Understanding Editorial Cartoons

1
Understanding Editorial Cartoons
2
How to Analyze a Political Cartoon

• Let you eyes float over the cartoon. Allow your
  mind and your eyes to naturally find the focal
  pointusually an exaggeration or caricature. Look
  in the immediate vicinity of the primary focus
  for any allusions (references to something you
  know from history, literature, etc.
• 2. Follow the natural flow by discovering the
  interactions with other people or objects in the
  cartoon.
• If its a person, who is it? Is it a real
  person?
• Where is he/she?
• To whom is he/she talking? What is being said?
• What is the person doing?
• If it is an object, what is happening to that
  object?
• Why is it where it is?

3
How to Analyze a Political Cartoon (continued)

• 3. Look at the minor details in the cartoon.
  Sometimes objects or people in the background or
  along the sides of the cartoon are subtle
  influences on the humor or the point of the
  cartoon.
• 4. Be sure to read any labels. Cartoonists
  sometimes label people or objects to be sure the
  reader understands who or what they represent.

4
How to Analyze a Political Cartoon (continued)

• 5. Look for widely recognized symbols.
  Cartoonists will often use symbols to represent
  abstract ideas.
• Uncle Sam or an eagle USA
• Donkey Democrats
• Elephant Republican
• Dove with olive branch peace
• Chains slavery
• Dawn rebirth
• 6. Look for exaggeration in physical appearance
  (like clothing) and the facial characteristics
  and expressions of the people in the cartoon.

5
How to Analyze a Political Cartoon (continued)

• 7. Look for the analogy (a comparison between
  two unlike things that share some
  characteristic). By comparing a complex issue or
  situation to something with which your audience
  would be more familiar, the cartoonist helps the
  reader understand the intended message.
• 8. Look for the irony (the difference between the
  way things are and the way things ought to be or
  are expected to be).
• 9. To understand the cartoon, check out the
  context of the cartoon. Usually a political
  cartoon is created about current events. Check
  the date on the cartoon for a clue as to the
  context.

6
How to Analyze a Political Cartoon (continued)

• 10. Determine the audience for the cartoon. What
  population and locality is the cartoon designed
  for? Will it persuade them?
• Sources
• http//www.wikihow.com/Analyze-Political-Cartoons
• http//www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/pre
  sentationsandactvities/activities/politicalcartoon
  /index.html
• http//www.cagle.com/politicalcartoons/

7
(No Transcript)
8
(No Transcript)
9
(No Transcript)
10
(No Transcript)
11
(No Transcript)