Cartoon Analysis

What can we learn from a political cartoon?

When trying to find out about experiences of people living in the

past, images such as etchings, sketches, cartoons, photographs and paintings from time to time can be

very useful. They are primary sources and have limitations, but they are also important sources of attitudes, fears,

values and propaganda. 

Persuasive techniques used in cartoonsExaggerationSymbolismLabellingAnalogyIrony

ExaggerationDepiction of physical charactersHow does this position the audience?

- Depicts the character as foolish- Demeans power and authority- Take the characters less seriously- Doubt their power and authority

Strengthens argument at hand

SymbolismTakes a simple or well-know object and

creates them to stand as a larger concept or idea

Illuminates the foolishness of the ideas surrounding the issue

LabelsOften cartoonists lable specific elementsSignifies their importanceIdentifies what the cartoonist wants the

audience to understandIncludes names of people, places, objectsCan include speech bubbles and desrciptions

AnalogyComparison between two things that are not

alikeComplex issue that can be related to a more

familiar concept and the ideas that are related to that concept

Helps the audience understand what values the cartoonist may be trying to depict

IronyThe difference between the way things are

and the way things are supposed to be or are expected to be

Positions the readers to see the way that things actually are, despite what they’re expected to think or how they’re expected to react

Document AnalysisOriginWhere is the source from and who created it? Is it a cartoon or painting from a newspaper, a sketch from a book, a painting from a gallery or a photograph on a website? ContextWhat was happening at the time the document was created? This is a description of the important people, values, policies and events at that time. ElementsWhat are the parts of the document such as the caption, symbols or language used to get the main ideas across to the reader? MessageWhat is the meaning of the document? What does the author want to say to the audience?

PurposeWhy was the document created? This could be used to reinforce ideas from the time, convince people, promote political ideas or describe an experience.

Point of ViewWhat were the attitudes and beliefs of the person who created the document? This is the perspective of the author, which can be biased towards or against a person or idea. ReliabilityCan the source be trusted as truthful? Who was the author? What was the purpose of the document? Is it biased? What are its limitations? What gaps exist? Has the document been censored, falsified or exaggerated?

Your turnUsing the worksheet provided, analyse the

cartoonsThe table provided in the worksheet will help

you to analyse historical documents, both primary and secondary sources, to decide whether the sources are useful in providing information for your period of study

Briand, French Prime Minister

Lloyd-George, British Prime Minister

What is this referring to?

What does the horse represent?

Why is the cart up-ended?

What is meant by the caption?

Why is Lloyd-George holding a shovel?

Why is Briand holding a whip?

Why is a shovel left here?

‘Perhaps it would gee-up better if we let it touch earth.’

Cartoon 1