By Meg Frechette

Cartoon Wars:Cartoon Wars:An Application of Hall’s Theory to An Application of Hall’s Theory to Social Constructs of the EnemySocial Constructs of the Enemy

introductionintroduction“Good Guy” v. “Bad

Guy”How is this idea

constructed?

The power of propaganda during war.

Constructed enemy versus Reality

research questionresearch question

How do does the United States construct their

enemy in political cartoons during times of war and

what are the implications of this construct?

literature review: literature review: warswars

WWI (1914-1918)U.S, France, U.K, Russia, Italy.

versusGermany, Austia-Hungry, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria

WWII (1939-1945)U.S, British Empire, U.S.S.R, (China)

versusGermany, Japan, Italy

Vietnam (1959-1975)U.S., Republic of Vietnam (S. Vietnam)

versusDemocratic Republic of Vietnam (N. Vietnam)

Iraq (2003-Present)U.S., Multi-National Force, UN Assistance Mission, NATO Training Mission, Iraq (post-

Saddam Hussein), Turkeyversus

Iraq (under Saddam Hussein), al-Qaeda in Iraq, Islamis Army of Iraq, Baath Party Loyalists, Insurgent Groups

literature review:literature review:cartoonscartoons

Harry Katz(2004)

William Hogarth – 1700s

Benjamin Franklin

“Join or Die” (1757)

Great Depression

Current Day Cartoonists

literature reviewliterature review::propaganda and the enemypropaganda and the enemy

Sam Keen (1986)

Propaganda meant to Paralyze Thought

Cultural Differences

Reality of Enemy

theory:theory:

Stuart Hall (1996)

How Nation constructs identityNarrative of the nationOrigins, continuity, tradition, and timelessnessInvention of traditionFoundational mythPure, original people, or ‘folk’

Shaped by those in power

methodology:methodology:

Historical Content AnalysisGathered From Online Search

“Vietnam political cartoons” or “WWI editorial cartoons”

Cartoons Collected: Iraq – 119Vietnam – 54WWII – 48WWI – 19

Coding SheetStrengths and Weaknesses

findings:findings:

Weapons Present

ToneMocked or Feared

Humanized v. Dehumanized

Group v. Individual

discussion:discussion:weapons and toneweapons and tone

War Total Cartoons Weapons Tone

WWI 19 (19/240=7.9%) 14(14/19=73.7%)

F: 11(11/19=57.9%)

M: 8(8/19=42.1%)

WWII 48(48/240=20.0%) 20(20/48=41.7%)

F: 38(38/48=79.2%)

M: 10(10/48=20.8%)

Vietnam 54(54/240=22.5%) 23(23/54=42.6%)

F: 17(17/54=31.5%)

M: 35(35/54=64.8%)

R: 2(2/54=3.7%)

Iraq 119(119/240=49.6%)

39(39/119=30.3%)

F: 22(22/119=18.5%)

M: 95(95/119=79.8%)

R: 2(2/119= 1.7%)

Total 240 (100.0%) 96(96/240=40.0%)

F: 88(88/240=36.7%)

M: 148(148/240=61.7%)

R: 4(4/240=1.6%)

discussion:discussion:humanized v. dehumanizedhumanized v. dehumanized

War Humanized Dehumanized

WWI 1(1/19=5.3%) 18(18/19=94.7%)

WWII 25(25/48=52.1%)

23(23/48=47.9%)

Vietnam

12(12/54=22.2%)

42(42/54=77.8%)

Iraq 87(87/119=73.1%)

32(32/119=26.9%)

Total 125(125/240=52.1%)

115(115/240=47.9%)

discussion:discussion:dehumanizeddehumanizedWar Animal Monster Evil Stereotyp

eOther

WWI 1(1/18=5.6%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 11(11/18=61.1%)

6(6/18=33.3%)

WWII 6(6/23=26.1%)

2(2/23=8.6%) 3(3/23=13.3%)

7(7/23=30.4%)

5(5/23=21.6%)

Vietnam

4(4/42=9.5%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 36(36/42=85.7%)

2(2/42=4.8%)

Iraq 1(1/32=3.1%) 3(3/32=9.4%) 6(6/32=18.7%)

21(21/32=65.7%)

1(1/32=3.1%)

Total 12(12/115=10.4%)

5(5/115=4.3%)

9(9/115=7.8%)

75(75/115=65.3%)

14(14/115=12.2%)

discussion:discussion:group v. individualgroup v. individual

War Group Individual Other

WWI 8(8/19=42.1%)

11(11/19=57.9%)

0(0/19=0%)

WWII 21(21/48=43.6%)

24(24/48=50.0%)

3(3/48=6.4%)

Vietnam 13(13/54=24.1%)

39(39/54=72.2%)

2(2/54=3.7%)

Iraq 21(21/119=17.6%)

94(94/119=79.0%)

4(4/119=3.4%)

Total 63(63/240=26.3%)

168(168/240=70.0%)

9(9/240=3.7%)V

.

conclusion and conclusion and further researchfurther researchEnemy is merely construct to create unity

“Them” v. “Us”

Need to reinforce cultural awareness

Questions?

discussion:discussion:humanizedhumanized

War Humanized Named Features

WWI 1(1/19=5.3%) 0(0/1=0%) 1(1/1=100.0%)

WWII 25(25/48=52.1%)

24(24/25=96.0%)

1(1/25=4.0%)

Vietnam

12(12/54=22.2%)

11(11/12=91.7%)

1(1/12=8.3%)

Iraq 87(87/119=73.1%)

76(76/87=87.4%)

11(11/87=12.6%)

Total 125(100%) 111(111/125=88.8%)

14(14/125=11.2%)