1. Analyze This: Political Cartoons

2. What is it?
A political cartoon is a cartoon that makes a point about a political issue or event.
Designed to convey a message

3. How to Read Them
Artist’s viewpoint
Symbols
Captions
Historical Images

4. Artist Viewpoint: The purpose of any political cartoon is to express an opinion
What subject or issue is the artist commenting on?
How is the subject portrayed?
What feelings are suggested by the images?

5. What is the Viewpoint?
Voter apathy: If you don’t vote you should be ashamed; you will be in trouble with society

6. Symbols
Symbols can stand for objects, places, groups of people, beliefs, character traits, or ideas
Common symbols for our country:
*Uncle Sam=United States
*Set of Scales=Justice or court system
*Dollar bill=Money
Animals used as symbols
*Donkey= the Democratic Party
*Elephant= the Republican Party
*Dove= Peace
*Fox= Sly or untrustworthy

7. What do these symbols mean?

8. Captions Can identify people and objects
Can help the reader understand the message, even if the symbols aren’t familiar.

10. Historical Images
Artists include historical images to help express viewpoints on issues from the past
Knowing background information on the historical event is necessary to understand the meaning of the cartoon

12. Analyze This