Analysing cartoons What is a cartoon A simple

Analysing cartoons

What is a cartoon? • A simple sketch drawn in a funny exaggerated way about someone or something in the news. • The skill is interpreting a point of view. Look for • • • Colour Size Labelling Speech bubbles Symbols Focus Angle Tone Facial expressions Context

Colour • • What colours did they use, were they warm of cold? What can different colours symbolise green = nature etc Country’s colours, red white and blue = US Black and white cartoons can often use shading

Size & labelling • Is anything disproportioned? • Exaggerated? Under-exaggerated? • What is large and what is small? • What is laelled? • What do the labels tell us?

Speech bubbles & symbols • Who is speaking? • What are they saying? • Is it a conversation? • • What symbols are incorporated? Why are particular symbols used? Is it a well-know symbol? Is the symbol’s meaning clear and indentifiable?

Focus & angle • What is the central point in the cartoon? • What is in front, what is behind? • • Is the angle sloping up or down? Are you looking straight on? From behind or front on? On top or below?

Tone, facial expressions & context • What is the illustrators stance? Funny? Serious? Angry? • What expressions are used? • Do they change? • What do we expect from what we see? • • If there is an article, does it support it or oppose it? Is it set in the past present or future? Which part of the article does it relate to? Does it add further information?