Questions to consider when interpreting political cartoons
1. What topic is being proposed in this cartoon?
The topic proposed in this political cartoon is that of the female Olympic Hockey Program and the future
of its existence.
2. Who are the characters portrayed in this cartoon?
There are two main “types of characters” in this political cartoon. The first “type” is the rather large
female Canadian hockey players. The second “type” is the much smaller generic European female hockey
players.
3. What political cartoon techniques are being used in this cartoon? Give both the technique and an explanation of
why that cartoon was employed in this cartoon.
CONTRASTING SIZES: The Canadian women are portrayed much larger than their European
opponents. This is to show their dominance over the Europeans.
RIDICULOUS EXAGGERATION: The European women are portrayed as being almost “kid like” and the
Canadian women are shown to be almost “giant like”. This is to over-exaggerate the dominance of the
Canadian women over the European women’s hockey teams.
SYMBOLISM: There are a variety of symbols depicted within this cartoon.
CAPTIONS AND TEXT:
a) Score Clock: The score clock shows that the score is 49 – 0 for the Canadian women. This is to,
again, illustrate the dominance of the Canadian women.
b) Speech Bubbles: The comments made by the smaller European women are to over-exaggerate the
immaturity of the European hockey teams. It is not to show that the girls are immature, but rather that
the program is immature. The speech bubble by the Canadian women’s hockey team player is key in that it
talks about the future extinction of the program, just like the dinosaurs. Much like the dinosaurs were
“wiped out” so will the women’s hockey program if there is not some sort of change made to the programs
in other parts of the world.
c) Side Wall: The boards show that this is the Olympics in Vancouver 2010.
4. Is there a title for this cartoon? If so, what is the “message” that is given from the title?
No title is used on this cartoon.
5. What is the date of the cartoon? What is the source of the cartoon? What city was it printed in?
February 17, 2010
Calgary Herald
Author: Mackay
6. What is the message that the cartoonist is trying to give you about this topic? Please be detailed in your
explanation.
The message of this cartoon is that if, in general, women’s hockey does not improve, it will be eliminated
from the Olympics in the future. At this point and time, there are only two teams, the Canadians and
the Americans, who have hockey teams that can compete at the international level. The European
Hockey Program is very weak at this point in time. This encompasses all European teams – not just one
country. As the speech bubble states, women’s hockey will be extinct if there is not an improvement in
this area.
ASSIGNMENT: Find a political cartoon that you understand and analyze it in a similar fashion to the one
above. If you would like to complete this on the computer, you can find the analysis sheet on my web page. It
is really important that you find one that you can work with and create a detailed explanation.
Please attach the cartoon to the analysis.
Due Date: Monday, February 7, 2011
Questions to consider when interpreting political cartoons
1. What topic is being proposed in this cartoon?
2. Who are the characters portrayed in this cartoon?
3. What political cartoon techniques are being used in this cartoon? Explain why that cartoon technique was chosen
(in detail).
4. Is there a title for this cartoon? If so, what is the “message” that is given from the title?
5. What is the date of the cartoon? What is the source of the cartoon? What city was it printed in?
6. What is the message that the cartoonist is trying to give you about this topic? Please be detailed in your
explanation.
Please answer on a separate sheet of paper!!!!