• Skip navigation and go to content
  • Go to navigation

Thomas Nast: The Rise and Fall of the Father of Political Cartoons

Stella wei by  | jan 7, 2021.

Known as the father of political cartoons, no other artist wielded more power in influencing public opinion of the American political scene than Thomas Nast during the 19th century. Thomas Nast was born in Germany, and his family moved to New York City around the time he was six. In 1855, Nast landed his first illustration job at Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper . After a few years, in 1862 he moved on to join Harper’s Weekly , one of the most widely circulated magazines in the United States during his time.[1] Nast worked for the publication as an artist for the next twenty-five years, and it is within those years he rose to prominence as a political cartoonist. As the most recognizable figure of Harper’s Weekly , Nast won the popularity of an extraordinarily vast audience through his “artistic talent, keen political perception, devastating satire, inventive genius, and unquenchable conviction.”[2] One of his most notable achievements during his career includes facilitating the dismantling of the notoriously corrupt Tweed Boss and Tammany Ring that swindled New York City of millions of dollars. However, towards the end of the 1870s, Nast’s popularity eventually waned and he was alienated at Harper & Brothers, the company that owned Harper's Weekly , due to a combination of political conflicts between him and the editor, cultural shifts towards civility among the American middle class, changing techniques in image productions in the publishing world, and his disappointment in the Republican party. 

Even though Thomas Nast’s most successful works were published during his time working for Harper’s Weekly , what truly shaped him into a political cartoonist was his experience working at Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper . Here, young Nast not only honed his drawing abilities and artistic style, but he also became interested in politics. “Nast gravitated to politics not because he happened to have worked as a political illustrator; he worked as a political illustrator because he was drawn to politics.”[3] Nast was merely fifteen when he joined Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper as a staff artist and was constantly surrounded by a team of artists, illustrators, engravers, and journalists who produced content that reflected a wide range of political events, issues, and ideas of the day—from common problems of street maintenance and dangerous vehicles to immigration rights and police corruption. At Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper , illustration and journalism were not distinctly separated, and the mixture of art and reporting created a sense of urgency and purpose, which was endorsed by the founder, Frank Leslie. He wrote, “An illustrated newspaper, if it fulfills its mission, must have its employees under constant excitement. There can be no indolence or ease about such an establishment. Every day brings its allotted and Herculean task, and night affords no respite.”[4]

essays about political cartoons

Fig. 1. Thomas Nast ,  Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper ’s investigations on swill milk led to a nation-wide scandal, published on May 13, 1858.

Thomas Nast was also involved in the thick of action during his time working at Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper . His most important assignment was to lead the attack on the swill milk scandal. In the 1850s, the corrupt city officials of New York protected the action of selling polluted milk from diseased cows who were milked in filthy stalls; the milk was mixed with plaster, starch, and eggs.[5] Nast was one of the artists who was sent by Leslie to draw illustrations that reflected the horrendous conditions of the barns (fig. 1). After receiving death threats and facing immense obstacles, Leslie’s persistence eventually led to a bitter, fierce, and successful campaign. This was Nast’s first encounter with a corrupt city government, and he learned the power of his political cartoons. It is at Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper where Nast built his foundations and found his mission of being a social crusader, which was consistently reflected in his works throughout his career.

Thomas Nast had found a desire to express his political viewpoints and sway the public. Besides having a strong motivation, his strategy of using effective visual tactics and his ability to engage and provoke his audience is what established him as a successful political cartoonist. “He not only enthralled a vast audience with boldness and wit, but swayed it time and again to his personal position on the strength of his visual imagination.”[6] Nast sustained a profound impact on the public; people not only enjoyed his drawings for entertainment, but saw them as a source of direction. “Let’s wait and see what Tommy Nast says about it”[7] shows people’s respect for his insight. During the course of his career, Thomas Nast turned political cartooning into a respected and powerful journalistic form. Nast’s success could not be achieved without adapting to a straightforward and bold drawing style, simplifying complex political subjects into a matter of good versus evil that was easily understood by a broad audience. He also mastered the use of visual metaphors and recognizable and memorable symbols such as the Republican elephant and the dollar sign as a “graphic evocation of greed and surplus wealth”[8] (fig. 2).

essays about political cartoons

Fig. 2. Thomas Nast ,  The "BRAINS" that achieved the Tammany victory at the Rochester Democratic Convention , 1871. Boss Tweed is represented as having a money-bag face. Another identifying feature is the $15,500 diamond stickpin.

Nast’s famous confrontation against the notoriously corrupt William M. Tweed, who was the “boss” of the Tammany Ring, proves the power of persuasive imagery. The Tammany Ring was the main political machine of the Democratic Party, and played a major role in controlling politics in New York City and New York State. Tweed and his Tammany Ring directed local services, controlled elections, received millions of dollars in bribes, and stole immense amounts of money from tax revenue. Contrary to Tweed, Nast was an idealist and patriot who favored the new Republican Party. He embraced the Emancipation Proclamation, Abraham Lincoln, and Ulysses S. Grant.[9] There was no doubt that Boss Tweed and the Tammany Ring would be a target of Nast’s pencil. Nast created a series of political cartoons that captured the hypocrisy and greed of Tweed and Tammany using graphic forms and symbolism that communicated his ideas without the need for captions.

essays about political cartoons

Fig. 3. Thomas Nast ,  The Tammany Tiger Loose. “What Are You Going to Do About It?,”   Harper’s Weekly,  Vol. 15, November 11, 1871.

In the cartoon titled The Tammany Tiger Let Loose (fig. 3), which was published right before the election, Nast intensified the accusation against the Tammany Ring through the depiction of the savage Tammany Tiger. In this drawing, Nast “cast the female allegorical symbol of Liberty as a Christian martyr, mauled by the Tammany Tiger in a Roman amphitheater dominated by Boss Tweed enthroned as emperor.”[10] Before being knocked to the ground by the tiger, the woman had been wearing a crown labeled “Republic” and carried a sword labeled “power.” She lies defeated on top of a ripped paper that notes “Law,” and further in the background the “Ballot” is shattered. The audience watching the battle carries a sign that reads “Tammany Spoils.” The inhumane cruelty and savageness of Tammany Hall became fully visible in Nast’s image. The tiger he drew here has a frightening expression with his jaw wide open, it is no cartoon feline but an entirely plausible predator.[11] Even the illiterate could not fail to grasp his message: letting the Tammany Tiger loose in the arena is a disastrous situation to the American democracy and the people of New York. This piece served as a final blow towards Tweed and Tammany; it was likened to a destructive missile, “a pictorial projectile so terrific in its power, so far-reaching in its results, that Ring rule and plunder the world over shall never cease to hear the echo of its fall.”[12] Nast’s crusade against Tammany and Tweed made himself a household name and “catapulted him into the forefront of his profession, and he became a national celebrity and sought-after companion in powerful New York and Washington political circles.”[13] The rage he sparked in the public achieved substantial victory—many government officials with ties to the Tammany Ring were voted out of office and Tweed himself was thrown into jail. In What Are You Laughing At? To the Victor Belong the Spoils (fig. 4) , Nast celebrates the defeat of his target by portraying Tweed as Caius Marius, who was the former consul of Rome exiled to the ruined city of Carthage. In the image, Tweed wears a crown of dollar signs but is surrounded by the boots of his beaten allies voted out of office. The treasure Tweed sits on is empty and his sword is broken, symbolizing the end of Tweed’s political and financial power.

essays about political cartoons

Fig. 4. Thomas Nast ,  What Are You Laughing At? To the Victor Belong the Spoils ,  Harper's Weekly , November 25, 1871.

Despite Nast’s success during the 1870s, he inevitably fell from favor while still a young man. The rapid changes in the publishing world and the political scene did not sit well with Nast and he struggled to maintain his past glory. As new technology made color printing cheaper and faster, Nast was forced to change his artistic technique as Harper’s Weekly switched from producing images using wood engraving to photo-chemical engraving. He was forced to change his solid cross-hatching lines made on engraver’s wood and use pen and ink on paper, which negatively affected his ability to create intense characters.[14]

Besides technical difficulties, Nast also struggled with the visual language of his personal style. He used to work under Fletcher Harper who supported his style of not afraid of being bold by making use of violence and savagery. However, when George William Curtis took over as the editor, he “frequently implored Nast to be less cruel and uncompromising in his characterization.”[15] The problem did not lie between diverging core political opinions between the two, but rather how to set the tone for political debate. For example, they had different attitudes towards critiquing the Republican Party. “While Curt mildly critiqued Republican politicians or possible allies, Nast brazenly criticized them.”[16] Curtis’s preference was aligned with a cultural shift in America that occurred in the 1880s. The middle class now had a “renewed interest in civility and gentility” to which Nast failed to adapt. Magazines like Harper’s Weekly  were caught between two different publishing realms—newspapers and books. Newspapers were often more accessible to the raw market, the language and imagery are more likely to be associated with bias and savagery, while books represented a more polite and civilized version of culture and history. During the Civil War years, Nast’s cartoons were well-received because they reflected a turbulent political scene filled with conflicts. As the American public transitioned out of those years, they began to prefer less of Nast’s violent style. To remain a popular publication, Harper’s Weekly attempted to appeal to the new desires of its readers, which was not in line with Nast’s intentions.[17] He expressed his opinion in a quote, “I cannot do it. I cannot outrage my convictions.”[18] 

Another personal political dilemma Nast underwent was his torn opinion towards the Repulican Party itself  and the candidates that now represented the party. In the 1880 election, James Abram Garfield became the Repulican candidate. Nast did not favor him because of Garfield’s involvement in the Crédit Mobilier scandal and less radical position towards Reconstruction. On the other hand, the Democratic Party nominated Winfield Scott Hancock as its candidate. Hancock was a close friend of Nast, someone who Nast respected and admired. At one point, Nast drafted a cartoon that endorsed Hancock by saying that the Democrats had finally chosen a great candidate, though the cartoon was rejected by Harper’s Weekly . Nast eventually gave in by making cartoons that attacked the Democratic Party in general, but not Hancock as a person.[19] However, this was not the end of Nast’s conflict with the new Republican Party, but was later intensified in his opposition against Republican candidate James G. Blaine.

essays about political cartoons

Fig. 5. Thomas Nast ,  Too Heavy to Carry , 1884. Thomas Nast illustrating the heavy burden of the James G. Blaine candidacy on the Republican party.

