Political Cartoons: Pictures with a Point

Political Cartoons: Pictures with a Point A political cartoon is a cartoon that makes a point about a political issue or event. You can find them in any daily newspaper, but they won’t be in the comics section. Instead, look on the editorial pages – they’re right next to the editorial columns, and across from the opinion essays. You can also find them in newsmagazines and on political Web sites. Political cartoons can be very funny, especially if you understand the issue that they’re commenting on. Their main purpose, though, is not to amuse you but to persuade you. A good political cartoon makes you think about current events, but it also tries to sway your opinion toward the cartoonist’s point of view. The best political cartoonist can change your mind on an issue without you even realizing how he or she did it. Techniques cartoonists use are:

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

Exaggeration: Sometimes cartoonists overdo, or exaggerate, the physical characteristics of people or things in order to make a point. When you study a cartoon, look for any characteristics that seem overdone or overblown. (Facial characteristics and clothing are some of the most commonly exaggerated characteristics.) Then, try to decide what point the cartoonist was trying to make through exaggeration.

Labeling: Cartoonists often label objects or people to make it clear exactly what they stand for. Watch out for the different labels that appear in a cartoon, and ask yourself why the cartoonist chose to label that particular person or object. Does the label make the meaning of the object more clear?

Analogy: An analogy is a comparison between two unlike things that share some characteristics. By comparing a complex issue or situation with a more familiar one, cartoonists can help their readers see it in a different light. After you’ve studied a cartoon for a while, try to decide what the cartoon’s main analogy is. What two situations does the cartoon compare? Once you understand the main analogy, decide if this comparison makes the cartoonist’s point more clear to you. Assignment: Political Cartoon Rubric

5 4 3-2 1-0

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The political cartoon’s The political cartoon’s The political cartoon’s The political cartoon’s Creativity of the style, color, and impact style, color, and impact style, color, and impact do style, color, and impact Product align perfectly with the align well with the students not align well with the seem disjointed and students ideas. ideas. students ideas. rushed.

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Think:

What issue is this political cartoon about?

What is the cartoonist’s opinion on this issue?

Who do the people represent?

What is the symbolism of the hat?

What is exaggerated? Why did they exaggerate?

What is labeled? Why did they do it?

What is the analogy? What is compared?