Media Literacy
HOW TO READ BETWEEN THE CARTOONS
The First Cartoon
 The first cartoons were political in nature
 The first cartoon appeared in Ben Franklin’s
newspaper, The Pennsylvania Gazette, and depicted
the colonies’ disunity by showing a snake cut in 8
pieces, representing the 8 British colonies of the
time. The myth at that time said that “a snake that
had been cut in two would come to life if the pieces
were joined before sunset.”
 http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/firsts/cartoon/
First Cartoon
Questions to Ask When Analyzing Political Cartoons
Identifying the Main Idea
 1. To what political event or idea is the cartoon referring?
 2. What key person(s) are targeted in the cartoon?
 3. How has the artist depicted these people? Are they
distorted in any way? Does the artist’s portrayal of
characters cast them in a negative or positive light?
 4. Identify and explain any symbols incorporated in the
cartoon.
 5. Identify and explain captions, labels, titles and/or speech
bubbles. How do these contribute to the cartoon’s message?
Questions to Ask Continued
 6. What is the message of the cartoon? How is the artist trying
to persuade the reader?
 7. What impact and/or reaction is the artist attempting to
trigger?
Analyzing the Method Used by the Artist
 1. How does the method used by the artist effectively convey a
political message?
 (Don’t worry, there’s more….)
Questions to Ask Continued, Again
 2. Identify and explain the use of:
 a. Juxtaposition (the state of being side by side or
close together, in a figurative sense)
 b. Irony (the use of words or pictures to express
something different from, and often opposite of
their literal meaning)
 c. Exaggeration (representation as greater than is
actually the case; overstatement)
 http://www.clrep.org/website%20publication.pdf
What is this cartoon saying?
What symbols
do you see?
What do they
suggest?
Any
exaggerations,
irony, or
juxtaposition?
What is this cartoon saying?
What person(s) are
being targeted?
What symbols do
you see and what do
they suggest?
How do the
captions add to the
message?
What
emotions/feelings
is the artist hoping
to trigger?
Instances of
juxtaposition,
hyperbole, or irony?
What is this cartoon saying?
What idea is the
cartoon referring to?
What person(s) are
being targeted?
What symbols do
you see and what
do they suggest?
How do the
captions add to the
message?
What emotions or
feelings is the artist
hoping to trigger?
Instances of
juxtaposition,
hyperbole, or
irony?
Your Assignment
 In groups of no more than 3, analyze the political
cartoons that the great Mrs. Perez will distribute
momentarily. Address ALL questions given in this
presentation under “Questions to Ask.”
 Homework: In groups of no more than 3, draw a
political cartoon of your own. Each person must have
equal contribution in the task. (Stick figures are
acceptable. ) Your amazing cartoon is due for
presentation Monday, April 4. Make sure it’s colored,
captioned, and complete! Appearance as well as
content and creativity count!