None of the obstacles that hindered Nast’s career dealt more damage than his harsh rejection towards Blaine. He first depicted Blaine as a burden to the Republican Party in Too Heavy to Carry (fig. 5) where Blaine is represented by a magnet that crushes the Republican elephant and tainting the sacred purity that the part animal represents.  Nast later ruthlessly opposed Blaine in Death Before Dishonor (fig. 6) by referencing Virginius’s death before the corrupt ruler Appois Claudius tainted her purity. The man killing the virgin is wearing a belt that says “Free Republican,” which suggests that the Republican Party should abandon Blaine before he ruins the value the party stands by. Nast’s stab at the Republican Party attracted bitter complaints. “In Judge, a bit of verse summed up the reaction: Poor, poor T. Nast/ Thy day is past—/ Thy bolt is shot, thy die is cast-/ Thy pencil point is out of joint/ Thy pictures lately disappoint.”[20] The opposition to Blaine was a costly step for Nast, Curtis, and Harper's Weekly . Even though Nast saw success in Blaine’s defeat in the presidential election, the journal suffered critical financial loss and never recovered fully, as did Nast’s career. “ Harpers lost its Republican base as a consequence, and subscriptions plummeted.”[21] Nast eventually left Harper’s Weekly and both he and the paper suffered by the end of their relationship. “In quitting Harper's Weekly , Nast lost his forum; in losing him, Harper's Weekly lost its political importance.”[22]

essays about political cartoons

Fig. 6. Thomas Nast ,  Death Before Dishonor Virginius “On thee and on thy head be this blood,” Harper's Weekly , June 21, 1884.

Even though Thomas Nast eventually faded out of popularity, the legacy he left behind is impossible to ignore. During his own days, he not only acted as the pictorial advocator but also contributed to the development of political cartooning in America. The power of his imagery is proved in his success of swaying public opinion, most notably is his achievement in defeating the Tammany Ring and Boss Tweed. The symbols and imagery he created such as the dollar sign and the Republican elephant have become an unforgettable element of the American culture. Most importantly, Nast has set a precedent for other artists who wish to use their artistic talent as a tool to advocate. If used efficiently, pictures can prove to be more powerful than words.

[1] Baird Jarman, “The Graphic Art of Thomas Nast: Politics and Propriety in Postbellum Publishing,” American Periodicals  20, no. 2 (2010): 156-189.

[2] John Chalmers Vinson, “Thomas Nast and the American Political Scene,” American Quarterly  9, no.3 (1957): 337-44.

[3] Fiona Deans Halloran, Thomas Nast The Father of Modern Political Cartoons (Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press, 2013), 57.

[4] Halloran, Thomas Nast The Father of Modern Political Cartoons , 25.

[5] Thomas Nast and John Chalmers Vinson, Thomas Nast, Political Cartoonist  (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1967), 3.

[6] Albert Boime, “Thomas Nast and French Art,” American Art Journal  (1972): 43-65.

[7] Nast and Vinson, Thomas Nast, Political Cartoonist , 1.

[8] Boime, “Thomas Nast and French Art.”

[9] Halloran, Thomas Nast The Father of Modern Political Cartoons .

[10] Vinson, “Thomas Nast and the American Political Scene.”

[11] Sarah Burns, “Party Animals: Thomas Nast, William Holbrook Beard, and the Bears of Wall Street,” American Art Journal  (1999): 8-35.

[12] Vinson, “Thomas Nast and the American Political Scene.”

[13] Brooke Speer Orr, “Crusading Cartoonist: Thomas Nast,” Reviews in American History  (2014): 291-295.

[14] Vinson, “Thomas Nast and the American Political Scene.”

[16] Jarman, “The Graphic Art of Thomas Nast: Politics and Propriety in Postbellum Publishing.”

[18] Halloran, Thomas Nast The Father of Modern Political Cartoons , 221.

[19] Ibid., 248.

[20] Ibid., 261.

[21] Tom Culbertson, “Illustrated Essay: The Golden Age of American Political Cartoons,” The Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era  (2008): 276-295.

[22] Vinson, “Thomas Nast and the American Political Scene.”

Stella Wei is a freelance illustrator based in the DMV area. She is interested in illustrating children's books and making toys. She received her BFA degree in Illustration from RISD in 2019 and is currently pursuing her MFA in Illustration Practice at MICA. In her spare time, she likes to sniff scented candles, watch old movies, and sip hot matcha.

Related Artists

Thomas Nast

Related Time Periods

Late 19th Century

Related Illustrations

Cartoon of “Boss” Tweed from “Harper’s Weekly,” October 21, 1871

essays about political cartoons

Friday essay: political cartooning – the end of an era

essays about political cartoons

Deputy Dean, School of Humanities, Flinders University

essays about political cartoons

Associate Professor, Politics and Public Policy, Flinders University

Disclosure statement

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Flinders University provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU.

View all partners

We started collecting cartoons in the last days of the Keating supremacy. We used them to chronicle how the wheels fell off during the 1996 election campaign and that serial failure John Howard (once written off in a Bulletin headline as “Mr Eighteen Percent. Why does this man bother?”) won in a landslide.

Howard found that the times did indeed now suit him, and he swept aside Keating’s “Big Picture” as Peter Nicholson so poignantly captured while asking what might be its replacement.

essays about political cartoons

After a slow start, PM Howard captured the nation’s mood for a decade, and the cartoonists chronicled it all with their customary wit and insight. His demise was multifaceted but Herald Sun cartoonist Mark Knight’s memorable cartoon reminds us of Melbourne Cup day early on in campaign 2007, when he depicted the once invincible PM reduced to a poo sweeper, courtesy of the Reserve Bank’s decision to raise interest rates.

essays about political cartoons

Back in the 1990s, writing about cartoons involved a budget for buying newspapers, scissors, and a good spatial memory. It also involved proud and liberal use of the phrase “our great black-and-white art tradition”. Metropolitan and national newspapers were big, prosperous things, only just beginning to come to terms with colour.

The house cartoonists (there were often several) were central to their paper’s ethos, often “the most read thing in the paper”. We never had any real empirical evidence for “the most read” assertion, but we made it often and no one ever demurred. Political cartoons were at the centre of a clearly defined media landscape.

When Howard defeated Keating, television set the daily political agenda, but the longer threads of debate were dominated by newspapers, especially the opinion-rich broadsheets. One of Howard’s most effective innovations was to use talkback radio to avoid the filter of “elite” hostility he perceived as dominating newspapers and the ABC, but the internet was a fringe space, not yet more significant than community radio. The opinion pages of newspapers were the dominant forum for serious political discussion, and at their heart was the visual terrorism of cartoons and illustrations – attracting eyes, conflating issues, and distilling images of politicians and their policies.

Every day they provided comic commentary on the politicians we elect to rule us, and often they managed darker and more serious satire. The engagement was robust and sustained – for example, Bill Leak’s response to the GST policy that Howard took to the 1998 election was to draw him with 10% more lip, and that is largely how many remember him. Great comic artists spoke in sometimes savage shorthand to the major issues of the day, in the major crucible where those issues were thrashed out. They were uniformly powerful and humane in their response to the Howard Government’s asylum seeker policies, for example.

The cartoonists doing the distilling were Tandberg, Leunig, Mitchell, Coopes, Alston, Leak, Petty, Cooke, Spooner, Brown, Nicholson, Wilcox, Rowe, Knight, Tanner, Pryor, Moir, Leahy, Atchison. It was a stable list then, and changed only incrementally until just recently.

The last hurrah

For the 2016 campaign, painful in so many ways, was also the last hurrah for four great cartoonists of our era. Bruce Petty, John Spooner and Peter Nicholson retired from regular cartooning and earlier this year, Bill Leak died suddenly. We write, therefore, in long-term appreciation of the wit they have brought to our public life. We also must comment on how radically the media landscape has changed around them.

Retirements and even death are in the natural order of things, and all these men leave substantial bodies of work. What makes their departures epochal is the fact that none has been fully replaced at their newspapers. They certainly haven’t been replaced by the group of female cartoonists whose eventual appearance we used to predict when asked “what about the women?” It’s a good question but we, like cartoonist Fiona Katauskas , have no clear answer except to say, it’s a blokey world on the editorial floor . Katauskas puzzles over the matter in her New Matilda article A woman walks into a bar and in recent correspondence observed:

Another theory I have is that it’s the comedy thing. It’s not the politics thing- women are very well represented in political journalism. Comedy of all kinds- whether it be writing, performing or standup- is a different matter. These professions are also largely male-dominated and the myth that women aren’t funny helps to exclude them or discourage them from trying to break in.

essays about political cartoons

The last cartoons of the four greats at their long-term papers are a varied bunch. The two Age cartoonists left with reflective works during the phoney electoral war that marked the early months of 2016.

