Political Cartoons

Political Cartoons by Alleen Pace Nilsen and Don L. F. Nilsen 67

Caricatures • “Caricatures are probably the oldest form of pictorial humor, where caricare in Latin means ‘to overload, or exaggerate.’” • “The main stylistic devices here are distortion and exaggeration, and the main subject, famous people.” • (Hempelmann and Samson [2008]: 613) 67

The Word “Cartoon” • “The term Cartoon originally comes from the Italian word ‘cartone’ and means a strong, heavy paper or pasteboard. It denotes a full-size drawing made on paper as a study for further drawings, such as a painting or tapestry.” • “Punch applied the term to satirical drawings by publishing some parody drafts for frescoes (also called cartoons) and making the term’s new meaning permanent.” • (Hempelmann & Samson [2008]: 613-614) 67

A cartoonist’s craft may force them to limit their originality, because they have fewer than 10 seconds to grab the attention of viewers, and, in fact, to tell whole stories. • We will start with two classic cartoons by David Levine for the New York Review of Books. No words are needed, but readers had to have cultural knowledge in order to “Catch on.” 67

After President Lyndon Johnson had gallbladder surgery he lifted his shirt to show his scar to reporters at a news conference. Levine’s drawing shows that his real scar was in the shape of Vietnam. • President Reagan, who was famous for cutting welfare is compared to Marie Antoinette who after being told that the people had no bread famously said, “Let them eat cake.” 67

Cultural Icons can be either • recognized visual symbols • or familiar words that can be parodied. • Cartoonists first have to help the viewers into the mindset of the original, • Then take them in a new direction. 67

As with Mike Peters’s 1984 criticism of President Reagan’s military support of El Salvador: • I pledge a billion to the flag • of the right wing government of El Salvador • And to the death squads for which it stands • One nation, underfed • Indefensible • With M-16s and Howitzers for all. 67

These words have come into English from various cartoons: POW! ZAP! WHAM! ZIP! ZOWIE! Teddy Bear Gerrymander Yellow Journalism McCarthyism (from Senator Simple J. Malarkey in the Pogo Comic Strip) 67

ARACHNOPHOBIA  IRAQNAPHOBIA • The term “Iraqnaphobia” was first used in the caption of an editorial cartoon by Clay Bennett that appeared in the August 3, 1990 edition of the St. Petersburg Times. The cartoon shows a spider labeled “Iraq” menacing Kuwait, and the caption reads “Saddam Hussein Presents Iraqnophobia.” • (Dahdal 11) 67

Under the heading “Famous Quotes Throughout History” Rodewalt drew these interpretations: • “Just a cold snap” (a couple of dinosaurs) • “Another of your stupid inventions” (a cavewoman looking at her husband’s newly carved wheel) • “What an Idiot--You’ll be sorry when you fall off the edge of the world.” (Italians waving goodbye to Christopher Columbus) 67

“No problem, white man say just passing through!” (Indians pointing to a ship in the bay) • “Maybe if you get a haircut people will take you seriously” (Einstein’s wife) • “We will succeed in Iraq” (President Bush holding his arms in a victory salute!) • 2004 Rodewalt (CWS Cartoon Arts International ) 67

Obituary Cartoons • Cartoonists hate doing them, because they have to be respectful, no matter what. • But their audiences love them, because they capture the essence of the person who has died. 67

For efficiency, cartoonists make use of common visual symbols • Pointing fingers or arrows • The Trojan Horse • Tombstones and the initials R.I.P. • Skulls/The Grim Reaper 67

The three monkeys • The Ghost of Christmas Past • Superman • Railroad tracks not matching up • A 1973 Boston Globe Cartoon by Paul Szep showed Vietnam as a maze. • Reprinted in 1975 with added symbolism. 67

Other Common Symbols include: • Snakes • Wolves • Fantasy characters • Baby buggies (because they hide information) • And new interpretations of familiar sayings about big sticks (which a person should carry as he speaks softly), and where the buck stops. 67

Variations on the Statue of Liberty show how symbols can change over time while still retaining some of the original meaning. 67

Statue of Liberty cartoons while making many different political points still rely on images that in most people’s minds are “feminine.” 67

1960: Doug MacPherson drew Fidel Castro and Nikita Krushev having a picnic on her head. • 1971: Daniel Aguila drew her with shortened robes under the cutline “Lib and let lib!” • 1980: Doug Marlett showed her sweeping dirt under a rug designed as a flag. 67

1984: Signe Wilkinson showed her going through a sewing factory shouting “OK, you huddled masses, I know you’re in here!” • 2001: After 9/11, a tear falling from one eye • And two sad eyes reflecting the burning Twin Towers 67

2003: Expressing womanly impatience as she says “Geez, two years and still no capture of Osame…or Saddam…or Al Qaida…or WMD…or the Taliban, or Justice or…” A side note read “In a city accustomed to the New York Minute.” • 2005: Nick Adams won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for showing President Bush sitting on top of her crown wearing earphones hooked to a satellite dish, which had replaced the flame in her extended arm. 67

The simplified shape of a fish is even more a part of what Carl Jung refers to as the Collective Unconscious. • In the early days of Christianity it was marked in the sand. • Today we see it on churches, cars, and religious messages, sometimes with a stylized cross serving as an eye • Or with the Greek initials inside that stand for Jesus Christ King of the Jews. 67

We’ve also seen DARWIN placed inside the fish • And a bigger Christian fish eating a smaller Darwin fish with legs • Once the surprise was gone, the humor disappeared, but the symbol is still there. • One of our students observed that the O and X at the end of the Jack in the Box signs make basically the same design. 67

Also, note the shape of the popular metallic ribbons that are twisted to form a rounded top like a head with crossed pieces to look like the split tail of a fish. • These first became popular in the 1970s, when they were sold as lapel pins to be worn in memory of someone who died from AIDS or in support of AIDS research. Following 9-11, the design was co-opted to show patriotism and support for the war on terrorism. 67

They are made from magnetized metal and are about the size of a paperback book. • They come in all colors and mostly express some kind of support for the war on terrorism. • But we recently saw one proclaiming “Pets are good for people.” Separate pieces of metal in the shape of paw prints were placed around it. 67

More and more people put them sideways on their cars • They resemble the old fish pattern except with a rounded head. • Some drivers sport two, three, or more, so their vehicles resemble traveling aquariums. 67

People respond to particular shapes without necessarily thinking of how or why. • They feel the fish shape is appropriate to a controversial issue that touches all of us deeply whether it is viewing the end of life as associated with terrorism or the beginning of life as associated with creation and evolution. 67

Iraq and the American Flag 67

Coffins have a similar impact. At first the Bush administration forbade photographs, but the drawings were even more heart-rending because cartoonists added their own touches. • Walt Handelsman drew coffins each covered with a funeral bouquet; His cutline: “They’ll be Greeted with Flowers.” • Another cartoonist stood coffins on end as an eerie reminder of the domino theory that guided American policies in Vietnam. 67

The Abu Ghraib prison scandal again shows shape as a hidden persuader. • The most heart-wrenching photos were of Private Lynddie England holding a naked man on a dog leash, a pyramid of naked Iraquis, and a hooded prisoner silhouetted in a ragged, black blanket. • Out of 40 Abu Ghraib cartoons reprinted in “Best of the Year” collections, more than half featured this man on the box. 67

!It was the most dramatic of the images. • The simplicity of design made it easy to highlight. • It inspired viewers to pull related images from their own minds as in comparing it to the Ku Klux Klan. 67

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Political Cartoons