Technology and Globalization
2.2.2 Political Cartoons in the Press
The strong feeling raised by politics and international issues are the fodder of political cartoonists in this country and around the world. Cartoons not only reflect the events of times, but they often offer an interpretation or express a strong opinion about these events as well. Cartoonists use a variety of methods to convey their ideas.
The techniques they use include:
1. Analogy: Cartoonists may compare a simple image or concept to a more complex situation in order to help the viewer understand the complex situation in a different way.
Questions you might ask yourself to define the use of analogy include-- Are two ideas or situations being compared? Does the comparison help the viewer understand the situation in a different way?
2. Irony: A cartoonist may express an opinion on a topic by highlighting the difference between the way things are and the way the cartoonists thinks they ought to be.
Questions you might ask yourself to define the use of irony include--Is something being presented as the opposite of what might normally be expected? Does the cartoonist think something about the situation should be different?
3. Labels: Cartoonists often identify or name certain things in their cartoons so it is apparent what the items represent.
A question you might ask yourself to define the use of labels is--Are items in the cartoon labeled?
4. Symbolism: Cartoonists may use simple objects to represent larger ideas or concepts.
Questions you might ask yourself to define the use of symbolism include--Is there an image or object that represents an idea but does not particularly describe the item or concept?
The strong feeling raised by politics and international issues are the fodder of political cartoonists in this country and around the world. Cartoons not only reflect the events of times, but they often offer an interpretation or express a strong opinion about these events as well. Cartoonists use a variety of methods to convey their ideas.
The techniques they use include:
1. Analogy: Cartoonists may compare a simple image or concept to a more complex situation in order to help the viewer understand the complex situation in a different way.
Questions you might ask yourself to define the use of analogy include-- Are two ideas or situations being compared? Does the comparison help the viewer understand the situation in a different way?
2. Irony: A cartoonist may express an opinion on a topic by highlighting the difference between the way things are and the way the cartoonists thinks they ought to be.
Questions you might ask yourself to define the use of irony include--Is something being presented as the opposite of what might normally be expected? Does the cartoonist think something about the situation should be different?
3. Labels: Cartoonists often identify or name certain things in their cartoons so it is apparent what the items represent.
A question you might ask yourself to define the use of labels is--Are items in the cartoon labeled?
4. Symbolism: Cartoonists may use simple objects to represent larger ideas or concepts.
Questions you might ask yourself to define the use of symbolism include--Is there an image or object that represents an idea but does not particularly describe the item or concept?
Your task:
Using the descriptions of the various techniques used by cartoonists, analyze the three cartoons and answer the questions for each cartoon. You may copy and paste the assignment to a word document or use this template.
Submit your work to your American History B course in Blackboard.
Assignment
Complete for each cartoon:
Part I: Observation
1. Describe the people or objects in the cartoon
2. Describe the action taking place in the cartoon
Part II: Analysis
1. Identify at least two techniques the cartoonist used and explain how the techniques are used in the cartoon.
2. What is the message of the cartoon?
3. How is the cartoon related to what you know about what is happening in the world economy today?
Cartoons
Using the descriptions of the various techniques used by cartoonists, analyze the three cartoons and answer the questions for each cartoon. You may copy and paste the assignment to a word document or use this template.
Submit your work to your American History B course in Blackboard.
Assignment
Complete for each cartoon:
Part I: Observation
1. Describe the people or objects in the cartoon
2. Describe the action taking place in the cartoon
Part II: Analysis
1. Identify at least two techniques the cartoonist used and explain how the techniques are used in the cartoon.
2. What is the message of the cartoon?
3. How is the cartoon related to what you know about what is happening in the world economy today?
Cartoons
Cartoon One Cartoon Two
Cartoon Three
All cartoons and questions retrieved from http://www.choices.edu/index.php "Homepage | Choices Program." Homepage | Choices Program. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2011. <http://www.choices.edu/index.php>.
■ ChoiCes for the 21st Century eduCation Program ■ Watson institute for international studies, BroWn university ■ WWW.ChoiCes.edu
All cartoons and questions retrieved from http://www.choices.edu/index.php "Homepage | Choices Program." Homepage | Choices Program. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2011. <http://www.choices.edu/index.php>.
■ ChoiCes for the 21st Century eduCation Program ■ Watson institute for international studies, BroWn university ■ WWW.ChoiCes.edu