Petty shuffles off to the old cartoonists’ home with an evocation of the prime ministers back to Menzies that he had drawn, and a celebration of that scarcely balanced spaceship, democracy. Or is it, instead, a money-dominated plutocracy with the politicians owned by cigar-chomping money-men? With Petty things are always more complicated, never resolved. Since he first drew for Murdoch’s Daily Mirror in 1962, Petty has sustained a powerful and precise critical eye on our travails as a nation, ever sharp and avuncular.

essays about political cartoons

Spooner is, by contrast, blunter. He strands a menagerie of his bĂȘtes noires – Turnbull, Shorten, Trump, trickle-down economics, climate alarmism, etc – on the island. He draws himself walking way in disgust, immodestly on top of the water. And the words remind us that cartoons tell truth to power in ways power would rather not hear.

essays about political cartoons

The two cartoonists at the Australian left in full flight. Peter Nicholson really has been the pre-eminent cartoon commentator on current events, perhaps with Geoff Pryor of the Canberra Times and now the Saturday Paper. He bowed out unobtrusively with this pre-publicity for a black-tie boxing night at Melbourne’s exclusive Australian Club. However, if you read his cartoons over time, you are wittily apprised of what has been going on, and get a brilliant first draft of history. It’s easy to do at Nicholson’s immaculate archive of his work .

essays about political cartoons

Bill Leak was always much more the wild man than Nicholson, and his last cartoon would have caused a controversy had he lived long enough for the predictable outrage to build. He was always after the harsh, prophetic laughter of satire, that moment of shock when you are made to see something you’d rather ignore. Here he presents the NSW Education Minister as cheerfully beheaded in a controversy over Islamicist radicalism at a Sydney High School. It is elegantly drawn and ruthless.

essays about political cartoons

Much banality and pompous self-congratulation has been written about the “larrikin tradition” in Australia. Leak was the real thing , however, a much tougher thing than Paul Hogan throwing another shrimp on the barbie.

David Rowe’s contributions for the Australian Financial Review’s readership often enough reflect the cut through nature of the cartoon when set alongside the verbiage of so much political commentary. Here we find a wonderful evocation of Edvard Munch’s 1893 painting The Scream as a parody on our experience as citizen voters confronting the long campaign Prime Minister Turnbull figured would be good for him, and good for us.

essays about political cartoons

A loss of centrality

The more recent arrivals – David Pope, Jon Kudelka, Matt Golding, First Dog on the Moon and the like – are all fine and deserving artists in their own rights, but professional political cartooning is as blokey an activity as it ever was.

essays about political cartoons

The younger men are entering a tougher world. Cartoons are still being published, but there is more syndication and (we hear) piecework, so the number of artists with regular jobs is shrinking. It is a clear index of the fact that Australian newspapers are not what they were at the turn of the century, let alone what they were when the departed cartoonists joined them in the 1960s and 70s.

The Fairfax newspapers, the Sydney Morning Herald and the Melbourne Age, are no longer the essential forums for debate and investigative journalism. For the editorial cartoon in Australia and beyond, this is a problem. As a mode of critical and satirical art, it is particularly well-acclimatised to the printed newspaper, in a way that has not translated well online.

The cartoonists that held sway on newsprint opinion pages lack power and impact several clicks behind the first screen in the increasingly dominant web editions. They lack power because they lack the simultaneous visual context a reader gets in scanning a printed newspaper. While it would be ridiculous to assert that visual satire is disappearing in the digital age, one of the great satirical achievements of the mass media era especially in Australia, the editorial cartoon, is losing its centrality.

This is not a consequence of any waning of satirical power in the cartoons themselves. We are confident that we have demonstrated this strength again in the cartoon chronicle we’ve authored looking at the 2016 campaign. But it is a significant consequence of changing formal and economic models in media, changes that scarcely existed in embryo when we started looking at cartoons.

Two decades ago, we could validly treat the cartoons as an index of comic and satirical commentary on the campaign. Television and radio satire existed in some places, but were hard to capture and impossible to reproduce in our academic work; the cartoons told quite enough of the story and were seen by close enough to “everyone” to be representative of a dissenting view of the carnival of hypocrisy that parades during election campaigns.

The cartoons tell just as good and memorable a story now, but have become a niche in a multi-faceted media landscape rather than the public thing (res publica) they once were. Internet memes, Twitter, mash-ups, Facebook feeds, and a range of other social media make it impossible for students of political satire and comedy to consolidate a corpus for analysis. As a consequence, newspaper cartoons are no longer major components of the central forum that they were in the era of mass media.

As cartoon scholars, we experience this change as loss, though the spirit of caricature and satirical commentary is clearly healthy elsewhere in the media and finding modes of expression for the future. One major trend is the move to longer form caricature, either through animations and collages, or through strip cartooning like that of First Dog on the Moon in the Guardian .

The regular gigs still tend to focus on stationary images, however. Animations as political satire are proving a hard model to crack, as no-one seems willing to foot the bill to sustain high-quality, animated daily satire. Meanwhile, editorial cartoons inhabit an increasingly marginal place in an increasingly fragmented and fractious media landscape.

But their capacity to tell truth to power, demonstrate that the kings and queens of political life have no clothes, and to entertain the public remains undiminished. While this particular mode of satirical representation may be in retreat before the forces of digital media, graphic satire is not going to die while it has such fit meat to feed on.

  • Political cartoons
  • Friday essay

essays about political cartoons

School of Social Sciences – Academic appointment opportunities

essays about political cartoons

Union Organiser (part-time 0.8)

essays about political cartoons

Director, Indigenous Education Research Centre

essays about political cartoons

Communications Specialist

essays about political cartoons

AUSTRALIAN PESTICIDES AND VETERINARY MEDICINES AUTHORITY (APVMA) BOARD CHAIR

essays about political cartoons

The Week in Cartoons Mar. 4-8

essays about political cartoons

Top Cartoons on the Democratic Party

essays about political cartoons

Best Cartoons on the Republican Party

essays about political cartoons

Best Cartoons on the 2024 Election

essays about political cartoons

The Best Cartoons on Donald Trump

essays about political cartoons

The Best Political Cartoons on Joe Biden

essays about political cartoons

The Best Cartoons on the Economy

essays about political cartoons

The Best Immigration Cartoons

essays about political cartoons

The Top Cartoons on the Middle East

essays about political cartoons

Best Political Cartoons on Kamala Harris

essays about political cartoons

The Best Cartoons on Health Care

essays about political cartoons

Political Cartoons on Women’s Issues

essays about political cartoons

The Week in Cartoons Feb. 26 - Mar. 1

essays about political cartoons

The Best Political Cartoons on Congress

essays about political cartoons

Top Gun Control and Gun Rights Cartoons

essays about political cartoons

The Best Cartoons on Ukraine and Russia

essays about political cartoons

The Best Cartoons on World Leaders

essays about political cartoons

The Week in Cartoons Feb. 19-23

Essays on Political Cartoon

ESSAY SAUCE

ESSAY SAUCE

FOR STUDENTS : ALL THE INGREDIENTS OF A GOOD ESSAY

Essay: Analysis Of Political Cartoons In R.K.Laxman’s Work

Essay details and download:.

  • Subject area(s): English language essays
  • Reading time: 9 minutes
  • Price: Free download
  • Published: 16 June 2012*
  • File format: Text
  • Words: 2,444 (approx)
  • Number of pages: 10 (approx)

Text preview of this essay:

This page of the essay has 2,444 words. Download the full version above.

Analysis Of Political Cartoons In R.K.Laxman’s Work

‘Political cartoons are vivid primary sources that offer intriguing and entertaining insights into the public mood, the underlying cultural assumptions of an age, and attitudes toward key events or trends of the times. Since the 18th century, political cartoons have offered a highly useful window into the past. Just about every school history textbook now has its quota of political cartoons” ‘ Jonathan Burack

Burack says that the simplicity of the cartoons is what makes cartoons deceptive, the more simplicity of the drawing or visual, the more complex the thought behind it. He points out that cartoons have evolved from the 1700’s where they were elaborate heavy on dialogues and obscure visuals. He says cartoons in short, are visual strategies to make a point in small spaces. Cartoon is an imprecise term applied to a multitude of graphic forms. Though being better than other terms such as caricature, it can be broadly divided into two categories: cartoons of opinion and joke cartoons. Cartoons of opinion are primarily visual mean of communicating opinions and attitudes, humour may be present but not a necessary part of it. On the other hand, joke cartoons are designed to communicate humour. This art form dates back to at least 3300 years. The world’s oldest caricature was unearthed in Egypt where the subject of mockery was none other than the Egyptian king ‘Pharaoh Akhenaton’. And it happened when he tried to give his country a new religion, new government and a new capital city around 1360 BC. Caricatures were always there, they have been found on Ancient Greek pottery depictions, lampooning both political leaders and overweight Olympian gods. The Roman Empire’s political discontent appeared scrawled on walls, mocking strict or incompetent military commanders as well as fringe religious movements. Ancient Indian rulers also were no less immune to caricatures that attacked political elites and their Hindu gods. What is significant in these manifestations is that these cartoons were produced independent of editorial control or profit motive and appeared on mediums other than newsprint. Political cartoons are made of two elements ‘ caricature, in which the subject is parodied and allusion, in which the subject is placed under the situation or context. Caricature is a western art which dates back to Leonardo da Vinci’s artistic explorations of the ideal type of deformity namely grotesque that he used to explain the concept of ideal beauty. As the time goes the established principles of form by Leonardo became so ingrained into the portraiture method that several other artists rebelled against him. So in order to make satire more lighthearted caricature came as a counter art. It was a new genre which was quick, impressionistic and exaggerating prominent physical characteristics to humorous effect, bringing out the subject’s inner self in a kind of physiognomic satire. Caricatures started to become popular with collectors, perceiving the fanciful exercises as curiosities rather than an artistic work, so instead of displaying it publicly they were shown in parlors and drawing rooms. The printing press invention profoundly changed the scene of political cartoons. Printing led to the emergence of the broadsheet, which circulated throughout Renaissance Europe.

