How to Analyze Political Cartoons
Five Methods:Understanding Persuasive TechniquesLooking at the PictureLooking at the
TextIdentifying the IssueAnalyzing the MessageQuestions and Answers
Political cartoons use imagery and text to comment on a contemporary social issue. They may
contain a caricature of a well-known person or an allusion to a contemporary event or trend.[1]
By examining the pictorial elements of the cartoon, along with the textual elements, you can start
to understand the message of the cartoon. This will lead you to understanding the cartoonist’s
goal in persuading the reader to think a certain way about a current issue.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Understanding Persuasive Techniques
1.
1
Recognize exaggeration. Artists will often exaggerate or distort certain elements of the drawing
to make a point. Some commonly exaggerated pictures might include a character’s facial
features or other parts of the body.[2]
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2.
2
Understand symbolism. An artist may use symbols as placeholders for ideas or themes.
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For example, a whirlpool may be used to denote the problems of getting involved with
the messy political situation in Syria.
3.
3
Understand labeling. The cartoonist may label certain elements in the cartoon. This will help
identify the different pictures and ideas in the cartoon. Labels are often paired with symbols.
o
For example, the whirlpool that symbolizes Syria may be labeled as such.
4.
4
Understand analogy. The cartoonist may compare two things that are not alike. This technique
may be used if there is a complex topic or idea that is difficult to understand. By comparing it to
something else, it can be easier for the reader to understand.
o
For example, if a political figure in the cartoon is pouring money into a toilet, this may
mean that this politician’s policies on government spending are wasteful.
5.
5
Recognize irony. An artist may use irony by using words or pictures to describe the opposite of
what is, such as what should be. This is usually done with humorous effect.
Method 2 of 5: Looking at the Picture
1.
1
Identify the visual elements. Take a look at the cartoon as a whole and make a note of the
drawings you see. Make a list of the visual elements, including people, animals, other objects,
and the setting or background.
2.
2
Identify the main focus of the cartoon. Find the portion of the cartoon that most stands out.
Most often, this will be a caricature, which is an exaggeration or distortion of a person or object
with the goal of providing a comic effect.
3.
3
Look for widely recognized symbols. Some metaphors are commonly used by political
cartoonists.[3] For example:
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Uncle Sam or an eagle for the United States
John Bull, Britannia or a lion for the United Kingdom
A beaver for Canada
A bear for Russia
A dragon for China
A sun for Japan
A kangaroo for Australia
A donkey for the Democratic Party in the U.S.
An elephant for the Republican Party in the U.S.
4.
4
Take note of distortion or exaggeration. Look at the visual elements and pay attention to how
they are drawn. People or animals may be exaggerated or distorted in some way.[4]
5.
5
Look for stereotypes. Some of the visual elements may be stereotypes. This might help the
reader identify the visual elements more clearly. These can also call attention to the stereotypes
as offensive and outdated.
o
For example, a cartoon about immigration along the southwestern U.S. border may
present Mexicans dressed in ponchos. This calls attention to the view that some people
have about who immigrates to the U.S.
6.
6
Look for allusions to contemporary events or trends. Some cartoons will link their subject
matter to a current event or trend that is widely recognized.[5]
o
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For example, a cartoon about voting might include a voting ballot with political
candidates and celebrities, indicating that more people may be interested in voting for
celebrities than government officials.
The effect of these allusions often diminish over time as people forget about those
trends or events.
7.
7
Look at minor details. Often the cartoon will have minor details that contribute to the humor or
the point of the cartoon. Pictorial symbols convey minor themes or ideas. These are usually
found in the background or on the sides of the cartoon.
8.
8
Pay attention to how the visual elements interact with each other. Think about how different
symbols are drawn in relation to each other. If there is a person, where is he standing? What is
he doing? Is he talking to another person? Is he interacting with an object?
Method 3 of 5: Looking at the Text
1.
1
Look at labels. Some people or objects might be labeled to identify them. Often these labels are
placed so that the viewer will know what a particular object represents. For instance, a person in
a suit might be labeled “Congress,” or a briefcase might be labeled with a certain company’s
name.
2.
2
Look at text bubbles. People in a cartoon will often speak to each other in the cartoon.
Alternately, they will “think” something. Read what people are saying in the cartoon.
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Text bubbles are usually represented by solid circles or boxes around the text. Thought
bubbles usually look like small clouds.
3.
3
Read the caption. Some political cartoons have captions. These are words or phrases that are
placed at the bottom of the cartoon. They give more information or interpretation to what is
happening in the cartoon itself.
4.
4
Take note of minor details. The cartoon might also have one or more words in smaller print.
These are intended to convey minor themes. They might be found in the background or on the
edges of the cartoon.
5.
