political cartoons a brief introduction. current local issue
TRANSCRIPT
Political CartoonsA Brief Introduction
Current Local Issue
Decoding Political Cartoons
Just remember - K.I.D.B.I.
Essential DevicesCaricature-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 LeafBeaverJean Baptiste
USA:Uncle SamStars and StripesEagle
Britain:Union Jack The Lion
StereotypesA 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 !!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dkaEPWyi_k&feature=related
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: http://www.canadiancartoonists.com/news_history_templ
ate.html
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 http://www.mackaycartoons.net/index.html Maple Leaf Web click on CARTOONS (National, Political,
and Local cartoons) http://www.mapleleafweb.com/political-cartoons