During the 17th century, William Hogarth was perceived as the precursor of political cartoons. His cartoons were loaded with satire and sequential artistic scenes, aimed for social criticism. His cartoons brought out the corruption of early 18th century Britain politics. His works includes the iconic portray of the disastrous 1720’s stock market crash known as the ‘South Sea Bubble’ leading to loss a great deal of money. His masterpiece ‘A Rake’s Progress’ had a strong moral tone that shows how cartoons were becoming a vehicle of setting social agenda. The art of cartooning started to develop in the latter part of 18th century. James Gillray was a well-known name during this time who explored the medium of cartooning especially during French Revolution. His works ridiculed the ambitions of the revolutionary and Napoleon’s motifs through lampooning and caricatures. Gillray’s incomparable wit and humour, his use of knowledge of life, keen sense of the ludicrous, and beauty of execution, put him amongst the top cartoonists once. It shows how cartooning was becoming influential and gaining widespread acclaim. Magazines like ‘Punch’ started to publish in 1941 became a national institution due to its influential and widely acclaimed artists such as John Leech, Richard Doyle, John Tenniel and Charles Keene. By the mid-19th century, magazines were evolved into newspaper and publishers printed their take upon day to day politics. One of them was the famous influential cartoonist Thomas Nast from New York whose cartoons attacked the criminal activities ‘Boss Tweed’ political machinery. By the late 19th century cartoonists started to draw inspiration from other sources such as Shakespeare, Bible, sports, mythology and other contexts. According to Charles Press, author of Political Cartooning, in order to make a political cartoon effective it must have the four following qualities ‘ ‘ Artistic quality – but the artistry must not get in the way of the message. ‘ Genuine sentiment – but it should not feel phony. ‘ Fresh, uncomplicated imagery – should be striking, forceful, and amusing. ‘ Lasting importance – the subject of the cartoon should be important so the cartoon can be understood by future readers. Following are the other significant elements that goes into the making of political cartoons – ‘ SATIRE – Political cartoons uses satire in order to make an observation about a situation. It touches those issues that may not be suited for commentary by an editor. A cartoon is endorsed by a newspaper and is definitely a questioning and decisive piece that at times may even be biased. A good cartoon says what the editorial may try to avoid, cartoons are safe as the prevalent humour quotient brings certain balance to controversies and that is why any newspaper tries at getting out the best artwork. Cartoonists use specific devises to get their message across. ‘ HUMOUR ‘ Humour is the most prevalent subject matter in political cartoons. The effectiveness of a cartoon depends significantly upon the element of humour it contains. Through humour, absurdity and hypocrisy are exposed and when a reader laugh at those who are in power, he becomes less afraid. The element of humour act as a sugar coating upon the bitter pill. And it also brings certain balance to controversies. As satire can hurt people, cartoonist uses humour subversively as an agent of change and reflection. ‘ SYMBOLS ‘ Symbols are important, as sometimes people are not sure how they feel and unable to make a decision. Studies shows that there is a high frequency of emotional symbolism in editorial cartoons as explained by the DeMause’s theory. Manipulation of shared symbols is likely to be important in directing public attention and shaping public opinion, especially in modern democracies. ‘ IRONY ‘ The use of political irony often points out the contradictions in politics in a wry way. Rhetoric is often used in text with irony, this sort of irony is often seen in political cartoons. Sometimes it is humorous, and other times it can be quite hostile. Burack says that irony makes cartoons witty and point out the flaws in the system. He says cartoons must entail irony as they can make a contradiction and argument. ‘ STEREOTYPING – Stereotyping is a routine in cartoons, it’s in a stereotype that the cartoonist tries, explains and simplifies a largely applicable point of view. Though being offensive, it largely helps a cartoonist to convey and establish an idea, making a strong point open for discussions and debates. ‘ AN ARGUMENT NOT A SLOGAN – Cartoons are pointed taking a jab at issues, they are not merely slogans that state a fact. Slogans are different for ex. Adidas has ‘Impossible Is Nothing’ slogan. But a cartoon subverts it explaining how this is achieved. In some cases it’s opinionated and blunt. So even though if it’s biased, the cartoon provides one, grounds for responding and even arguing back.

‘ DISTORTION – Exaggeration and distortion are the primary tools employed by a cartoonist which shows someone’s power or weak??ness, the importance or the insignificance, dangerousness or helplessness of a person, group, or social force. In other words, distortion and exaggeration help to emphasise extremes in personalities or actions.

R K Laxman is an Indian cartoonist, illustrator, and humorist. He is best known for his creation The Common Man, for his daily cartoon strip, "You Said It" in The Times of India, which started in 1951. He is a pioneer of political cartooning in India. He is a legendary cartoonist not because of the paper he is associated with but because of the cartoons he put on it. His cartoons were effective yet less controversial. The Times of India owes Laxman for highlighting such issues that otherwise would have lost in a country like ours. The book written by R K Laxman, titled ‘The Common Man Seeks Justice’ shows the complex life of the common man, who is a silent spectator to all that goes around him. Common man is a famous caricature by Laxman as a spectator to the situation he faces. The common man is portrayed as a submissive character with deep insights who is hopeful and usually disappointed in what he receives in the end. ‘The Common Man Seeks Justice” is about the battles of this extraordinary spirit. The face of the common man is one that everybody recognises and relates to. The common man, the iconic symbol of resilience and adaptability, who is a silent spectator to all that is wrong, looking at politicians and bureaucrats and is stumped by their actions. The common man however takes it in his stride and moves on with what he has to do making peace with corruption and apathy. He is okay with congestion and overpopulation; he genuinely understands the problems of his fellow citizens and tries not to judge. This book shows how cartoons are drawn and how they influence the minds of the readers. How the common man is a meek and submissive yet jolly character. It leaves to the imagination of the reader on how to interpret the cartoon. The cartoons in the series can be seen as all accepting, highly corrupt, sometimes stupid and unreasonable. The book is more like an exercise to understand subtle hints and inclinations of political cartoons. R K Laxman being a social cartoonist, makes a commentary upon the lives of millions of Indians who live in challenging times politically, socially, economically. Laxman is known for his artistic talent which brings to life the problems of the common man, Laxman’s readers found him to be realistic, a casual reader may see it as a slapstick, and this could be because the common man witnesses absurd events that have no logical explanations. Laxman’s followers understands that this is to bring to notice the problems, not merely humour. Political cartoons are an important part in any newspaper, though the position of this piece is small, the impact is huge. It conveys a lot of information with very few words. Even if the emotions behind them is harsh it would be oftenly taken with a sense of humour and understanding the humor of people gives definition to the society, definition not readily available in traditional history. Cartoons are complex, the reason why newspaper invests in them when writing would do the job is the reason for their popularity. In India, political cartoons are used to propagate ideas and change. The press and political cartoons becomes mediums to convey the change and information. Even freedom fighters used this platform to convey their thought, not just during pre-independence time but also after it as well. Artists like BalaSaheb Thackeray and R.K.Laxman comments upon various things in the independent India. The emergency of 1984 is an example from the Indian context where cartoonists played a greater role in putting out opinions when Editorials were curbed and could not present their point of view independently. The purpose of cartoons usually is to promote social welfare and social well-being. Cartoonist draws attention to some wrong in the hope of stimulating activity to correct it. Political cartoons serves social functionalism. Historic and recent examples demonstrate the continued ability of the political cartoon to draw attention, spark controversy, and trouble leaders across the globe. It is the ability of cartoons to undermine the legitimacy of rulers, leaving an indelible stain on their public image, that remains one of their most potent and feared attributes. Occasionally, both governments and elites have attempted to harness the medium’s power for political ends. Reportedly French artists were encouraged by Napoleon to create cartoons that sanctioned his policies (Lester 1995, 222). Social inequalities doesn’t allow the citizens to enjoy and exercise their rights as an equal citizen of a country which therefore make the common man silenced and unacknowledged, completely absent from political equation remained being an indelible fact. Cartooning is a subversive art as dictators and political leaders are scared people, they can’t risk ridicule that’s why the totalitarian establishment suppress it. It’s the ability of cartoons to subvert the authorization of rulers, leaving an indelible stain on their public images. So as an active nature of a democratic life, it’s pulsated through visual satiric political representation. So drawing in the comical aspect of a functioning democracy, draws out a democracy alive to its inherent possibilities; a democracy laughing at himself despite all of the limitations and bringing out the best potential attributes, offering a social functionalism. Works Cited "Analyzing the Purpose and Meaning of Political Cartoons – ReadWriteThink." readwritethink.org. N.p., n.d. Web. . <http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/analyzing-purpose-meaning-political-794.html#tabs>. Chatterjee, Sushmita. "Cartooning Democracy: The Images of R. K. Laxman." PS: Political Science & Politics (): 303. Print. "Editorial cartoon – Top Videos." Editorial cartoon – Top Videos. N.p., n.d. Web. . <http://www.mashpedia.com/Editorial_cartoon>. "IMPORTANCE OF POLITICAL CARTOONS TO NEWSPAPERS." – Christ University Institutional Repository. N.p., n.d. Web. . <http://repository.christuniversity.in/1717/>. Laxman, R. K.. The common man seeks justice. New Delhi: Penguin Books, 2003. Print. Leverkuhn, A., and Andrew Jones. "." WiseGeek. Conjecture, 28 Mar. 2014. Web. . <http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-political-irony.htm>. "Part I: A Brief History of Political Cartoons." Part I: A Brief History of Political Cartoons. N.p., n.d. Web. . <http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MA96/PUCK/part1.html>. "Political Cartoons." Rita786s Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. . <http://rita786.wordpress.com/political-cartoons-brief/>."Political cartoons." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 3 July 2014. Web. . <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_cartoons>. "Teaching History.org, home of the National History Education Clearinghouse." Interpreting Political Cartoons in the History Classroom. N.p., n.d. Web. . <http://teachinghistory.org/teaching-materials/teaching-guides/21733>. "The properties of editorial cartoons | The Herald." The Herald. N.p., n.d. Web. . <http://www.herald.co.zw/the-properties-of-editorial-cartoons/>. "Political Cartoon Analysis by Khaledbelia." StudyMode. N.p., n.d. Web. . <http://www.studymode.com/essays/Political-Cartoon-Analysis-1617803.html>. Abraham, Abu. Anatomy of the Political Cartoon. : , . Print. Chatterjee, Sushmita. "Cartooning Democracy: The Images of R. K. Laxman." PS: Political Science & Politics (): 303. Print.

