Political Cartoons Introduction: History and Analysis

What is a political cartoon?

!   Also known as editorial cartoons

!   Illustration or comic strip designed to convey a social or political message (highlights a point of view)

!   Can be informative and humorous, and content is often biased

!   Often criticizes establishment, and is directed to influence the masses

What is a political cartoon?

!   Simple and widely-recognized images work best to engage the masses

!   Generally composed of two elements: !   Caricature: parodies an individual in an exaggerated manner !   Allusion: creates a situation or context for the individual

being parodied

!   Terms to know: !   Parody: humorous imitation of a person, event, etc. !   Satire: exposes and denounces human foolishness and faults,

often through the use of irony !   Propaganda: organized spreading of information used to

support or damage government, a cause, or point of view

Origins

!   Can be dated back to 16th century Europe

!   Leonardo da Vinci as the inventor of caricature !   “the ideal type of deformity” to understand the concept

of beauty

!   Caricaturas or “counter-art”

!   Invention of printing and the Reformation !   Reaching illiterate masses

!   Martin Luther and “Passional Christi und Antichristi”

Political Cartoons and Cartoonists in American History

!   Benjamin Franklin’s “Join or Die”

!   First political cartoon in America

!   Goal was to rally support for inter-colonial association to deal with Iroquois at the Albany Congress of 1754

!   Published in multiple newspapers and became symbol for colonial unity

Political Cartoons and Cartoonists in American History

!   Higher literacy rate, printing improvements, and Civil War led to increases in political cartoon production

!   Thomas Nast: first cartoonist to have weekly publication (Harper’s Weekly) !   Creator of Republican

Elephant, Democratic Donkey, and modern image of Santa Clause

!   Republican and supporter of the Union

!   “best recruiting sergeant” for Lincoln

!   Boss Tweed: attack on political corruption in New York

Political Cartoons and Cartoonists in American History

!   World Wars led to increase in production of political cartoons as propaganda

!   Theodor Seuss Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss

!   Dr. Seuss Went to War !   Drew over 400 cartoons

over the course of two years (1941-43)

!   Appealed to the U.S. government to become involved in WWII

Political Cartoons and Cartoonists in American History

!   Garry Trudeau and Doonesbury !   Move from single-frame

to comic strip

!   Controversial views on U.S. military conflict

!   Launched 1970 and still in circulation in over 1400 daily and weekly publications

Political Cartoons Today

!   Content now includes both pop culture and politics

!   New mediums for publication of political satire: !   Internet

!   Video

Analyzing Political Cartoons

!   Persuasive Techniques/Elements !   Symbolism: objects used to stand for concepts/ideas !   Exaggeration: most commonly, overblown physical

characteristics !   Labeling: designates what people stand for (democratic,

republican, etc.) !   Analogy: compares two unlike things !   Irony: words, images, etc. used to convey a meaning opposite

of the literal meaning. !   Juxtaposition: placement of two things near each other,

especially for purposes of comparison or contrast !   Humor: political cartoons blend serious topics or issues with

amusing drawings, captions, etc.

Questions to Consider… !   What topic is presented? What is the historical significance or

context?

!   What are the issues?

!   Who is being depicted or represented? How do you know who it is?

!   What images, colors, symbols, etc. are used?

!   What persuasive techniques does the cartoonist use?

!   Is the cartoon persuasive? Why or why not?

!   How could the cartoonist have made the cartoon more persuasive?

Final Note

!   Some cartoons may contain offensive materials, opinions, ideas, etc.

!   When discussing politics, we need to maintain a respectful tone when speaking and listening to others, and we must not try to push our political beliefs onto each other.

Resources and Photo Credits RESOURCES Backer, Dan. “A Brief History of Political Cartoons.” n.d. Web. 17 February 2013. Coats, Christopher. “Political Cartoons in America.” Election 2008. Dulcinea Media, Inc., October 2008. Web. 17 February 2013. “Cartoon Analysis Guide.” It’s No Laughing Matter Classroom Materials. The Library of Congress, n.d. Web. 17 February 2013. Mandeville Special Collections Library. Dr. Seuss Went to War: A Catalog of Political Cartoons. The Library UC San Diego. 2012.

Web. 17 February 2013. McCallum, Annie. “The Evolution of Political Cartoons Through a Changing Media Landscape.” History of Cartoon Drawing,

2004. Web. 17 February 2013. Thorn, David. “Political Satire: The Influence of Humor.” Early Formulations of American Identity, Ideals, and Ideas. Littlewolf

Anthropology, n.d. Web. 17 February 2013.

PHOTO CREDITS Franklin, Benjamin. Join or Die. 9 May 1754. Library of Congress, Washington D.C. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Web. 17

February 2013. Geisel, Theodor Seuss. Ho hum! When he’s finished pecking down that last tree he’ll likely be tired. 22 May 1941. UC San Diego

Libraries, San Diego. Dr. Seuss Went to War. Web. 17 February 2013. Geisel, Theodor Seuss. The Isolationist. 16 July 1941. UC San Diego Libraries, San Diego. Dr. Seuss Went to War. Web. 17 February

2013. McKee, Rick. You just had to invite your cousin, the TSA Agent…” 22 November 2012. Cagle Cartoons, Oak Ridge. Oak Ridge Now.

Web. 17 February 2013. Nast, Thomas. “Can the law reach him? The dwarf and the giant thief.” n.d. New York Public Library Picture Collection, New York.

Gettyimages.com. Web. 17 February 2013. Nast, Thomas. “From our special war correspondent.” 15 April 1865. Field Drums. Web. 17 February 2013. Trudeau, Garry. Doonesbury. 28 December 1970. Doonesbury on Vietnam. Web. 17 February 2013.