How do you analyze a political cartoon?

The best way to analyze a political cartoon is to pay attention to the details. Little words in the corners, facial expressions, or even different levels of shading can conote meaning. The meaning of a lot of political cartoons lies in the tinniest features. For example, the placement of characters, exaggeration of physical features, or language used will explain the meaning of the picture. However the broad ideas are also important. Oftentimes, knowledge about world events, pop culture, or important actions is needed to understand the cartoons in the first place. The details then lead the viewer to understand the artists intentions.

According to westirondequoit.org, the best way to analyze a political cartoon is to first recognize the subject of the cartoon. Next, analyze the meaning of the symbols in the cartoon, read the title and caption, and then pay attention to the movement, actions, and changes in the scene. Finally, determine the authors point of view, the purpose of making the cartoon, and then the theme. I learned that the theme, symbols, and captions are important features of a political cartoon. I already knew that the words, actions, title, subject, and author's point of view were important. I plan to follow this guide as I look at political cartoons in the future. The method this blog uses is SCAMS: Symbols, Captions, Activities, Message, Subject.

This political cartoon by Louis Dalrymple is taken from the Library of Congress. Dalrymple is trying to spread support for US involvement in Cuba. The caption reads "The duty of the hour; - to save her not only from Spain, but from a worse fate". The symbol of the frying pan "Spanish Misrule" paints Spain as the antagonist that is harming Cuba, represented by the woman held over the fire of anarchy. The subject of this cartoon is that the US should get involved as it is its "duty".

This political cartoon by Winsor McCay is taken from Tidewater Community College. Winsor McCay is representing an anti-imperialism opinion. Uncle sam, a symbol of the Unites States, gets tangled up on the tree of imperialism while trying to control a wild donkey labeled Philippines. The donkey is a symbol of the Filipinos protesting imperial rule. A man symbolizing Spain walks into the distance with a bag labeled $20,000,000. This cartoon makes the point that only Spain benefited from the transaction, and the US is stuck with a problem. Uncle Sam is entangled and is sweating as he struggles with the donkey. Spain leaves with millions of dollars while the US is labeled as an imperialist nation and must deal with the resistant Filipinos.

This political cartoon by Clifford Berryman is taken from MIT Open Course Ware. The symbol of the big boot represents American presence and the small man to the left represents Emilio Aguinaldo, the leader of the Philippine opposition. A sign reads "Notice: the US is requested t withdraw PDQ". The word "requested" implies that the Filipinos have no real power to control the United States' presence, and the size of the red and white striped boot compounds this fact. The giant boot of the US States is there to stay, despite any attempts by the Filipinos to remove it. Aguinaldo attempts to wedge the boot away, but it doesn't budge. The subject of the piece is that Aguinaldo's cause is helpless.