Persuasive language analysis

Cartoons and images

Cartoon analysis

• Accompany articles• Drawings used to evoke criticism or comment

on an issue• Depict a serious issue with humour to expose

human folly• Identifies ironic or ridiculous aspects of issue• Demonstrates strong opinion • Refers to political or public figures and decisions

Persuasive techniques used in Cartoons

• Exaggeration• Symbolism• Labeling• Analogy • Irony

Exaggeration

Who are these figures? Can you tell despite the exaggerated

features?

What are these features?

Exaggeration

• Depiction of physical characteristics– Specifically facial features

• How does this position the audience?– Depicts the characters as foolish– Demeans power and authority – Take the characters less seriously– Doubt their power and authority

• Strengthens argument at hand

Symbolism What is the main symbol in this cartoon?

What does this symbol represent?

Symbolism

• Takes a simple or a well-known object and creates them to stand as a larger concept or idea

• Illuminates the foolishness of the ideas surrounding the issue

• Uncle Sam represents the wider idea of American freedom and liberation

• Identify these symbols in the Cartoon – very important

Labeling

Can you identify the labels?

What is their purpose?

Labeling

• Often Cartoonists label specific elements • Signifies their importance• Pinpoints an importance aspect of the issue• Identifies what the cartoonist wants the audience

to understand • Includes names of people, places objects• Can include speech bubbles and descriptions• Full message can only be portrayed often with the

use of words included in the Cartoon

Analogy

What is this image portraying a representation of?

What kind of ideas does that conjure up?

Analogy

• Comparison between two things that are not alike

• Complex issue 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

Irony

Are there any obvious contradictions depicted in this image?

What sort of idea does this give you about the issue?

Irony

• The difference between the way things are and the way things are supposed to be or are expected to be

• Depicts contradictions surrounding an issue• 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

Cartoon analysis steps

1. What is the contention of the Cartoonist?– What is the main point?

2. What issue is being represented?3. Who is in the Cartoon? – How are they being represented?– Negative or positive?

4. What visual strategies are being used to persuade the audience?

5. Was the Cartoon persuasive?

Sample analysis

1. What is the contention of the Cartoonist? What is the main point?

– Schapelle’s captivity has only changed from one form to another

2. What issue is being represented?

– Schapelle being released from Bali prison

3. Who is in the Cartoon? How are they being represented? Negative or positive?

– Schapelle Corby (positive)– Press (negative)

4. What visual strategies are being used to persuade the audience?

– Exaggeration– Labeling– Irony

• Exaggeration– The press – Overcrowding, eyes boggled– Dark colours

• Labeling– Speech bubble

• Irony – The use of the word ‘freedom’– She can’t get out of the door – what makes them think

she is free?

Did it persuade you?

• You tell me?• What reaction do you feel?• Do you feel any form of sympathy?• Do you feel scornful towards the press?• Do it change your opinion in any way? In a

negative way or a positive way?• Do you agree with the contention of the

cartoon?

Now try it on your own…