http://www.inosr.net/inosr-humanities-and-social-sciences/ Thierry and Winny INOSR HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES 2(1): 1-5, 2016. ©INOSR PUBLICATIONS International Network Organization for Scientific Research ISSN: 2705-1684

Cartoons as a Satirical Depiction of Present Day Political Society: Review

1Thierry Jean Marie and 2Winny Samantha

1Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Science, Mahatma Gandhi University, Rwanda. 2Department of Communication Arts, College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda ABSTRACT satire is a genre of literature and the adventures of child protagonists or performing arts, in which vices, follies, related themes. Various classes of cartoon abuses and shortcomings are held up to as been helpful in the study but political ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming cartooning played a major rule in the individuals, corporations, government, or society which has been a major vehicle of society itself into improvement. The word political tussling. The review concluded cartoon is most often used as a descriptor that practical ways can be achieved in for television programs and short films managing satirical cartoons instead of aimed at children, possibly featuring violating the media. anthropomorphized animals, superheroes, Keywords: Cartoon, Satire, Politics and violations. INTRODUCTION A cartoon is a type of illustration, abuses and shortcomings are held up to possibly animated, typically in a non- ridicule, ideally with the intent of realistic or semi-realistic style. The shaming individuals, corporations, specific meaning has evolved over time, government, or society itself into but the modern usage usually refers to improvement [4]. Although satire is either: an image or series of images usually meant to be humorous, its greater intended for satire, caricature, or humor; purpose is often constructive social or a motion picture that relies on a criticism, using wit to draw attention to sequence of illustrations for its animation both particular and wider issues in [1]. Someone who creates cartoons in the society. A feature of satire is strong irony first sense is called a cartoonist, and in or sarcasm. In satire, irony is militant, [5] the second sense they are usually called but parody, burlesque, exaggeration, an animator. Because of the stylistic juxtaposition, comparison, analogy, and similarities between comic strips and double entendre are all frequently used in early animated movies, cartoon came to satirical speech and writing. This refer to animation, and the word cartoon "militant" irony or sarcasm often is currently used in reference to both professes to approve of (or at least accept animated cartoons and gag cartoons.[2] as natural) the very things the satirist While animation designates any style of wishes to attack. Satire is nowadays found illustrated images seen in rapid in many artistic forms of expression, succession to give the impression of including internet memes, literature, movement, the word "cartoon" is most plays, commentary, television shows, and often used as a descriptor for television media such as lyrics [6]. programs and short films aimed at A society is a group of individuals children, possibly featuring involved in persistent social interaction, anthropomorphized animals, or a large social group sharing the same superheroes, the adventures of child geographical or social territory, typically protagonists or related themes [3]. subject to the same political authority In fiction and less frequently in non- and dominant cultural expectations. fiction, satire is a genre of literature and Societies are characterized by patterns of performing arts, in which vices, follies, relationships (social relations) between