5
Brainstorm how the words enhance the pictures. Once you’ve identified the symbols and other
visual elements in the cartoon, think about how the words help describe them. What do the
words add? How do the words enhance your understanding of the pictures and symbols?[6]
Method 4 of 5: Identifying the Issue
1.
1
Identify the issue that the cartoon is referencing. Political cartoons typically comment on a
certain event or issue. If you’re not sure about the issue, check recent news stories to identify
the story.
2.
2
Identify the people involved in the issue. To give you more reference points, find out the names
and roles of the people involved with the issue or event.
3.
3
Identify the perspectives of this issue. The issue at hand will have different perspectives. If the
issue is a war, there might be the pro-war position and the anti-war position. If the issue is a
scandal in the news, competing perspectives might support different sides of the scandal.
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Keep in mind that there may be more than two perspectives. Most news issues are
complex and can have multiple perspectives.
4.
4
Do additional research on the issue. Find out the background of the issue, how it came about,
who is impacted, and so on.
o
If the political cartoon is historical, find out what some of the main news stories and
common beliefs were at the time. This will help deepen your understanding of the
cartoon.
5.
5
Determine the audience. A political cartoon is created with consideration to the experiences
and assumptions of the intended audience. What section of the population is the publication
geared towards? What country and locality do they live in? What are their political leanings?
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For example, a political cartoon in a publication distributed in a strictly conservative
tone will convey its message in a different way than it would if the audience was a
particularly liberal group.
Method 5 of 5: Analyzing the Message
1.
1
Identify adjectives that describe the emotions in the cartoon. The words and pictures together
will produce certain meanings. Many political cartoons are intended to portray some emotions.
What emotions are present in your cartoon?[7]
2.
2
Determine the artist’s perspective. The artist will have a particular viewpoint about the issue in
the cartoon. Once you’ve pinpointed the issue and the possible perspectives on this issue, you
can figure out what the artist is arguing for.
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Try to boil it down to one sentence. What is the artist trying to say with this cartoon?
3.
3
Consider the rhetorical triangle. The rhetorical triangle is made of three elements: ethos,
pathos and logos. These elements make up a forceful, effective rhetorical argument. Think
about how the artist uses these elements in the cartoon:[8], [9]
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Ethos: An ethical appeal that demonstrates the author’s legitimacy as someone who can
comment on this issue.
Pathos: An emotional appeal that tries to engage with the reader on an emotional level.
The artist might also use common ground to connect with the reader.
Logos: A rational appeal that uses logical and well-researched evidence to support an
argument.
4.
4
Think about how readers might respond to the cartoon. The audience for the cartoon may
agree completely with the message of the cartoon. Or, the audience might be shocked by the
content. What is controversial about the cartoon?[10]
5.
5
Determine the overall message. Think about how the different elements about the cartoon
shape what the overall message is. Boil it down to one sentence. How would you describe the
cartoon’s message to someone else?[11]
6.
6
Evaluate the effectiveness of the cartoon. Once you’ve put together all the elements,
determine if you think the cartoon is effective. Does it make a sound argument? Does it use
appropriate and meaningful symbols and words to convey a viewpoint? Do the people and
objects in the cartoon adequately represent the issue?[12]
Tips


If you are having trouble discerning the meaning of a political cartoon, try discussing it with
friends and colleagues.
Keep yourself informed on current events in order to more clearly understand contemporary
political cartoons.
Warnings

Political cartoons are oftentimes meant to be funny and occasionally disregard political
correctness. If you are offended by a cartoon, think about the reasons why a cartoonist would
use certain politically incorrect symbols to describe an issue.
Sources and Citations
1. ↑ http://teachinghistory.org/teaching-materials/teaching-guides/21733
2. ↑
http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/activities/politicalcartoon/lm_cart_analysis_guide.pdf
3. ↑ http://slo.neric.org/cartoons/intro-slo.htm
4. ↑ http://www.nationalww2museum.org/learn/education/for-teachers/lesson-plans/drseuss.html
5. ↑ http://www.ysmithcpallen.com/sites/default/files/Analyzing-and-Interpreting-PoliticalCartoons1.ppt
6. ↑ http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/worksheets/cartoon_analysis_worksheet.pdf
7. ↑ http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/worksheets/cartoon_analysis_worksheet.pdf
8. ↑ http://www.occc.edu/comlab/pdf/handouts/rhetorical.pdf
9. ↑ http://www.public.asu.edu/~jvanasu/rhet-triangle.htm
10. ↑ http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/worksheets/cartoon_analysis_worksheet.pdf
11. ↑ http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/worksheets/cartoon_analysis_worksheet.pdf
12. ↑ http://www.ysmithcpallen.com/sites/default/files/Analyzing-and-Interpreting-PoliticalCartoons1.ppt