1. Political Cartoon Analysis
Intro to Close Read Political Cartoons
Based on materials adapted from LOC’s “It’s no laughing matter…” | Adapted by NVPS US History Pilot

2. What is a political cartoon?
Is this a political cartoon?
What about this?

3. Political Cartoon Basics
A political cartoon is a cartoon that makes a point about a political issue or event
How?
Cartoonists use several methods or techniques to make their point - including:
Symbolism
Exaggeration
Labeling
Analogy
Irony

4. A cartoon as an example...
This cartoon’s caption reads: “I’m Eight, I was born on the day of the supreme court decision!”
This cartoon was published in 1962, 8 years after Brown v Board of Education
Supreme Court case that desegregated schools

5. Cartoonist Techniques
Labelling - cartoonists might label objects or people to make it clear exactly what they represent
Symbolism - cartoonists use simple objects to stand for larger concepts or ideas
Exaggeration - sometimes cartoonists overdo or exaggerate physical characteristics of characters or things to to make a point

6. Here the school has been LABELLED “Jim Crow Public School” to show that it represents the impact of Jim Crow Laws on schools - suggesting that they are mostly still segregated.
Here the fence has been EXAGGERATED to be very high - represents the complete exclusion of African Americans from public schools.
Here the birthday cake is a SYMBOL that represents all the time that’s passed since the Supreme Court’s decision.

7. Cartoonist Techniques
Analogy - a comparison between two unlike things, by comparing a complex issue with a more familiar one, cartoonists help their readers see the issue from a different perspective.
In this cartoon, the slow pace of desegregation is compared to a young student waiting to be let into a public school.

8. Cartoonist Techniques
Irony - the difference between the ways things are and they way they should or are expected to be. Cartoonists often use irony to express their opinion.
In this cartoonists opinion, it is ironic that public schools are still segregated years after the court’s decision to desegregate - it’s not the way things are supposed to be!

9. Analyzing a Political Cartoon - Protocol
How will you be able to quickly analyze the cartoon?
How will I understand the 5 cartoonist’s techniques and meaning?
In order to understand the symbolism, irony, exaggeration, labelling, and analogy that the cartoonist is using to make a point, you should analyze: visuals, words, and actions

10. Mapping the protocol Visuals Words Actions Symbolism Labelling
Exaggeration
Analogy
Irony

11. Matching the Using a protocol that analyzes 4 key aspects:
Visuals: people, objects, symbols
Words: captions, numbers, dates, phrases
Actions: actions & facial expressions
Visuals + Actions + Words = Meaning!

12. Let’s Analyze a Cartoon...

13. Analysis of Liberty Crying
Visuals -
Words -
Actions - ____________________________________
Meaning: