Political Cartoons

How to interpret the meaning in Political Cartoons?

Day 1

Notes Start the assignment

What is a Political Cartoon?

A political cartoon is a cartoon that makes a point about political issue or event.

Task Write 3 place where you might find a political

cartoon.

Where can you find Political Cartoons? Newspapers (Not in the Comic Section) Newsmagazines Political Websites History Books

Task

In one sentence explain the purpose of a political cartoon.

What do political cartoons do?

The main purpose of a cartoon is to persuade you toward the authors point of view.

They can be funny. (Especially if you understand the issue they deal with)

A good political cartoon makes you think about current events.

Persuasive Techniques

Cartoons use several methods or techniques to get there point across.

Once you notice these techniques, you can understand the cartoonists point of view more clearly.

Symbolism

To use a symbol to express meaning.

What does the picture to the right symbolize?

Exaggeration

To enlarge beyond the truth.

What is the picture saying you will have to do in order to eat one of these burgers? Is this possible?

Irony

A form of humor in which something is said in a way that mocks it’s own apparent meaning.

In other words, what is said seems to mean one thing, but it will be taken to mean the opposite.

How are these pictures Irony?

Stereotype

Vastly oversimplified view of something and it is usually insulting

How is this photo a stereotype?

Analogy

A similarity between like features of two things.

A fish is to swimming as a bird is to flying

Argument vs. Slogan

A slogan merely asserts something.

An apple a day will keep the doctor away.

A cartoon offers visual and written features that together “make it’s case.”

It presents reasons to support it’s view.

Uses of Political Cartoons

Uses of Cartoons May be funny

outrageous, or insulting

Provoke thought about an issue in the news

Reveal Assumptions Moods Insight

Not Uses

Simple reflections of the way things use to be.

Assignment

Divide the class into 2 or 6 groups. One group will be given the 3 current political

cartoons and the other group will be given the historic cartoons. The two groups will need to come up with a

sentence explaining each of their cartoons. The group must present the cartoon and

sentence to the class.

Day 2 maybe even 3

If it takes you 2 days to do the first part then you can start the second part on Day 3

Assignment – May take 2 Days

Class will be split into 6 groups Each group will be given a specific cartoon that emphasizes a

characteristic of political cartoons. 6 cartoons will be a word document.

It will be the job of the group to work together to answer the questions that are attached to each characteristic.

Student’s will then be put into new groups where each member is a member from another group.

At this point the cartoons will be shared with one another. Everybody should have answers for all cartoons.

Groups will share their cartoon to the class and a discussion will begin.