1. Satire Lesson 3

2. Agenda
Bell Ringer
Understanding Visual Satirical Rhetoric
The OPTIC Strategy
Class Practice
Group Analysis of Political cartoons
Individually, compose a visual satire
Finish this for Homework!

3. Understanding a Visual (Satirical) Argument

4. OPTIC Strategy
O = Overview P = Parts of the picture T = Title/Text I = Interrelationships C = Conclusion

5. O = Overview:
Write a brief overview of the image: in one complete sentence, what isthis image about? What is happening in the picture? Summarize the “action” of the visual without analyzing its meaning yet. This is equivalent to the “paraphrase” part of TP-CASTT poetry analysis. What ideas, arguments, or implications is the artist trying to convey through this image?

6. P = Parts of the picture:
Key in on all of the parts by noting any details that seem important. This can be anything: color, figures, textures, scenery, groupings, shadings, patterns, numbers, etc.

7. T = Title/Text:
Use the title to clarify the subject of the image. Consider both literal and metaphoric meanings. What does the title suggest? Is there any text in the image—a caption, or words in the image itself? What might this text suggest? What are the connotations?

8. I = Interrelationships:
Discover the interrelationships in the image. How do the parts (objects or people or colors) relate, both to one another and the image as a whole. Is there an evident perspective or point of view? What patterns do you see? What seems to be the most important “relationship” in the picture? How do the parts come together to reveal the artist’s message?

9. C = Conclusion:
Draw a conclusion about the meaning of the visual as a whole. Think about what the artist, photographer, creator, or designer might be trying to capture and convey. What ideas, arguments, or implications is the artist trying to convey through this image?

10. EXAMPLE
O – This photo shows two drinking fountains side by side, one labeled “WHITE” and the other labeled “COLORED.” An African-American man drinks from the “COLORED” fountain.
P – the two fountains are connected by the same pipe—water comes from the same source and goes to both sinks. The wall is plain excerpt for the two signs. The “WHITE” sink looks fancier—it has a cabinet to hide the pipes. The man is wearing a hat. It looks like the “WHITE” sink might have colder water—it’s plugged into the wall. The man is on the edge of the photograph, only half of his body is visible. The focal point is the blank wall between the two sinks—an empty space.
T – This image has two bits of text, a sign reading “WHITE” over the fancy drinking fountain and a sign reading “COLORED” over the plain fountain. Also, the Title “Drinking Fountains” puts the emphasis on the fountains, not on the man drinking from the fountain.
I – This gives a feeling of two Americas. The man on the edge seems to represent his place on the edge of society. Also, he is disconnected from anything that is ‘nice-looking’ or ‘richer’ (separate fountains, but water from the same source, but the fountains aren’t equal). The picture itself is plain, suggesting that these are “plain facts” of life for this time period.
C – This image conveys the idea that there were two separate Americas during the Jim Crow era—one for whites and one for African-Americans. The two fountains are obviously different in quality—the fountain labeled “COLORED” looks shabbier than and not as nice as the one labeled “WHITE.” It emphasizes that this black man is on the edge of society and that he isn’t accepted by the “WHITE” world, by placing him on the edge of the photograph. The focal point is the blank wall between the two fountains and the two signs, which suggests that a wide space divides these two worlds. The image creates a feeling of separation and sadness, and emphasizes the painful inequality that existed during the Jim Crow era.

11. Class Practice: What argument does Rockwell making? ORIGINAL:
Norman RockWell’s
“Freedom FROM Want”
1943
What argument does Rockwell making?

12. Class Practice
O – Overview P – Parts T – Title/Text I – Interrelationships C – Conclusion
“Freedom From What We Want” by illustrator Sam Spratt.

13. Class Practice
O – Overview P – Parts T – Title/Text I – Interrelationships C – Conclusion
Published by by nonnie9999, November 25, 2011

14. Class Practice
O – Overview P – Parts T – Title/Text I – Interrelationships C – Conclusion
Modern Day Thanksgiving Dinner?
Image taken from

15. Group Work
Analyzing a Visual Satire: In your group, analyze your assigned image using the OPTIC method. You will analyze each of the OPTIC components of the image together as a whole group to get a group consensus of the picture.

16. Homework
You will be composing a visual satire on a topic of your choice.
Use the components of OPTIC to guide you in creating your satirical argument.
You must include at least two satirical devices in your satire.
Attach a brief explanation of your argument.