By Meg Frechette
Cartoon Wars:Cartoon Wars:An Application of Hall’s Theory to An Application of Hall’s Theory to Social Constructs of the EnemySocial Constructs of the Enemy
introductionintroduction“Good Guy” v. “Bad
Guy”How is this idea
constructed?
The power of propaganda during war.
Constructed enemy versus Reality
research questionresearch question
How do does the United States construct their
enemy in political cartoons during times of war and
what are the implications of this construct?
literature review: literature review: warswars
WWI (1914-1918)U.S, France, U.K, Russia, Italy.
versusGermany, Austia-Hungry, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria
WWII (1939-1945)U.S, British Empire, U.S.S.R, (China)
versusGermany, Japan, Italy
Vietnam (1959-1975)U.S., Republic of Vietnam (S. Vietnam)
versusDemocratic Republic of Vietnam (N. Vietnam)
Iraq (2003-Present)U.S., Multi-National Force, UN Assistance Mission, NATO Training Mission, Iraq (post-
Saddam Hussein), Turkeyversus
Iraq (under Saddam Hussein), al-Qaeda in Iraq, Islamis Army of Iraq, Baath Party Loyalists, Insurgent Groups
literature review:literature review:cartoonscartoons
Harry Katz(2004)
William Hogarth – 1700s
Benjamin Franklin
“Join or Die” (1757)
Great Depression
Current Day Cartoonists
literature reviewliterature review::propaganda and the enemypropaganda and the enemy
Sam Keen (1986)
Propaganda meant to Paralyze Thought
Cultural Differences
Reality of Enemy
theory:theory:
Stuart Hall (1996)
How Nation constructs identityNarrative of the nationOrigins, continuity, tradition, and timelessnessInvention of traditionFoundational mythPure, original people, or ‘folk’
Shaped by those in power
methodology:methodology:
Historical Content AnalysisGathered From Online Search
“Vietnam political cartoons” or “WWI editorial cartoons”
Cartoons Collected: Iraq – 119Vietnam – 54WWII – 48WWI – 19
Coding SheetStrengths and Weaknesses
findings:findings:
Weapons Present
ToneMocked or Feared
Humanized v. Dehumanized
Group v. Individual
discussion:discussion:weapons and toneweapons and tone
War Total Cartoons Weapons Tone
WWI 19 (19/240=7.9%) 14(14/19=73.7%)
F: 11(11/19=57.9%)
M: 8(8/19=42.1%)
WWII 48(48/240=20.0%) 20(20/48=41.7%)
F: 38(38/48=79.2%)
M: 10(10/48=20.8%)
Vietnam 54(54/240=22.5%) 23(23/54=42.6%)
F: 17(17/54=31.5%)
M: 35(35/54=64.8%)
R: 2(2/54=3.7%)
Iraq 119(119/240=49.6%)
39(39/119=30.3%)
F: 22(22/119=18.5%)
M: 95(95/119=79.8%)
R: 2(2/119= 1.7%)
Total 240 (100.0%) 96(96/240=40.0%)
F: 88(88/240=36.7%)
M: 148(148/240=61.7%)
R: 4(4/240=1.6%)
discussion:discussion:humanized v. dehumanizedhumanized v. dehumanized
War Humanized Dehumanized
WWI 1(1/19=5.3%) 18(18/19=94.7%)
WWII 25(25/48=52.1%)
23(23/48=47.9%)
Vietnam
12(12/54=22.2%)
42(42/54=77.8%)
Iraq 87(87/119=73.1%)
32(32/119=26.9%)
Total 125(125/240=52.1%)
115(115/240=47.9%)
discussion:discussion:dehumanizeddehumanizedWar Animal Monster Evil Stereotyp
eOther
WWI 1(1/18=5.6%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 11(11/18=61.1%)
6(6/18=33.3%)
WWII 6(6/23=26.1%)
2(2/23=8.6%) 3(3/23=13.3%)
7(7/23=30.4%)
5(5/23=21.6%)
Vietnam
4(4/42=9.5%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 36(36/42=85.7%)
2(2/42=4.8%)
Iraq 1(1/32=3.1%) 3(3/32=9.4%) 6(6/32=18.7%)
21(21/32=65.7%)
1(1/32=3.1%)
Total 12(12/115=10.4%)
5(5/115=4.3%)
9(9/115=7.8%)
75(75/115=65.3%)
14(14/115=12.2%)
discussion:discussion:group v. individualgroup v. individual
War Group Individual Other
WWI 8(8/19=42.1%)
11(11/19=57.9%)
0(0/19=0%)
WWII 21(21/48=43.6%)
24(24/48=50.0%)
3(3/48=6.4%)
Vietnam 13(13/54=24.1%)
39(39/54=72.2%)
2(2/54=3.7%)
Iraq 21(21/119=17.6%)
94(94/119=79.0%)
4(4/119=3.4%)
Total 63(63/240=26.3%)
168(168/240=70.0%)
9(9/240=3.7%)V
.
conclusion and conclusion and further researchfurther researchEnemy is merely construct to create unity
“Them” v. “Us”
Need to reinforce cultural awareness
Questions?
discussion:discussion:humanizedhumanized
War Humanized Named Features
WWI 1(1/19=5.3%) 0(0/1=0%) 1(1/1=100.0%)
WWII 25(25/48=52.1%)
24(24/25=96.0%)
1(1/25=4.0%)
Vietnam
12(12/54=22.2%)
11(11/12=91.7%)
1(1/12=8.3%)
Iraq 87(87/119=73.1%)
76(76/87=87.4%)
11(11/87=12.6%)
Total 125(100%) 111(111/125=88.8%)
14(14/125=11.2%)
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