...(download the rest of the essay above)

About this essay:

If you use part of this page in your own work, you need to provide a citation, as follows:

Essay Sauce, Analysis Of Political Cartoons In R.K.Laxman’s Work . Available from:<https://www.essaysauce.com/english-language-essays/analysis-political-cartoons/> [Accessed 09-03-24].

These English language essays have been submitted to us by students in order to help you with your studies.

* This essay may have been previously published on Essay.uk.com at an earlier date.

Essay Categories:

  • Accounting essays
  • Architecture essays
  • Business essays
  • Computer science essays
  • Criminology essays
  • Economics essays
  • Education essays
  • Engineering essays
  • English language essays
  • Environmental studies essays
  • Essay examples
  • Finance essays
  • Geography essays
  • Health essays
  • History essays
  • Hospitality and tourism essays
  • Human rights essays
  • Information technology essays
  • International relations
  • Leadership essays
  • Linguistics essays
  • Literature essays
  • Management essays
  • Marketing essays
  • Mathematics essays
  • Media essays
  • Medicine essays
  • Military essays
  • Miscellaneous essays
  • Music Essays
  • Nursing essays
  • Philosophy essays
  • Photography and arts essays
  • Politics essays
  • Project management essays
  • Psychology essays
  • Religious studies and theology essays
  • Sample essays
  • Science essays
  • Social work essays
  • Sociology essays
  • Sports essays
  • Types of essay
  • Zoology essays

Privacy Overview

Home / Essay Samples / Arts & Cultures / Visual Arts

Political Cartoon Essay Examples and Topics

The political cartoon by simmons: every vote counts.

“Every vote counts!” is a quote that I always think about when it comes to the topic of voting and elections. As an American citizen, it is responsible for me to keep in touch on what is going on in the country, through the good…

Political Cartoons of Dr.suess: Image of Jewish Immigrants, Nazis and America

I choose the category of America First. Unrelated to WWII, I think this issue recurs in different times in history, because of the U.S disregard to immigration, where citizens from other worn-torn areas comes to this country for refuge. Because of propaganda and the influence…

The Importance of Political Cartoons: Sermons in Stones and Anti-Suffrage Salt

In most cases, a cartoon speaks louder than a text, so that is why political cartoons are very important. Cartoons are highly valuable sources of history because it puts light on events that has taken place in the past, therefore cartoons are very helpful to…

Analysis of Political Cartoon by Mike Likovich

The cartoonist for this is known as Mike Likovich. This cartoon describes a football referee who has gone on strike and subsequently replaced by one who has made some outrageous calls. This basically upends the team that is thought to be in a position to…

Government and Leadership Types in Antz

General Mandible is a very extreme ant, and all he thinks about is the colony. Anything that the ants do should always be for the benefit of the colony, not for the benefit of individuals. This type of leadership that Mandible uses on his soldiers…

Thomas Nast: the Cartoonist that Went Against Tammany Hall

When discussing artists in this class, one artist stood out above the rest, with the amount of influence and impact, he had on the world through his art. Thomas Nast influenced the world through his work by making issues that people were aware of accessible….

The Horror of Holocaust: the Theme Best Expressed by Both Wiesel and Spiegelman

Starting from January 30, 1933 to May 8, 1945, around 17 million people were killed in Germany in what is known as the Holocaust. At that time, Adolf Hitler’s, Nazi Germany aimed to remove people who were not of German descent from Germany and especially…

The Responsibility and Duty Artists Have Carry on Their Shoulders

An Artists Obligation It is the duty of an artist to create art in response to the political world, injustices and humanitarian issues. This applies to all forms of art including music, photography, painting, dance, film, performance art, visual art, new media and sculpture, to…

Words & Pages

essays about political cartoons

We use cookies to offer you the best experience. By continuing, we’ll assume you agree with our Cookies policy .

Choose your writer among 300 professionals!

You cannot copy content from our website. If you need this sample, insert an email and we'll deliver it to you.

Please, provide real email address.

This email is exists.

logo

80 Fascinating Political Cartoon Ideas To Deal With

Table of Contents

Are you a cartoonist or a journalist who needs political cartoon ideas? Do you want interesting political cartoon essay ideas for your assignment? Well, have a look at this blog post. Especially, to help you out, here, we have presented a list of amazing political cartoon ideas, themes, and political cartoon essay topics. In addition to that, for beginners, we have shared a brief overview of political cartoons and also explained how to sketch a political cartoon.

Continue reading and get fascinating ideas for creating a political cartoon.

What is a Political Cartoon?

A Political Cartoon or Editorial Cartoon is a cartoon that is created to present a point or a statement about a current political issue or event. It will be usually found near the editorial columns of the daily newspapers. Even you can find this type of cartoon on political websites and news magazines.

The main purpose of a political cartoon is to make readers laugh and trigger them to critically think about current political issues in a different manner. Also, it helps to spread information to society about current events and allows them to generate critical opinions.

In general, the political cartoon is characterized by metaphorical and satirical language. Mostly, political cartoonists will make a point about a certain political event of the day like a funny joke by drawing cartoons of public figures or politicians. Some powerful persuasive techniques that political cartoonists use the most are labeling, analogy, symbolism, irony, and exaggeration.

Learn How to Make a Creative Political Cartoon

Political Cartoon Ideas

The following are simple and effective steps that you need to follow to draw a persuasive political cartoon or a comic.

  • Firstly, pick a unique idea for your political cartoon. Especially, to generate political cartoon ideas, you can look at some examples. Also, you can view already published political cartoons and know about the common elements and themes used in them.
  • Secondly, analyze the political issue you have chosen and identify what message you want to say and how you want to say it to your readers.
  • Thirdly, find out what symbolism you want to use in your political cartoon. For example, to represent the USA, Eagles are used.
  • Fourthly, figure out what exaggerations to use. For example, when you insert a caricature of a politician, to highlight the unique features they possess, you can use any exaggeration. This will help your readers to easily recognize the person.
  • Next, note what needs to be labeled. Labeling important elements in your comic will increase the impact of your message and make the narrative clear. But do not overuse them.
  • Identify what analogy to use in your comic. Using analogies will help your readers understand the message easily and view the issue from a different perspective.
  • Once you have planned your comic, create a rough draft for it.
  • Next, using a pencil, sketch the outline of your political cartoon.
  • After sketching, add dialogues in your comic to present your message.
  • Finally to make your comic stand out, color your comic using colored pencils, ink, crayons, or any other coloring tool that is comfortable for you. Note that, the colors you use can carry meaning. For example, blue can be used to represent the Democratic Party of the United States.

Get Feedback

After you have created your political cartoon or a comic, share it with your friends or relatives and get their feedback. Mostly, by sharing your work with others, you can determine whether they understood the message you conveyed in your comic or not. Also, you can improve the quality of your work based on their comments.

Lastly, once everything looks perfect for you, you can submit your political cartoon or comic for publishing.

Also read: Intriguing Political Science Research Topics for Students

Know How to Find the Political Cartoon Idea for an Essay

To create an essay on a political cartoon, a good topic is necessary. In case, you are unsure how to come up with a unique Political Science Assignment Help cartoon topic idea for your essay, follow the below-mentioned tips.

  • Choose a topic that is interesting for you. But remember, the political cartoon essay topic that you select might be argumentative or persuasive.
  • Pick a topic that contains a wide scope of discussion.
  • Give preference to a topic that contains numerous examples and credible sources of reference.
  • Select a topic that allows you to share your opinions freely.
  • Go with a topic that is unique and informative.
  • Finalize the political cartoon essay topic only if it matches the essay writing guidelines shared by your instructor.

List of Political Cartoon Essay Topic Ideas

In this section, we have presented a wide range of captivating political cartoon essay ideas and fascinating political cartoon essay topics . Feel free to go through them all and choose any idea that fits you perfectly.

