Student Handout

LESSON PLAN

“Introduction to Interpreting Contemporary Editorial Cartoons”

Based on the virtual exhibition “Where to draw the line? Editorial Cartoons in Québec, 1950-2000”

The Quebec Games Bilingual Signs and Bill 101 Aislin, 1978, Berthio, 1977 M989.363.172 P173_S5, BAnQ © McCord Museum LEARNING TO DECODE CARTOONS

Expected production:  decode two cartoons connected to the language debates from among the dozen suggested, 1 using if possible one cartoon from the French-language media and one from the English-language media;  and compare the points of view expressed in these cartoons.

Related resources:  the text “Language Conflict in Québec ;”2  the text “ Six Editorial Cartoonists and Some Favorite Subjects. ” 3

Note some of their main components, based on the following grid:

INTERPRETATION GRID FOR AN EDITORIAL CARTOON

Note the data for the cartoon:  Cartoon title:  Author:  Media-newspaper (if known):  Date of first publication and page # (if known):  Accession number (identifying number in the McCord Museum collection):

Describe the cartoon:  The “WHAT” or the SHAPE-FUNCTION key  What words are used in the cartoon?  Find definitions for any unusual words or expressions.  If there is a dialogue, what does each cartoon say?  What is happening?  Are visual elements, signs or symbols being used?

1 www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/en/folders/langues 2 www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/cartoons/explore , choose “Language Conflict in Québec.” 3 www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/cartoons/words/subjects Lesson plan using the virtual exhibition “Editorial Cartoons in Québec” 1 McCord Museum, EduWeb, March 2009 www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/pdf/eduweb/caricature6.en.eleve.doc  What rhetorical device does the cartoonist use? (examples: opposition, combination, condensation, domestication)

Document the cartoon:  The “WHO” or the PEOPLE key  Who is depicted in the cartoon? What do we know about these people?  What are the characters’ physical gestures and facial expressions?  Are characters stereotyped?  Are these characters symbolic?  The “WHERE” or the PLACE key  In what situation are the characters placed?  Is the illustrator using analogy (by comparing one situation to another)?  The “WHEN” or the TIME key  What historical event or fact does the cartoon depict?  Are these people or these issues still important today?  Can you associate this news event with a similar event in the recent history of Québec?

Interpret the cartoon  The “WHY” or the MEANING key:  In a few words, what message is this cartoon trying to send?  Can the point of view or values (political, religious, regional, ethnic, economic, etc.) of the cartoonist be identified?  What does the cartoon teach us about the historical context of the period or the treatment of a present-day issue?

Produce, as the final assignment, a visual and written presentation to be saved on the McCord Web site that presents your interpretation of the targeted cartoons.

 You must first create your MyMcCord account on the McCord Web site, by going on the page “MyMcCord”, and clicking on “Sign Up.”4

 Then you will be able to select images and display them to create a folder. You will save this folder on the McCord Web site and be able to access it at any time. You can arrange the images in a specific order and enter text to write up your assignment. For technical assistance, consult the page “Your images folders,” in the EduWeb.5

4 www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/mymccord 5 www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/en/eduweb/folders Lesson plan using the virtual exhibition “Editorial Cartoons in Québec” 2 McCord Museum, EduWeb, March 2009 www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/pdf/eduweb/caricature6.en.eleve.doc