Abu-Hassan 1

Halimah Abu-Hassan
Olivia Rines
UWRT 1101
26 April 2015
Power of Political Cartoons
Political cartoons are often used to communicate a variety of messages to readers. Many
times political cartoonists use the art to send a message to readers in a humorous way from
political situations that do not usually generate any humor. Political cartoonists use satire/irony
to communicate with readers on a level they are able to resonate with more so than in a news
article. The cartoons tell a story using a rhetoric that narrates any political event. Artists use
political cartoons instead of literature to communicate for a variety of reasons. The genre of
political cartoons is using symbolic images and an understanding of visual literacy in order to
explain narratives to readers. The purpose behind this paper is to explain how powerful the genre
is and what mechanisms are used to tell each narrative.
Political cartoons are used for communicating the same thing as any piece of news that
could come from CNN, BBC, FOX, NPR or ABC but it sends the same message in a humorous
light. When news sources such as the ones mentioned previously report on political events they
are generally told in a somber tone and younger audiences might have trouble connecting to such
news. Reading the visual narratives told in the cartoons is usually seen as easier to interpret.
According to social semioticians, visual syntax is generally more flexible than its verbal
counterpart.(El Refai 193). The level of lexis is not as high as a political article and it is easier
for readers to understand.

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Political cartoons not only send powerful messages in a humorous tone but they do it
quickly as opposed to taking pages to communicate messages through a lengthy text. In El
Refaies writing she mentions that the cartoons combine abstract ideas with real life events.
This relationship between the two levels of meaning is essentially metaphorical, inviting people
to map properties from a more tangible area of reality onto one that is more abstract. (El Refaie
186).
Political cartoons generally keep the lexis level low while also using political diction.
Usually the style is pretty formal with a box structure containing a cartoon and a lack of proper
grammar. The cartoons simplicity contributes to the appeal of the cartoon to the readers.
Although the cartoons are simple to the eye, many believe that the reader should have a visual
literacy. In Multiliteracies: how readers interpret political cartoons Elisabeth El Refaie
described visual literacy as a habitual way of seeing and requires various skills in framing,
selecting, editing and decoding the visual material that surrounds us (El Refaie 182). Elisabeth
says that although political cartoons are just a picture, the pictures require a certain thought
process of learning how to decode the material in front of the reader. Most political cartoons are
thought provoking and go beyond what meets the eye. Most commonly, cartoons address a
current political issue or event, a social trend, or a famous personality, in a way that takes a stand
or presents a particular point of view. ( El Refaie 185). Political cartoons make a commentary
on a variety of political topics.

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In Luckovichs cartoon he makes a statement about Obama and his lack of bipartisanship
with the Republican congress. The elephants say, Obama peeled potatoes Must repeal them!
The satire Luckovich displays is a perfect example of what we call an American government.
Obama the democratic president has been trying to set forth liberal progressive legislation. The
obvious liberal cartoon displays the obvious backlash of Obamas legislation from the Republican
congress. At a first glance one may think it just shows the Republicans disdain for Obamas
politics but it goes beyond that. Luckovich shows the readers that the Republican congress
makes Obamas life difficult. Although what the picture depicts is not funny the artist puts the
situation in a humorous light. The cartoon is probably directed towards a more liberal crowd but
the story being narrated can be understood and seen from a conservative point of view as well.
The cartoon showcases the element of irony, which is extremely important when understanding
the genre of political cartoons. Elisabeth explains to the readers the element of irony in the genre.
Although political cartoons are not always humorous, they do generally contain an element of
irony or at least something incongruous or surprising (El Refaie 185).

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The French satirical magazine that published the above cartoon has been under scrutiny
and attacked for their publications. The main cartoonist in charge of the magazine was called
Charlie Hebdo. He is now a symbol for free speech everywhere and has been labeled as a martyr.
The satirical magazine has been called many names such as Islamophobic, and has been said to
be against womens issues. After the magazines office had been attacked with a Molotov cocktail
the website published the above article. After the article came out the website was hacked with
the phrase No God but Allah. The attackers did not like the drawings of the Islamic prophet
Muhammed. The magazine had depicted him as homosexual, a pedophile, and gave me many
obscene titles. In the cartoon above the prophet is drawn saying 100 coups de fouet, si vous
netes pas mourts de rire!" The quote translates to 100 lashes if you dont die of laughter. The
intended audience of the magazine is people who enjoy satire. The magazine not only makes fun

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of Islam but it pokes fun at almost all controversial topics. Since Islam is under a lot of scrutiny
recently the magazine has targeted a lot of Islamic beliefs because it is so controversial especially
in France.
The cartoon Hebdo created with the title Charia Hebdo is an example of understanding
a pertinent part of visual literacy. Visual literacy is a big part of the genre. In its most basic
sense, visual literacy can be said to refer to an adequate capacity to identify images and to parse
them according to the ways they refer to the world (Elkins, 2003: 137). (El Refaie 183). Part of
understanding the genre is being able to interpret the symbolism in the cartoons.