Simple Political Cartoon Ideas

  • Create a political cartoon on health care reform in the US.
  • Sketch a political cartoon on Trump’s healthcare amendments.
  • Make a political cartoon on the right to privacy.
  • Create a satiric cartoon on American Politics.
  • Sketch a political cartoon on Indian Politics.
  • Analyze the political cartoons of Dr.Seuss.
  • Discuss how children’s cartoons are politicized.
  • Analyze political cartoons in different countries.
  • Write about the political cartoon on the events of the Berlin Aircraft.
  • Analyze the political cartoon ‘School Begins’.

Popular Political Cartoon Ideas

  • Sketch a political cartoon on the Washington Post.
  • Create a political cartoon on Obamacare.
  • Make a political cartoon on the Russia – Ukraine War.
  • Compare two political cartoons.
  • Analyze the rhetoric behind a political cartoon.
  • Discuss the importance of political cartoons.
  • Analyze the political cartoons from the art of persuasion.
  • Discuss the common symbols used in political cartoons,
  • Explain the political impact of political cartoons.
  • Analyze Granlund’s political cartoon.

Also read: Excellent High School Essay Topics for Students

Interesting Political Cartoon Ideas

  • Explain the power of political cartoons in shaping public opinion.
  • Analyze the use of humor in political cartoons.
  • Write about gender representation in political cartoons.
  • Analyze the role of satire in political cartoons.
  • Explain the use of symbols and metaphors in political cartoons.
  • Are political cartoons a tool for social change?
  • Explain the role of caricature in political cartoons.
  • Discuss the cultural and regional variations in political cartoons.
  • Write about the satirical techniques used in political cartoons.
  • Discuss the ethics of political cartooning.
  • Analyze the role of irony and satire in political cartoons.
  • Gary McCoy’s Political Cartoon as Visual Argumentation
  • Analyze the political cartoon of Mike Likovich.
  • Political cartoons from the crash to the millennium.
  • Explain how a cartoonist uses visual rhetoric to show discrimination in political cartoons.

Captivating Political Cartoon Essay Topics

  • Are political cartoons an important historical source?
  • Analyze the political cartoon’s representation of Native American discrimination.
  • Examine McCarthyism in political cartoons and its relationship to the crucible.
  • Explain how Kirk Anderson uses symbols, imagery, and humor in his political cartoons.
  • Discuss the irony behind Henry Payne’s political cartoon.
  • Explain what political cartoons tell us about the US foreign policy during the Reagan years.
  • Discuss the political control monopolies hold over Congress in Joseph Keppler’s political cartoon.
  • Join or Die: A political cartoon from Philadelphia in 1754.
  • Analyze the political cartoon “Love the Police”
  • Examine the political cartoon on Transnational Corporations.
  • Discuss the negative issues caused by political cartoons.
  • Examine political cartoons on the Scope of the Monkey Trial.
  • Explain the influence of American Political Cartoons.
  • Analyze the political cartoon of Elian Gonzalez’s Removal.
  • Compare the political cartoon of Liberals and Conservatives Thurgood Marshall, Jr.

Amazing Political Cartoon Topics for Essays

  • Prepare a rhetorical analysis essay of a 2016 political cartoon about journalism threats.
  • Compare the political cartoon on the death of Obesity and the death of tobacco use.
  • Analyze the symbol of a red hat with a white font in the political cartoons of David Horsey.
  • Compose an essay about political cartoons on Imperialism.
  • Analyze the use of symbols and humor in Kirk Anderson’s Political Cartoon on Technology taking over employment
  • Explain the role of cartoons in Early American Politics.
  • Analyze a political cartoon on the Transnational Corporation.
  • Examine the irony behind the political cartoon of Henry Payne.
  • Analyze Bob Engelhart’s cartoon about Ron Paul’s campaign.
  • Analyze a political cartoon of the GOP war on Voting.

Excellent Political Cartoon Essay Ideas

  • Examine a political cartoon concerning the presidential election.
  • Are political cartoons a popular subgenre of media?
  • Examine a political cartoon concerning the scholastic achievement test.
  • Write about the political caricatures from the 1800s.
  • Analyze the themes of personal responsibility and social responsibility in a political cartoon.
  • Write about free expression in political cartoons.
  • Describe the functions and roles of editorial cartoons.
  • Analyze how the cartoonists use visual rhetoric and political illustrations.
  • Examine the evolution of political cartoons in a changing media environment.
  • Analyze the rhetorical devices used in political cartoons.

Also read: Top Criminology Dissertation Ideas To Consider

Outstanding Political Cartoon Essay Topics

  • Write about the usage of satirical techniques in political cartoons.
  • An oversimplification of drugs to death in a political cartoon.
  • Analyze the political cartoon on Republican
  • Do Indian political cartoons create a big impact?
  • Analyze the political cartoons from World War I.
  • The parallels between Thomas Nast and political cartoons.
  • Discuss the mayor and the police department in political cartoons
  • Analyze a controversial Indian political cartoon.
  • Analyze how the dynamic progress of women’s rights in Canada is shown in political cartoons
  • Examine the political cartoons of World War II rhetoric.

Final Words

Out of the numerous political cartoon ideas suggested above, you can choose any idea based on your preference. In case, you need an expert to offer you help with handling your assignments, contact us immediately. As per your needs, skilled essay helpers and well-qualified academic writers from our team will offer cheap and best essay help online. Most importantly, by utilizing our essay assignment help service , you can complete your task in advance of your deadline and impress your instructors.

Instead of pressurizing yourself, simply place your order on our website and enjoy all the benefits that our academic service provides.

Related Post

the most successful zodiac signs

The Most Successful Zodiac Signs in Career

Immigration Research Paper Topics

70 Best Immigration Research Paper Topics and Ideas

Hardest College Majors

Top 10 Hardest College Majors in 2024 – Most Difficult Courses

About author.

essays about political cartoons

Jacob Smith

Jacob Smith guides students with writing research paper topics and theses at greatassignmenthelp.com. Read about the author from this page

https://www.greatassignmenthelp.com/

Comments are closed.

  • Featured Posts

200 Impressive Business Essay Topics

175 unique bioethics topics to consider for academic paper, apa vs. mla: know the major differences between the citation styles, top 155 java project ideas for beginners and experts, how long is a dissertation know the average length, java vs. python: a comparative study, 190 best english research topics and ideas, 91 interesting allegory essay topics, 100 unique research topics for college students, get help instantly.

Raise Your Grades with Great Assignment Help

  • 1(877)219-7556 1(877)733-3925

Fully unique works only

Your privacy is our concern

Writing that is plagiarism free

Free Political Cartoons Essay Sample

According to John (1959) political cartoons are visual aids used to pass across political messages to a targeted population. He specifically points out that cartoons are vital part of visual expression where Politicians try to capture and convince their audience. It acts as a tool to disseminated political agenda to the community. Often political Cartoons are found on the editorial pages of newspapers and magazines, sometimes they are also available in comics sections and visual aids like: the British artist Banksy, which produces art works which are arguably political cartoons on walls, streets, and buildings around the world.

In reference to James (1918) argument, Political cartoons are a tricky and they involve a lot of art based on political overtone; he makes it clear that, artists do not work in a vacuum thus Cartoons themselves are a bit nebulous, he points out that the term cartoon can refer to a simple single panel or a visual aid illustration or a continuous logical series of strips which pass across special political message. He argues that, political cartoons are simple lines of drawings, with a humorous edge, which may be captioned or left untitled, depending on the interest of the artist. Political Cartoons are designed complicated and sometimes need guidance of interpreter to be understood.

Simon (1953) explains that cartoons are used often to address public matters  that are questionable, they can be used to praise or critique  or just pass information related to anything that speech writers, artists, spin doctors and press secretaries do to avoid it been seen in the eyes of the world. Some of the leaders who practiced cartooning are like Jackson, Lincoln and Roosevelt. Some leaders like Kennedy had joined energetically by looking, phrase making as he quoted one is not supposed to ask what your country can do for you and political crises. It's noted that the worst leaders are those who have brought their country to point of precipice though without personal style. If such leaders were not enough graceless in appearance or were fruitful at keeping dubious confidants behind the curtain, they are found to have maintained the correct mode of inactive leadership where by this deficit never became a lampoon able trait. Corruption which is massive does not reflect a positive image than cruel expansionism of gained one of McKinley.

Simon (1953) gives an example of how cartoon were used by some of the outstanding world leaders to depict what happed when a leader died while in power. Cartoons still recall their favorite objectives, when this moved on from the state to their memoirs. Due to the art work of newspapers, it was found that John Wilkes finally abetted Lincoln's rise to the level of public representation. Another episode Teddy Roosevelt and Nixon, the office encountered little of cartooning at tension.  In addition to this, the cancer illness for Reagan and his assassination attempt discouraged cartoons from going after his shoe black hair. In addition, he points out that, the major goal of a political cartoon is to send a clear meaningful information by use of images which are familiar to all people of the community.

