. Advantages to Political Cartoons
statements
Powerful __________ can be made in a small space with ____ or ___ words
few no

13. Have a ________ appeal
universal

14. Can express _________ in a unique manner
viewpoints

15. Uses _______ to make an impact
humor

16. Can often make a _____ without being too _________ offensive
point
Can often make a _____ without being too _________
offensive
Does the
illustrator
believe in
Global
Warming?

17. Identifying Symbols & Their Meanings
1. On your own, complete the graphic organizer on the back of your worksheet
2. After you have had time to analyze each cartoon, we will discuss your answers as a class

18. Example 1

19. Example 2

20. Example 3

21. The End