WHY IS SOMETHING

SO SAD THIS
FUNNY:
USING POLITICAL CARTOONS
 WHY USE POLITICAL
CARTOONS?
 Lead-in questions for groups:

 What is the purpose of the cartoon?

 How does it make you feel?
 What methods does the cartoon use to make you
feel that way?
 What issue is the cartoon trying to capture?
 How does the cartoon try to persuade you?
 Is the cartoon relevant to you as citizens?
 What is the artists opinion on the issue?
 Is there text? How is it used?
Cartoon 1
Cartoon 2
Cartoon 3
Cartoon 4
 THE 1 AMENDMENT
ST
 “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging
the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the
people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government
for a redress of grievances.”
-1st Amendment

 Free speech and freedom of the press promotes "The free flow
of ideas essential to political democracy and democratic
institutions" and limits the ability of the state to subvert other
rights and freedoms

 It promotes a marketplace of ideas, which includes, but is not

limited to, the search for truth

 Political cartoons are an example of free speech and freedom of

the press.
 METHODS
1) Exaggeration- To represent as greater than actual size. To
make overstatements. The act of making something more
noticeable than usual.
 When you study a cartoon, look for any characteristics that
seem overdone or overblown. (Facial characteristics and
clothing are some of the most commonly exaggerated
characteristics.) Then, try to decide what point the cartoonist
was trying to make through exaggeration.

2) Irony-A literary expression employing contrasts in order to

produce humorous or rhetorical effects. Irony of a situation
is a discrepancy between the expected result and actual
results when enlivened by perverse appropriateness.
 METHODS CONT…
3) Juxtaposition- To place side by side, especially for
comparison and contrast. Also, this method is
sometimes known as analogy. An analogy is a
comparison between two unlike things that share
some characteristics. By comparing a complex issue
or situation with a more familiar one, cartoonists
can help their readers see it in a different light.

4) Symbolism- Cartoonists use simple objects, or

symbols, to stand for larger concepts or ideas.
 WHY USE HUMOR?
 Reductio ad Absurdum- Latin meaning, “reduction to the
absurd.

 Used by the ancient Greeks and Romans in logical arguments.

 If a claim gets you an absurd or humorous result, then it can
be assumed that the original claim or proof was deficient or
illogical.
 If A=B, and B is absurd (ridiculous), therefore, A must also be
absurd or ridiculous.
 Cartoonists use the same logic. By making you laugh at the
ridiculousness of a situation or a person, then we can assume
that there is a problem with that situation or person to begin
with.
 Assignment
 Make your own cartoon.

 Write:
 Find an issue
 Explain the issue?
 Explain the different sides of the issue and which one you
took?
 What methods did you use to create a reductio ad
absurdum argument?
 How are you trying to persuade your audience? What are
you trying to make them think?
 Draw Cartoon
 ONE PAGE-DOUBLE SPACED-12 FONT