James(1918) explains that in reflection of any article cartoons make use comic books and comic strips which they regarded as serous artistic and cultural production. Some states in the world comics are considered to be an undemanding where by some citizens within the same state find comics as a site where words and images intersect. Words and images reflect differently in the human race of representation, presentation and even symbols. Some people have problems with words and images where by some say it's old and venerable as well as new and hot. The relation between words and images in communication pose some problem

According to John (1959) analysis of political cartoons has established that, cartoons are potential to the point that it generates change by freeing the thought, changing the intellect and conflicting with change.  In addition they reflect the major problems on internal problems of a state and even the politicians. Though they detail a lot in their presentation, a failure of exploiting every detail from politically or morally scandalous situations for synthetic commentary but have delineate coercion to the areas of occurrence. In other situations of proving what used to happen underground, they reflect and confirm the worst. In these perceptive, cartoonists have won prizes like medals for their output which reflect the most critical issues which could not have been understood though they expose the victim to the public.

essays about political cartoons

Have NO Inspiration to write your essay?

Ask for Professional help

Search Free Essay

Please note!

Some text in the modal.

Political Cartoons in Different Countries Essay

Latin america.

  • Area: Latin America
  • Cartoonist: Nillson-Maki
  • Explanation: The cartoon depicts Hugo Chavez rolling on top of an oil barrel, escaping an angry mob of Venezuelan citizens. Chavez is infamous for taking money that would benefit his fellow citizens and channeling it towards projects that promote his own political agendas. Therefore, the cartoonist is very practical as the drawing and sketches utilize all the necessary features in relaying the intended message to the society. Features in the portrait Hugo Chaves such as oil barrel and an angry mob, help the readers to decipher corruption. According to Kange, corruption is a factor that is affecting many developing countries and has hampered their development and progress (14). The cartoon also acts as a warning to leaders who engage in corrupt practices since they can face the wrath of current citizens who are more enlightened than the preceding generations.

Hugo Chavez rolling on top of an oil barrel.

Western Europe

  • Area: The United States
  • Cartoonist: Glenn McCoy
  • Explanation: The cartoonist uses the cartoon of an individual explaining the challenges that people can experience when they engage in global warming activities. The activities, which relate to global warming, create harm in the world in terms of increasing the average temperature of the world. According to Brooks (162), it is imperative that people try to save the world from the effects of global warming. From the cartoon, a picture develops in the minds of readers that global warming is a global challenge. The implication of a cartoon that develops in the minds of readers is an amplified attempt to minimize activities that increase the world’s vulnerability to global warming. The message conveyed by the cartoons also encourages people to engage in operations that reduce the negative effects that global warming has on the sustainability and long life of the planet.

Glenn McCoy.

  • Location of Japan
  • Cartoonist: Bill Schorr

The main message that the cartoon brings to the fore includes the disasters that are impending in Japan. The cartoonist uses the drawing to express the future of the world and the consequences that came along with global warming. According to the cartoonists, many individuals engage in careless behavior that does a lot of harm to the earth and reduces its ability to sustain and accommodate future generations. Some of these behaviors include pollution, nuclear tests, and the use of agrochemicals. Bolen and Robison argue that global warming is a critical issue that can result in wildfires, unprecedented changes in weather patterns, earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornados (161). The cartoon depicts some of the consequences that global warming occasion, which includes earthquake and tsunami.

Bill Schorr.

China and Sub-Sahara Africa

  • Area: Sub-Sahara Africa
  • Cartoonist: Adenle Adewale
  • Explanation: This is one of a series of cartoons published in 1996 demonstrating the frustration of the Nigerian people. The cartoon shows a Nigerian citizen, nailed down by an oppressive General Sanai Abacha and his regime, literally starving for democracy. The cartoon sends a number of messages to the society that concern corruption, misuses of resources, and democracy. According to cartoonists, many individuals in developing countries are starving for democracy. Corruption is a prevalent vice in many developing countries, as most of their leaders have greed for power and money (Steinberg 11). From the cartoon and sketches, it is clear that leaders of these nations prevented their citizens from gaining get the much-needed democracy but instead remain nailed as slaves of the country.

Adenle Adewale.

The Middle East and North Africa

  • Location: Afghanistan
  • Cartoonist: John Cox and Allen Forkum
  • Explanation: In the cartoon, the cartoonist uses the cartoon of Iran leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to create awareness in the minds of people living in nations and states to explain the importance of curbing nuclear proliferation and its negative impacts. The cartoonist uses a sketch that shows the president of Iran, expressing his need to destroy countries such as the United States and Israel using nuclear weapons. In the cartoonists’ assertion, weapons of mass destruction aimed at destroying Israelites and Americans. Dobson (45) argues that the unchecked use of nuclear energy can proliferate the manufacturing and the use of nuclear weapons. Thus, the use of the cartoon is very instrumental in presenting the impact of nuclear weapons on global security.
  • Area: India
  • Cartoonist: Satish Acharya
  • Explanation: The cartoon depicts that citizens of India have been through the regimes that tolerate injustices. Corrupt practices have dominated the Indian regimes, which have contributed to systemic impunity in the judiciary. As the current regime wants to free known killers of a political leader, it elicits uproar in India. From the cartoon, it is evident that decades have passed while citizens are still expecting justice, although past regimes denied them. While a man is looking for justice for his father, another is seeking justice for the 1980s events, and some are seeking justice for recent events. This implies that the regimes in India have continued to perpetuate injustices against their citizens by delaying and denying them justice. In essence, the demonstration that is evident in the cartoon depicts hungry protesters who are determined to achieve their respective justice, no matter the delays or denials that they encounter.

Satish Acharya.

Eastern Europe and Russia

  • Location: Russia
  • Cartoonist: Mark Roberts
  • Explanation: The cartoons here comprise of some individuals who are discussing issues regarding nuclear testing. Through the cartoons, a picture develops in the minds of readers concerning the divergent perspectives held by individuals on aspects that regard nuclear weapons. The cartoonist employs complex political concepts to make the discussion among the cartoons interesting and creative. With the use of terms such as the jellyfish, vertebrates, and global fish stock, the cartoonist conveys the intended message. According to Cirincione, the presence of nuclear weapons in the world is a threat to humanity because they have the potential of causing massive destruction (10). Therefore, the cartoonist is conveying a very crucial message to the society concerning the use of nuclear weapons.

Mark Roberts.

Philippines

  • Location: Philippines
  • Cartoonist: Pat Bagley
  • Explanation: Since the Philippines frequently experience natural disasters such as typhoons, hurricanes, and floods, the cartoonist in depicting the experience that people undergo. In the cartoon, there is a young family made of father, mother, and a child who are conversing about the experience of the disaster that hit them. The disaster has destroyed their house, and they are seated outside, wondering what next about their lives. The family is in a desolate and hopeless state because the disaster has destroyed their property and thus makes them homeless and poor. Typhoon Haiyan rocked the Philippines late last year and left thousands of people under dilapidated conditions that require humanitarian aid to improve their lives and survive.

Pat Bagley.

Southeast Asia

  • Location: China
  • Cartoonist: Willa Chen
  • Explanation: The sketch is an illustration of a processing plant in China that manufactures certain products. From the sketch, it is clear that the plant emits high amounts of smoke that are harmful to the environment. Therefore, using the sketch, the cartoonist sends a message to the readers that pollution is harmful to society as it destroys the environment. Harrison argues that pollution occurs when individuals introduce harmful substances in a given environment (47). In the sketch, the smoke is black in color and is voluminous, which implies that the amount of harm that it has on the environment is very high and pronounced. The use of a small processing plant demonstrates the pollution magnitude of big processing plants. In addition, the sketch brings to the fore the pollution effects that processing plants have on the environment, water, soil, and air.

Willa Chen.

  • Location: Africa
  • Source: My drawing
  • Cartoonist: Me
  • Explanation: The cartoons depict Alshaabab, which is a terror group linked to Al-Qaeda terrorists fighting against the United States Army in Somalia. In the cartoon, Alshaabab is running away from Somalia into safe countries such as Kenya and Tanzania. As the United States and the United Nations started to invade Somalia, terrorists escaped and hid in other African countries. Thus, the cartoonist explains that although the United States and the United Nations’ Army invaded Somalia and dealt with the terrorists, they did not destroy all of them because some escaped and hid in some African Countries.. Therefore, the cartoon conveys a message to the society that terrorism is a global crisis and that all the individuals in the world have the responsibility of preventing the crisis (Phillips 25). The use of simple features enables readers to decipher the complexity of the issue of terrorism and Alshaabab globally.

Works Cited

Bolen, Eric and William Robison. Wildlife Ecology and Management. New Jersey: Prentice Hall/Pearson Education, 2003. Print.

Brooks, Charles. Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year: 2009 Edition. New Orleans: Pelican publishers, 2008. Print.

Cirincione, Joseph. Bomb Scare: The History and Future of Nuclear Weapons. Columbia: Columbia University Press , 2013. Print.

Dobson, Hugo. Japan and the G7/8: 1975-2002. New York: Routledge, 2004.Print.

Harrison, Roy. Pollution: Causes, Effects and Control. London: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2001. Print.

Kange, Augustine. Governance Challenges and Opportunities: A Qualitative Exploration of Leadership in Cameroon. Michigan: ProQuest, 2006. Print.

Phillips, Douglas. America’s Role in Changing the World. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2010. Print.

Steinberg, Paul. Environmental Leadership in Developing Countries: Transnational Relations and Biodiversity Policy in Costa Rica and Bolivia. New York: MIT Press, 2003. Print.

  • Chicago (A-D)
  • Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2020, June 1). Political Cartoons in Different Countries. https://ivypanda.com/essays/political-cartoons-in-different-countries/

"Political Cartoons in Different Countries." IvyPanda , 1 June 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/political-cartoons-in-different-countries/.

IvyPanda . (2020) 'Political Cartoons in Different Countries'. 1 June.

