Political Cartoon Analysis Introduction Key Terms Political Cartoon

Political Cartoon Analysis Introduction

Key Terms • Political Cartoon (P. C. ): An interpretive (your own idea or definition of an event, situation or person[s]) which makes use of symbols/symbolism, which are usually exaggerated to present a message or point. • Symbolism: Using a picture to represent an idea. • Exaggeration: To make something bigger (most times in size but not always) than it really is. – In P. C. s cartoonists overdo, or exaggerate, the physical characteristics of people or things in order to make a point.

Steps to Analyzing a P. C. Step 1 • Describe the picture (1 -2 sentences) – Tell me what you see – Pretend to be describing the p. c. to someone who cannot see the picture – Who is in the picture – What is happening • What is the current event or personality being “made fun of? ” – Is it social or political or both?

Steps to Analyzing a P. C. Step 2 • Analyze part 1: Symbolism – Identify the symbol • What symbol(s) do you see? • The symbols are… – Explain the symbol • What does the symbol represent • This symbol represents… ***If there is a caption or slogan, state it and explain it too! It is full of written symbolism!

Steps to Analyzing a P. C. Step 3 • Analyze part 2: Exaggeration – Identify the exaggeration • What exaggeration(s) do you see? • The exaggerations are… – Explain the exaggeration • What does the exaggeration mean? • This exaggeration means…

Steps to Analyzing a P. C. Step 4 • Message (5 sentences): Answer the following questions– What does the artist want to say about the situation, event or person? – Is it favorable or unfavorable? – Give 3 supports to back up your conclusion. – Explain each support

Steps to Analyzing a P. C. Final Step, But 1 st Section of P. C. Analysis!! • What is the topic of this p. c. ? • What subject is this about? • Why learn it last when it is the first section of your p. c. analysis? – Once you gather all the information through the previous steps, you can make an educated statement of what the topic of the p. c. is.

RE-CAP • • • 1 st: TOPIC and SUBJECT of p. c. 2 nd: DESCRIBE in detail the p. c. 3 rd: Analysis of SYMBOLS 4 TH: Analysis of EXAGGERATIONS 5 TH: MESSAGE

Who is this? • U. S. President Barack Obama (2008 -Present) Major campaign poster used to help win the presidential election

Analysis-Choose 1 & answer Q • Cartoon 1 – – describe 2 symbols & meaning 1 exaggerations & meaning Decide if: Favorable or Unfavorable? • Cartoon 2 – – describe 2 symbols & meaning 1 exaggerations & meaning Decide if: Favorable or Unfavorable?

What is the message? • Choose one of the cartoons and write what you think is the message. – What does the artist want to say about the situation, event or person? – Give 3 supports to back up your conclusion. – Explain each support

Exit Slip • 1. Think of different problems/issues that affect you, your community/school, or world/society • 2. Come up with a web/mindmap • 3. How can you turn it into a P. C. ? • 4. After the test 2 morrow, you will receive a rubric to create a P. C. about a problem/issue

So, What is the topic of this P. C. ? • 1 sentence saying what the topic of this p. c. is. • Help: The topic of this political cartoon is… Fill in the Blank.