How to Decode a Political Cartoon

Definitions "political": that which is concerned with public affairs or government "cartoon": a sketch or drawing that interests or amuses by portraying persons, things, political events or situations etc. in an exaggerated way

Definitions SATIRE - uses humor to lower something or someone in the reader’s or viewer’s estimation. It is not mean-spirited and its point is not to harm. It exposes human folly to make room for improvement.

What are Political Cartoons? Political cartoons usually appear on the editorial page of your daily newspaper. They generally deal with events or issues currently in the news and are, in essence, visual editorials. Like the writer of an editorial, the cartoonist is trying to make a point.

What are Political Cartoons? When you look at a political cartoon produced many years ago you are seeing it out of its original context. In order to "get it" you will likely need some background information from classroom discussion, a textbook or your own research. Once you have a general idea of the topic at hand you can start to decode the message the cartoonist is trying to convey.

Tools Used By Cartoonist Exaggeration Allusion Analogy Symbolism Caricature Stereotype Humor Personification

CARICATURE Exaggerates one or more features of a person or thing. It attempts to say something about the person/thing’s character, beliefs, actions or significance. Makes them easily recognizable. Made Obama’s ears large

CARICATURE Facial expression and body language can be used as signs to communicate ideas. In some cases a cartoonist may use shading to indicate the "good guys" (light) and the "bad guys" (dark). Jimi Hendrix

SYMBOL Represents something else. It is a often a material object that represents something abstract or invisible (for example, the Statue of Liberty to represent freedom; or the stars of the confederate flag as KKK).

METAPHOR Uses an object to note a similarity to something else. For example, John Bull (England) as an octopus of imperialism

IRONY Expresses an idea through a contradiction between something’s literal meaning and the intended meaning. For example, picturing a U.S. president with a crown on his head. SARCASM- is a form of irony. The element that turns irony into sarcasm is the appearance of mockery, or bitterness.

“Pray Keep Moving Brother”

"Pray keep moving, brother" As the civil rights movement heated up in the 1960s, black Americans cultivated the technique of peaceful protest, using it in dignified and disciplined demonstrations against segregation at lunch counters and other places. Here Herb Block focuses on the ultimate irony of segregation in places of worship preaching the brotherhood of man.

STEREOTYPES Works by taking a real or imagined trait of an individual to be true of the group to which the individual belongs. They express bias and can be unfair and harmful. The black man is sketched to look like an ape, with large lips and no shoes.

Analogy & Allusions Another very important technique is the use of analogy, in which one event is represented by another. An allusion is understandable only to those with prior knowledge of the reference in question (which the writer assumes to be so). A one-sentence or one-phrase (or image) reference to another event, character, etc. in the Bible, mythology, or current event

Three kings follow star to Barack Obama, savior of the Democrats.

Captions Cartoonists sometimes use words (titles, captions, name tags, balloon comments or dialogue) to help the viewer.

Biases When you look at a political cartoon you should consider the biases of the cartoonist. The cartoonist, after all, is trying to make a point. When and where was the cartoon published, and in what type of publication? Who is portrayed in a favourable manner and who is not? Cartoons can display a number of other biases as well (such as political, religious, racial or ethnic, vocational, economic or gender biases).

Decode the message by using the following method: Scrutinize the characters. Can you name them by drawing on your knowledge of local and world events? Examine the characters' attire and other visual clues. For example: facial expressions: does the character's face convey anger, fear, intrigue etc.? complexion: describe the character's facial appearance (clean-cut and shaven, scruffy etc.) body expression and appearance: describe the character's physical appearance (slouched, arms waving frantically, small stature, broad and bold body etc.) attire: what is the character wearing? (suit and tie, underwear, hats etc.) exaggeration of facial or physical characteristics: compared to a photograph (e.g., chins, mouths, bulging eyes, long noses etc.) Identify objects you see in the cartoon (buildings, fences, something the character is holding). Notice words on the objects and background features (sky, walls, water). Discuss the main ideas expressed in the cartoon's text. Is there a common theme?

Once you have looked critically at a cartoon you can try to interpret it. In summary, when you look at a political cartoon you should take the following steps: seek out the necessary background knowledge determine the issue being considered study the devices the cartoonist has used identify any possible biases and try to interpret the cartoon. In short, what is the cartoon about, what techniques does the cartoonist use, and what does it all mean? Once you have looked critically at a cartoon you can try to interpret it.

THE POLITICAL QUADRILLE. MUSIC BY DRED SCOTT The Election of 1860 Figures left to right clockwise: John C. Breckinridge dances with James Buchanan. Dred Scott seated plays the violin. Lincoln dances with African American woman. John Bell dances with Native American. Stephen Douglas dances with a sovereign in rags.