1 http://www.inosr.net/inosr-humanities-and-social-sciences/ Thierry and Winny INOSR HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES 2(1): 1-5, 2016. individuals who share a distinctive satirical rather than just funny, they may culture and institutions; a given society say the political viewpoint of the may be described as the sum total of such cartoonist or an addition to an editorial relationships among its constituent of opinion article in a newspaper or members. In the social sciences, a larger magazine. In other words, they show the society often exhibits stratification or Cartoonists view of the Politics that they dominance patterns in subgroups. are drawing about. But, sometimes Societies construct patterns of behavior Political Cartoons may express an idea by deeming certain actions or speech as that the Government is trying to stop. The acceptable or unacceptable. These target of the humor may complain, but patterns of behavior within a given can seldom fight back [10]. society are known as societal norms [7]. Gag Cartoons Societies, and their norms, undergo Gag Cartoons usually consist of just one gradual and perpetual changes. Insofar as panel [11]. This one panel shows the it is collaborative, a society can enable its humor in, or makes fun of a certain group members to benefit in ways that would of people, rather than just a single otherwise be difficult on an individual person. Gag cartoons are usually found on basis; both individual and social greeting cards or magazines. Scroll down (common) benefits can thus be for an example of a Gag Cartoon. distinguished, or in many cases found to Scientific cartoons overlap. A society can also consist of like- Cartoons such as “xkcd” have also found minded people governed by their own their place in the world of science, norms and values within a dominant, mathematics, and technology [12]. For larger society. This is sometimes referred example, the cartoon “Wonderlab” looked to as a subculture, a term used at daily life in the chemistry lab. In the extensively within criminology [8]. More U.S., one well-known cartoonist for these broadly, and especially within fields is Sidney Harris. Many of Gary structuralist thought, a society may be Larson's cartoons have a scientific flavor. illustrated as an economic, social, Political Satire and Political industrial or cultural infrastructure, made Participation up of, yet distinct from, a varied Citizen participation is essential to the collection of individuals. In this regard functioning of a healthy democracy [13]. society can mean the objective A body of research has examined the relationships people have with the effects of political satire on material world and with other people, participatory behaviors; however, rather than "other people" beyond the whether political satire can foster individual and their familiar social political participation remains open for environment. debate [14] Scholars have explored the Types of cartoon mediating mechanisms and conditional They are three categorized forms of factors to better understand these cartoon listed below: inconsistent results. For instance, [15] Comic Strip Cartoons found that watching late-night comedy Comic Strip Cartoons have more than one encourages political participation panel. They usually are a series of through interpersonal discussion and humorous drawings put together to make online interaction. [1] also found that a funny plot [9]. The last panel usually watching political comedy programs has the punch line. Animation is kind of enhances participation through like a Comic Strip Cartoon, because enhancing internal self-efficacy. More Animation is basically defined as a series recently, [3] advanced the Orientation- of pictures put together one after the Stimulus-Orientation-Response (O-S-O-R) other to make it seem as if the characters framework by testing negative are in motion. emotions as a crucial mediator (i.e., Political Cartoons the second O) between exposure to Political Cartoons usually serve as a visual political satire and political commentary on current events. Usually participation. They found that exposure

2 http://www.inosr.net/inosr-humanities-and-social-sciences/ Thierry and Winny INOSR HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES 2(1): 1-5, 2016. to political satire (S) encourages political likely to induce anger but also participation (R) through negative because it has been widely studied in emotions (the second O). However, some public opinion and found to have a scholars have voiced the concern that strong association with participatory political comedy programs may indirectly behaviors [5]; [6]. In addition, rather demobilize participation through than examining a combined index of fostering negative evaluations of negative emotions, we examine anger political candidates and eliciting because other negative emotions may not cynicism toward the electoral system play the same role in the relationship [6]. Given that findings concerning between exposure to political satire and whether exposure to political satire political participation, which we explain encourages or demobilizes political in the next section regarding the participation are inconclusive, we relationship between anger and political propose a research question to examine participation. While acknowledging that whether exposure to political satire (vs. exposure to political satire elicits no exposure) could affect political anger, we argue that whether the participation before further satirical content supports or challenges investigating the potential influence of one’s political views should matter in the other three factors (i.e., content influencing emotional arousal given that feature, anger, and personal issue political satire is less entertaining when it importance) in the relationship [7]. disagrees with one’s views or criticizes a Political Satire and Anger public figure one supports [12]. In Studies have shown that people addition, the literature on selective exposed to political satire are likely to exposure has demonstrated that have more negative perceptions of counterattitudinal content is likely to political candidates (e.g., lower trust) produce dissonance that makes and exhibit more cynicism toward the people uncomfortable [15]. Studies of electoral system [4]. Political satire political discussion have also found also has been found to reduce that opposition in one’s political tolerance [9]. These negative communication network may exacerbate consequences of exposure to political rather than offset a state of anger [8]. satire result from the aggressive and Thus, to build on the line of research unflattering tone of political humor given on political satire and negative that political satire is used as a venue to emotions, we examine exposure to pro- critique wrongdoings of political figures, or counterattitudinal political satire reveal failures of political processes, and and propose that counterattitudinal show violations of social norms [1]. satirical content is more likely than Sarcastic humor in political satire is proattitudinal content to evoke anger. well positioned to trigger people’s Regulations on satirical cartoon emotional responses [4]. Although Rwanda’s Supreme Court on Wednesday previous studies mostly emphasized repealed a law that banned the the relationship between exposure to publication of political cartoons, while political satire and negative attitude, upholding another that punishes insulting following this line of reasoning, [10] or defaming the president with at least argued that sarcastic humor about a five years in prison. Critics accuse long- public issue featured in a political satire ruling Rwandan president Paul Kagame of program would elicit negative emotions muzzling the press and dissenting voices, toward a government policy. Combining despite his winning international praise worry and anger as an index of negative for steering the country through a period emotion, they found a positive of rapid economic recovery since the relationship between exposure to political 1994 genocide [14]. Chief justice Sam satire and negative emotions. Building on Rugege said article 233, which bans the this line of research, we specifically humiliation of national authorities and examine a negative emotion (i.e., anger) persons in charge of public service, ran not only because political satire is counter to freedom of expression

