Political Cartoons A Brief Introduction

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1. Acquire Knowledge 2. Identify the Issue 3. Analyze Devices 4. Identify Bias of the Cartoonist 5. Interpreting the Cartoon Decoding Political Cartoons Just remember - K.I.D.B.I.

Essential Devices Caricature- Purpose: to identify the people, place, or event Device: simplify, distort, or exaggerate Analogy- Purpose: creation of settings, situations, for comparison Device: historical, literary, cultural Words- Purpose- commentary, explanation, revelation, Devices: titles, captions, name tags, dialogue, balloons Signs and related devices- Purpose: quick communication Devices: signs, symbols, stereotypes, size, shading

Identifying Bias of Cartoonist National or Regional Political Religious Racial or Ethnic Vocational Economic Gender Historical Influences Personal Values Marital Status

Caricature Caricature is a form of visual satire and is nearly always negative. Focus on a an individual’s unique physical characteristics and exaggerate or distort them!

Analogy Analogy draws on a rich pool of historical, literary, and cultural references to create a fantasy setting or situation which relates in some way to reality. The similarity forces the viewer to think about the situation in a new way.

Words Cartoons usually have titles or captions, and sometimes they have name tags, balloon comments or dialogue.

Signs Road signs, warning signs, informational signs. Abstract + = ÷×≠®™ Facial expressions, gestures, attitude and position of body, also used to convey messages. They all emphasize ideas and convey emotions.

Symbols Canada: Maple Leaf Beaver Jean Baptiste USA: Uncle Sam Stars and Stripes Eagle Britain: Union Jack The Lion

Stereotypes A stereotype is an oversimplified mental picture of characteristics supposedly shared by many people in a group. Stereotypes may be unfair and insulting to the group they represent!

Size Size is frequently used by cartoonists to draw attention to a particular figure in the cartoon or to emphasize status or power.

Shading Another visual device used by cartoonists is shading. The dark figures represent the ‘bad’ guys, and the light figures the ‘good’ guys. How is shading used here?

Editorial Cartoon Drawn in 2 Minutes !!! In class: Applying your new knowledge of the devices used by political /editorial cartoonists – analyze the political cartoons I have handed out. Assignment: Look at examples of Canadian political cartoons on-line, then create your own political cartoon from either a current or historical Canadian political event relevant specifically to women.

Photo Option for Assignment: If you do not wish to draw – you may use a digital photograph, or photo from the recent news.

Giving credit where credit is due: This PowerPoint has been adapted by Anastasia Andrews from the fabulous booklet: Charles and Cynthia Hou. The Art of Decoding Political Cartoons, A Teacher’s Guide, (Vancouver, Moody’s Lookout Press), 1998.

For more information: History of Editorial Cartooning in Canada:  This website has links to biographical information about Canadian cartoonists:  Canadian political cartoonists-not a comprehensive list!  Historical: Duncan Macpherson and Leonard Norris  Contemporary: Roy Gable, Roy Peterson, Andy Donato On-line Canadian Political Cartoonists:  MacKay  Maple Leaf Web click on CARTOONS (National, Political, and Local cartoons)