Candidates and Platforms The Election of 1860 Figures from left to right: In upper left hand corner a figure looks out a window titled: Before Stephen Douglas with one foot through the Cincinnati Platform and the other on the Mason Dixon Line waves two flags: SOUTH. “Dred Scott Decision.” and NORTH. Unfriendly Legislation. Lincoln stands on a No Extension of Slavery platform holds tight with his right hand the rope around Douglas' neck which reads: Squatter sovereignty, and brandishes a rail with his left. John Bell stands on the ground without a platform and has a bell over his head; John C. Breckinridge seated behind him writing New York Ledger; his head is also under the bell.

A POLITICAL RACE Text from left to right: John Bell: Bless my soul I give up. John C. Breckinridge: That long legged Abolitionist is getting ahead of us after all. Stephen Douglas: I never run so in my life.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) In this editorial cartoon from the 1856 presidential election, James Buchanan—in the light suit—helps hold down the head of a "Free Soiler" while Illinois Senator Stephen A. Douglas and President Franklin Pierce shove an African-American slave down his throat. The freesoiler's head rests on a platform marked "Kansas," "Cuba," and "Central America," probably referring to Democratic ambitions for the extension of slavery. In the background left is a scene of burning and pillage; on the right a dead man hangs from a tree. In 1860, Douglas, who wrote the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, would carry Pennsylvania, but lose the presidential election to Abraham Lincoln.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

“Sorry but you have an incurable skin condition”

"Sorry, but you have an incurable skin condition" In many areas, black doctors were excluded from practice in medical facilities. This not only deprived them of opportunities, but deprived many patients of all colors of treatment they might otherwise have received. In 1963, the AMA and a black medical association agreed to form a joint committee to halt injustices toward African American doctors.

“Its all right to seat them. They’re not Americans”

"It's all right to seat them. They're not Americans" President John F. Kennedy called for southern governors to assure "a friendly and dignified reception" for foreign diplomats visiting the United States, amid widespread discrimination against blacks in restaurants and other public places. The governor of Virginia, where "massive resistance" to desegregation originated, promised to provide southern courtesy, but coupled his response with the suggestion that diplomats identify themselves as official representatives of their governments. Herb Block's cartoon, based on an actual occurrence, expressed the outrageousness of black Americans in the United States being held as less worthy of respectful treatment than foreigners.

Jerico, USA

Jericho, U.S.A. Herb Block compares the civil rights marches around the exclusionary walls of segregation to the Biblical march of the exiled ancient Israelites around the walled city of Jericho. The Israelites marched around Jericho seven times and the walls came tumbling down.

“And Remember, Nothing Can Be Accomplished By taking to the Streets.”

"And remember, nothing can be accomplished by taking to the streets" Herb Block applauds the growing activism of the civil rights movement in this cartoon. Here he shows the Catch-22 situation of an African-American practically pushed into the street by a white man, while signs on all the buildings that line the street speak of restrictions on African Americans.

“I Just Got One of ‘em, Just as She Almost Made it Back to the Church”

"I got one of ‘em just as she almost made it back to the church" In 1965, Alabama became the focus of an intense effort to register blacks to vote. On March 7, 1965, over 600 marchers for voting rights left Brown's Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Selma on their way to Montgomery, fifty-four miles away. On this "Bloody Sunday," state troopers attacked the marchers as they reached the Edmund Pettus Bridge at the Alabama River. Nearly 100 of the marchers were hurt as they ran back toward the church. Television cameras captured the violence, making Selma an overnight symbol of racial oppression. It led President Lyndon Johnson to push for the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Poplarville, Mississippi, U.S.A 1959

Poplarville, Mississippi, U. S. A., 1959 Although in the 1950s some progress was made toward attaining civil rights for African Americans, lynchings continued until the late 1960s. On April 25, 1959, a group abducted Charles Parker from prison in Poplarville, Mississippi where he awaited trial on charges of raping a white woman. On May 4, the FBI found his body in the Pearl River near Bogalusha, Louisiana, executed with two bullets. The Governor of Mississippi said he would bring the matter before a grand jury at its next regular session months later.

Decode the following political cartoons with a partner

Confederate flag

“Democracy While Black”

The Civil Rights Movement Assignment The Civil Rights Movement Political Cartoons Instructions: Create a political cartoon depicting the Civil Rights Movement You must invent an appropriate slogan and have captions. Your illustrations must be fully coloured & hand-drawn (or traced). Checklist for Creating Cartoons and Posters: Decide what aspect of the Civil Rights Movement that you wish to convey your message with. Give reasons for your decision. Identify your topic: Event, person etc.. Express your point of view and the message you want to convey Determine what symbols are appropriate and historically accurate Choose the words to convey your message. Hand-out with marking rubric given out in class