3 http://www.inosr.net/inosr-humanities-and-social-sciences/ Thierry and Winny INOSR HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES 2(1): 1-5, 2016. embedded in the constitution. “The court president is harming the public order.” rules that the article that punishes Freedom of expression remains a thorny humiliating officials is against the issue in Rwanda, where hate-speech freedom of speech as one might fear to spread by Radio RTLM helped stir up express themselves for fear of being ethnic tensions that lead to the genocide prosecuted,” Rugege said. “Insulting the of more than 800,000 people [11]. CONCLUSION This review provides an overview of society thereby contributing to political various studies conducted on political communication, social debate and cartoons. In fact, from the examined commentary. Despite the fact that previous research, it becomes evident political cartoons rely on satire as a that political cartoons rely heavily on the linguistic weapon to critique politicians interplay between images and words and authorities and communicate specific language use especially satire as effectively, the reality of issues and a tool to communicate social and political events, existing studies have not yet messages. Thus, through creative explored how satire is used; neither does combination of images and words, satire, it examine linguistic and nonlinguistic political cartoons have the potentials of devices employed for creating and entertaining and informing the public on conveying satire in political cartoons. It current issues. The cartoons can also be could be argued from the review that used to criticize vice and folly as a way of political cartoons play a vital transforming society and its polity. As communicative role through which the such, they are used as agents of social general public is informed, and reoriented and political reforms in society. In on contemporary social issues affecting addition, political cartoons serve as the the society. Thus, this study responds to mirror of society reflecting its social the call for further studies by political happenings and practices. Considering cartoons academics who have suggested their increase use in media, political that research about political cartoons and cartoons constitute a vital social its ways of usage has been overlooked for discourse that mediates media and far too long. REFERENCES 1. Akande, O. (2002). A Semiotic Presidential Campaign: political Analysis of Political Cartoons: A cartoons and Popular Culture case study of Nigeria. University of References. American Behavioral Oklahoma, Oklahoma. Scientist, 49(3), 487-497. 2. Benoit, W., Klyukovski, A., McHale, 6. Diamond, M. (2002). No laughing J., & Airne, D. (2001). A fantasy matter: PostSeptember 11 political theme analysis of political cartoons in Arab/Muslim cartoons on the Clinton-Lewinsky- newspapers. Political Starr affair. Critical Studies in Communication, 19(2), 251-272. Media Communication, 18(4), 377- 7. Dilliplane, S. (2011). All the news 394. you want to hear: The impact of 3. Bergen, B. (2004). To awaken a partisan news exposure on sleeping giant. Cognition and political participation. Public culture in September 11 political Opinion Quarterly, 75(2), 287–316. cartoons. Language, Culture and 8. Duus, P. (2001). Presidential Mind. Standford, CA: CSLI, 23–35. Address: Weapons of the Weak, 4. Chen, H.-T. (2012). Multiple issue Weapons of the Strong-The publics in the high-choice media Development of the Japanese environment: Media use, online Political Cartoon. Journal of Asian activity, and political knowledge. Studies, 60(4), 965-997. Asian Journal of Communication, 9. Hmielowski, J. D., Holbert, R. L., & 22(6), 621–641. Lee, J. (2011). Predicting the 5. Conners, L. J. (2005). Visual consumption of political TV satire: Representations of the 2004 Affinity for political humor, The

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