Self-Assessment: Reading Cartoons

Graphic storytelling can have a multitude of forms such as comic books, graphic novels, anime, manga, and web comics. Each format has a unique style. Common and meaningful types of graphic stories are political cartoons invented in the 1800s and often found in newspapers, magazines, and online publications.


Self Assessment


View the brief comic strip below.

  1. What action does the gutter space "between" the two frames of the comic imply?


  1. What are the effects of choices about lettering or typeface in comics or cartoons? Give an example from one of the political cartoons in "How to Read a Cartoon".

Lettering or typeface can give the reader ideas about the tone, mood, voice, volume, or attitude of the character. The predominant tone or attitude of the political cartoons is sarcasm or exaggeration.

  1. Examine the comic strip below. Where has the artist put the graphic weight in the image?

 

  1. What numerical order should these panels be in so that they are sequenced properly?

   
     



Read the article, "How to Read a Cartoon," by Geoff Olson on page 18 in your iLit  textbook, Language Arts 9 Anthology.  As you read, take notes on meaningful information you will apply to the following assessment. 

Self Assessment

After reading "How to Read a Cartoon" answer the following questions.
You can check your answers by opening the rows - click on the + sign.


To entertain or be humorous and to make people think about contemporary issues in society.
The Inukshuk is one example of a symbol. The Inukshuk is meant to represent a marker for hunters. The other symbol used is the Gargoyle. Gargoyles symbolize guardianship.
Most colours used are warm, such as red and yellow, and darker shades of yellow. The author has chosen these to enhance the vibrancy and brightness of the boat and emphasize the sun in the sky behind it.
It is trying to remind people in Canada to be wise about the money the government spends on Olympic hosting because the taxpayers are paying for it. The cartoon gives the example of the Montreal stadium as a mistake for future generations to remember and from which to learn.
Anthropomorphism is endowing animals and other things (including objects) with human characteristics. Eg. the CN tower has a mouth; the East Coast boat has a face with a big smile; the gargoyle's mouth appears to be open so it can talk; the oil sands truck has eyes; the Montreal stadium has a mouth; the BC mountain has a face, as do the silos and elevator in the Saskatchewan/Manitoba cartoon.