Cardow uses the cartoon to poke fun at George W. Bush. The structure of the three blocks
with silly commentary and caricature pictures of Bush made to have overly large ears, and
mouse-like face adds to the comedic imagery of Bush. During Bushs presidency from 20012009 he faced much criticism because of his lack of speaking skills, which led to much

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commentary on his lack of intelligence. The cartoon takes a sensitive topic of the lack of the
mans intelligence and turns it into a joke. After Bushs presidency the country went through a
rough patch for a very long time, which is what got Bush, labeled as the worst president and
many other nicknames. When many journalists are writing about sensitive topics they have to be
weary of things such as liable, when using the genre cartoonists are able to use little words in
order to create a narrative. The suggestive nature of the genre also allows cartoonists to be more
forthright in their criticism than would be acceptable in journalistic writings and to avoid the
charge of libel. ( El Refaie 186). The genre allows for the viewers to see politics in a new light
without anyone getting in trouble.

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In an obvious liberal cartoon Bennett depicts the United States immigration policies.
Obama has passed the Dream Act and made a variety of executive orders in order to help illegal
immigrants stay in the country without being deported. America is a country that has been built
and expanded upon by the work of immigrants. Although the country was built on the work of
immigrants it is an extremely lengthy and hard process to become a citizen now in time. The
deportation rate was 315,943 in 2014 according to ICE. Even though there has been legislation
trying to prevent deportation and the number has gone down in years it has not been much easier
to be granted citizenship. Bennett is saying in the cartoon that America makes it seem like they
are trying to help people become citizens but in the long run they are only leading people out.
The cartoon comments on the flaws of the U.S immigration policy.
The genre of political cartoons is constantly changing. Viewers must not only be able
to read a cartoons visual lexis, but also its visual syntax, the specific patterns for how meanings
are put together in images. (El Refaie 193). El Refaie talks about how when one is viewing a
political cartoon it is important for the audience to understand the words on the cartoon but to
also understand the arrangement of the cartoon and why each part of the cartoon has been placed
the way it is. The set up of the cartoon is pertinent in the understanding of it. Arrangement is
another large part of understanding the components that go into making a cartoon fit into the
genre of political cartoons.
From this project I have learned that analyzing a political cartoon goes beyond the words
on the picture. One must understand the background and context of what is being portrayed in
the cartoon. Also I learned to keep in mind the cartoonists motive behind their drawing. This

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assignment made me realize that political cartoons are extremely powerful pieces of work in
todays society, and will only continue to grow in popularity and meaning.

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Works Cited
Bennett, Clay. "Clay Bennett's Editorial Cartoons." CartoonistGroup. Chattanooga Times Free Press, 1
Jan. 2014. Web. 9 Feb. 2015.
CARDOW, THE OTTAWA CITIZEN. "Worstest President in History - Bush Political Cartoon."
Political Humor. Cagle Cartoons, 14 Jan. 2009. Web. 25 Jan. 2015.
Conners, Joan L. "Popular Culture in Political Cartoons: Analyzing Cartoonist Approaches." Cambridge
Journals Online. Cambridge Journals, Apr. 2007. Web. 23 Jan. 2015.
EL REFAIE, ELISABETH. "Multiliteracies: How Readers Interpret Political Cartoons." Sage Journals
(2009). Http://vcj.sagepub.com. SAGE Publications. Web. 1 Jan. 2015.
"FY 2014 ICE Immigration Removals." FY 2014 ICE Immigration Removals. Official Website of the
Department of Homeland Security. Web. 9 Feb. 2015.
Krule, Miriam. "Charlie Hebdos Most Controversial Religious Covers, Explained." Slate. 7 Jan. 2015.
Web. 25 Jan. 2015.
Luckovich, MIke. "Best Obama Cartoons - Best Obama Political Cartoons of All Time." Best Obama
Cartoons - Best Obama Political Cartoons of All Time. Political Humor, 9 Jan. 2011. Web. 25
Jan. 2015.