Political CartoonsPolitical Cartoons

A political cartoon is a drawing that makes a

statement about a political event

or issue.

Thomas Nast, 1840-Thomas Nast, 1840-19021902•    Editorial cartoons have a long and "illustrious" history. Widely credited as "the father of the editorial cartoon," illustrator Thomas Nast expressed his opinions on a wide range of political and social issues during the last half of the 19th century.

Thomas Nast, 1840-Thomas Nast, 1840-19021902• Many consider Nast's cartoons to be a

chronicle of U.S. history during that period. His cartoons were widely influential;

• every presidential candidate Nast supported was elected!

• He devised the Tammany tiger; • popularized the donkey as the symbol for

the Democratic Party • and elephant, for the Republican Party; • and created the "modern" image of

Santa Claus.

Cartoonists Persuasive Cartoonists Persuasive TechniquesTechniques• Symbolism:

• Cartoonists use simple objects or symbols, to stand for larger concepts or ideas.

Cartoonists Persuasive Cartoonists Persuasive TechniquesTechniques• Exaggeration:

•Sometimes cartoonists overdo, or exaggerate the physical characteristics of people or things in order to make a point.

Cartoonists Persuasive Cartoonists Persuasive TechniquesTechniques• Labeling:

•Cartoonists often label objects or people to make it clear exactly what they stand for.

Cartoonists Persuasive Cartoonists Persuasive TechniquesTechniques• Analogy:

• This is a comparison between two unlike things that share some characteristics. By comparing hard-to-understand issues or situations with familiar ones, the cartoonists can help the reader see the message of the cartoon in a different light.

Fr. Cartoon Fr. Cartoon 1900 c1900 cWhat Great powers are

represented here?

What are they doing?

Cartoonists Persuasive Cartoonists Persuasive TechniquesTechniques• Irony:

•This is the difference between the way things are and the way they should be, or are expected to be. Irony is often used in cartoons to express an opinion or issue.

Benjamin Franklin drew the Benjamin Franklin drew the first published American first published American cartoon in 1754cartoon in 1754

Political Cartoons – Saudi Political Cartoons – Saudi Arabia Dec 2005Arabia Dec 2005

The use of Symbolism and analogies to get across their anti Semitic political views.

Political Cartoons – Qatar Political Cartoons – Qatar Sept 2005Sept 2005

Anti-Semitic propaganda.