Lesson Two - Cartoon Research

Introduction

Lesson Two - Cartoon Research
Duration - 3 blocks (3 x 80 min + homework)

"To study political cartoons is to study history in the making." - Peg Cagle

caricature - the art of exaggeration, usually physical and facial characteristics

"They’re funny folks, these Editorial Cartoonists. Their job is to have opinions. And if they do their job right, somebody’s bound to get upset. They speak in a visual language of symbols and caricatures. Yet they have to be clear and quick with their message or you won’t get the point. And the point is, you have to get the point.

"To study political cartoons is to study history in the making. The cartoons are snapshots in time dealing with issues as current as today’s newspaper. Looking back at cartoons in history you get a glimpse of issues and ideas that shaped our lives, what was important at the time -- at least to the artist.

"Through satire and wit, political cartoonists give us a different view than television or even photos can. Issues addressed can be national or local, the targets personal or political, the approach funny or thoughtful. At the heart of each cartoon is something called Freedom of the Press and the ability to say what needs to be said -- even if somebody gets upset." - Peg Cagle

Resources

Websites
Cagle
EasyBib

Research and Writing
How to Write a Research Paper

NOTES
Cartoon Analysis

VIDEO

Lesson

Political cartoons are created using a specific formula:
visuals + words = message

Download and study the notes on cartoon analysis. The document contains a worksheet, a cartoon, and a sample analysis. It will aid your understanding of how visuals and words combine to create a message.

Explore the websites on the resources page and watch the video on analyzing political cartoons.  There are two examples in the video.  The first part of the video, which discusses a cartoon on the steroid scandal in major league baseball, is the only one you need to watch.

Assignment

(45 marks)
Open the Political Cartoon Analysis document. Label it E302U2L2analysis.surname 

In this document, enter your responses and 
submit this assignment using the Dropbox for U2L2 cartoon analysis

Tips:

Go back to the Cagle website. As was suggested earlier, "to study political cartoons is to study history in the making". Choose ONE of the cartoons from the site to research the event / incident / person behind the cartoon.

You MUST choose a cartoon with WORDS.

• Your research must involve at least three different sources.
  • If your research is conducted entirely online, your sources must be from at least three different websites, and not just three pages from within the same site.
• The result of your research will be a paper which presents details that would help viewers to understand the cartoon. Explain
  • the incident
  • who was involved
  • the significance of the event
  • why the cartoonist chose to create the cartoon
• The position you present will be, "This was an important cartoon to draw."
• You must document your sources in a Bibliography at the end of your research report. Use the EasyBib tool to help you do this.
• Do NOT plagiarize!!

Conclusion

The identities of people, ideologies, and countries are shaped by difficult experiences, particularly in the manner in which they choose to respond to such experiences.