Analyzing Political Cartoons

Analyzing Political Cartoons

What Are Political Cartoons?

• Political cartoons are an art form that serves as a window into history by showing us what people were thinking and talking about at a given time and place.

Today’s editorial cartoons will provide the same record of our own time.

Uses of Political Cartoons

• Presents a particular viewpoint on political, economic, or social issues

• Make use of humor, symbolism, historical events, and stereotypes to draw attention to an idea, event, or person

• Stimulates debate on an issue

How To Read Them?

How To Read Them?• Artist’s viewpoint:

How To Read Them?• Artist’s viewpoint:

What subject or issue is the artist commenting on?

How To Read Them?• Artist’s viewpoint:

What subject or issue is the artist commenting on?

• Captions

How To Read Them?• Artist’s viewpoint:

What subject or issue is the artist commenting on?

• CaptionsWhat language do the artist use?

How To Read Them?• Artist’s viewpoint:

What subject or issue is the artist commenting on?

• CaptionsWhat language do the artist use?

• Symbols, Humor, and Satire

How To Read Them?• Artist’s viewpoint:

What subject or issue is the artist commenting on?

• CaptionsWhat language do the artist use?

• Symbols, Humor, and SatireWhat do you see in the cartoon? What feelings are suggested by the image?

How To Read Them?• Artist’s viewpoint:

What subject or issue is the artist commenting on?

• CaptionsWhat language do the artist use?

• Symbols, Humor, and SatireWhat do you see in the cartoon? What feelings are suggested by the image?

• Historical Images

How To Read Them?• Artist’s viewpoint:

What subject or issue is the artist commenting on?

• CaptionsWhat language do the artist use?

• Symbols, Humor, and SatireWhat do you see in the cartoon? What feelings are suggested by the image?

• Historical ImagesRecognizing the historical or literary images is necessary to understand the meaning of the cartoon

America’s First Political Cartoon?

America’s First Political Cartoon?

• It's important to note that America's earliest cartoons were political in nature. The first cartoon appeared in Ben Franklin’s newspaper, The Pennsylvania Gazette, on May 9, 1754.

• The woodcut drawing entitled “Join or Die” pictures a divided snake in eight pieces representing as many colonial governments. The drawing was based on the popular superstition that a snake that had been cut in two would come to life if the pieces were joined before sunset. The drawing resonated among the public and was reproduced in other newspapers.