IvyPanda . 2020. "Political Cartoons in Different Countries." June 1, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/political-cartoons-in-different-countries/.

1. IvyPanda . "Political Cartoons in Different Countries." June 1, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/political-cartoons-in-different-countries/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Political Cartoons in Different Countries." June 1, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/political-cartoons-in-different-countries/.

  • Naji al-Ali, a Palestinian Cartoonist and His Art
  • Political Cartoon on Health Care Reform in the United States
  • Rhetorical Analysis of an Image
  • Civil Rights Movements During 1960s
  • The Boxer Rebellion in China: History and Impacts
  • The role of morphemes in the English language
  • How Children's Cartoons Are Politicized
  • Satiric Cartoons on American Politics
  • Analyzing the Political Cartoon “School Begins”
  • Why did Somalia Become a Failed State?
  • A Bug’s Life
  • Mamoru Oshii’s “Ghost in the Shell”
  • Movie Grave of the Fireflies
  • The Wabbit Came Who Came to Supper (1942)
  • "South Park" by Matt Stone and Trey Parker

Today's political cartoons - March 6, 2024

Wednesday's cartoons - pole surprises, monopoly on delays, and more

  • Newsletter sign up Newsletter

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox

A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com

Cartoons Friday's cartoons - ladies' liberty, greedflation, and more

By The Week US Published 8 March 24

speed read The country applied to join in 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine

By Peter Weber, The Week US Published 8 March 24

speed read The President criticized congressional Republicans and defended democracy and reproductive rights

  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Advertise With Us

The Week is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site . © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Home — Essay Samples — Arts & Culture — Political Cartoon — A Report On Political Cartoons In India

test_template

A Report on Political Cartoons in India

  • Categories: Political Cartoon

About this sample

close

Words: 3520 |

18 min read

Published: Oct 25, 2021

Words: 3520 | Pages: 8 | 18 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, political cartooning in india, influences of k. shankar pillai, influences of r.k. laxman, digitalization of political cartoons, political leaders, the common man, personalities and landmarks, entertainment.

Image of Dr. Charlotte Jacobson

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

  • 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
  • Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

author

Verified writer

  • Expert in: Arts & Culture

writer

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

1 pages / 534 words

2 pages / 1033 words

9 pages / 3869 words

1 pages / 600 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Political Cartoon

Lisa Benson’s political cartoons are popular in the USA because they are precision, funny, and ironic. The artist often draws new pictures which reflect a particular political event, an inappropriate statement of politicians, or [...]

Recently, the scientific research in applied linguistics has witnessed an increase interest in the study of political cartoons and depicted ideas from various perspectives such as pragmatic, critical discourse analysis (CDA), [...]

Recently, political cartoons earned great interest from researchers and became a powerful interdisciplinary research field across different research such as sociology, education, communication, and psychology. Political cartoons [...]

Imagine a world without photography, a world where you are unable to share important moments or preserve them. Photography allows us to convey our emotions and share our experiences with the world. Photography has existed for [...]

It’s impossible to analyse Beckett without struggling with his work’s abstract, surreal nature; the typical minimalist language mixed with abnormal premises make it difficult to find comprehensible meaning. Due to this universal [...]

Graphic Design is all around us. Everywhere you go, you see the work of graphic designers. When you go to the airport and see the colorful signs, or if you go to the mall and look at the posters with deals on them and the [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

  • Instructions Followed To The Letter
  • Deadlines Met At Every Stage
  • Unique And Plagiarism Free

essays about political cartoons

Advertisement

The best political cartoons in recent history, share this article, super satire.

essays about political cartoons

(DAVE GRANLUND -USA TODAY NETWORK)

The Super Tuesday hoopla calls for a little bit of levity, and there are few better ways to kick the surplus of political jargon than by looking back at some of the best satirical takes in the cartoonish-filled history of election cycles.

These political cartoons certainly get our vote…

The best of political cartoons

essays about political cartoons

USA TODAY Network

essays about political cartoons

JOEY WEATHERFORD-USA TODAY NETWORK

essays about political cartoons

NATHANIEL ARCHER-USA TODAY NETWORK

essays about political cartoons

DAVE GRANLUND-USA TODAY NETWORK

essays about political cartoons

MIKE THOMPSON-USA TODAY NETWORK

essays about political cartoons

ANDY MARLETTE-USA TODAY NETWORK

essays about political cartoons

MARC MURPHY-USA TODAY NETWORK

essays about political cartoons

Most Popular

Celebrities who have march birthdays, 'sopranos' stars who have died, most popular beers in the u.s. after midpoint of 2023, dog days of summer: the 101 most popular breeds, ranked, 50 largest cities in the united states by population 2022, top nil earners in ncaa, 25 of the best songs all-time by female artists.

Please enter an email address.

Thanks for signing up.

Please check your email for a confirmation.

Something went wrong.

Light Wave Reports

Light Wave Reports

The Day's Best Political Cartoons for March 8, 2024

Posted: March 8, 2024 | Last updated: March 8, 2024

Throughout the annals of human history, political cartoons have served as a powerful and influential medium for the commentary, critique, and lampooning of political figures and events.<br><br>Their origins can be traced back to ancient civilizations, but their contemporary form began to take shape during the 18th century.<br><br>Today, political cartoons remain a critical tool for satire, humor, and social commentary, adapting to the digital age through webcomics and social media. They continue to play an integral role in shaping public discourse and offering incisive commentary on political landscapes worldwide.<br><br>Here are the best political cartoons for March 8, 2024.

Ready, Set, BLOCK

<a href="https://twitter.com/Adamstoon1" rel="noreferrer">@Adamstoon1</a>

Super Tuesday

<a href="https://twitter.com/EandPCartoons" rel="noreferrer">@EandPCartoons</a>

Remember When

<a href="https://twitter.com/EandPCartoons" rel="noreferrer">@EandPCartoons</a>

That's When

<a href="https://twitter.com/EandPCartoons" rel="noreferrer">@EandPCartoons</a>

Disaster! Outrage! Conspiracy!

<a href="https://twitter.com/EandPCartoons" rel="noreferrer">@EandPCartoons</a>

Arabic Numerals

<a href="https://twitter.com/montewolverton" rel="noreferrer">@montewolverton</a>

AI Will Save Us

<a href="https://twitter.com/deAdder" rel="noreferrer">@deAdder</a>

The Art Of The Delay

<a href="https://twitter.com/MatsonCartoons" rel="noreferrer">@MatsonCartoons</a>

SCOTUS Punts

<a href="https://twitter.com/BennettCartoons" rel="noreferrer">@BennettCartoons</a>

Border Bill

<a href="https://twitter.com/EandPCartoons" rel="noreferrer">@EandPCartoons</a>

Talking About Everyone Else

<a href="https://twitter.com/claytoonz" rel="noreferrer">@claytoonz</a>

Voters Should Choose

More for you.

Trump Classified Documents

Trump allegedly held onto 70 boxes of classified documents – while telling staffer to claim all were returned

Jeffries Calls Out Republicans' Behavior At SOTU: 'Complete Embarrassment'

Jeffries Calls Out Republicans' Behavior At SOTU: 'Complete Embarrassment'

Emma Flint smiling

I'm abrosexual - it took me 30 years to realise

costco2

Costco makes a decision on membership-price increases

Tony Goldwyn, Jane Fonda, Matthew Modine and More Sign Open Letter Ahead of Oscars to

Tony Goldwyn, Jane Fonda, Matthew Modine and More Sign Open Letter Ahead of Oscars to "Make Nukes History"

Big Ten Women's Basketball Favorite Goes Down In First Game Of Conference Tournament

Big Ten Women's Basketball Favorite Goes Down In First Game Of Conference Tournament

Trump was ordered to pay $382,000 in legal fees for a failed lawsuit. By: MEGA

Court Finds Trump Made 'Shocking, Scandalous' False Claims in Steele Dossier Report; Ex-President Must Pay $382K in Legal Fees

Lawmakers sound off on Biden's mental fitness after State of the Union

Lawmakers sound off on Biden's mental fitness after State of the Union

NEWS: [Subcat: US] Map shows the best place to buy a house in US to survive nuclear war (SEO) METRO GRAPHICS Credit FEMA / Getty / metro.co.uk

Map reveals best places to live in the US if nuclear war breaks out

Harvard psychologist: If you answer 'yes' to any of these 9 questions, you're 'more emotionally secure than most'

Harvard psychologist: If you say 'yes' to any of these 9 questions, you're 'more emotionally secure than most'

31. Centreville, Illinois (62207)

41 States That Won’t Tax Social Security Benefits in 2024

Steve Lawrence, Grammy-Winning Pop Stylist and Actor, Dies at 88

Steve Lawrence, Grammy-Winning Pop Stylist and Actor, Dies at 88

‘His Achilles heel’: Reporter discusses whether Trump can pay $454M legal penalty

Journalist who covered Trump’s finances has theory about if Trump can pay legal penalties of $454M

Aid material is airdropped from international military planes into the northern Gaza Strip for Palestinians amid Israel's war with Hamas, March 7, 2024, as seen from Sderot, Israel.

5 people killed in Gaza after aid package parachute fails to deploy

Must-watch Netflix thriller lands perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes

Must-watch Netflix thriller lands perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes

full-truck-alliance_2

Shipping company files surprise Chapter 7 bankruptcy, liquidation

Top Democrat tells Mike Johnson to get GOP

Top Democrat tells Mike Johnson to get GOP "under control" after SOTU outbursts

Key proposals from President Biden's State of the Union address

Biden proposes billionaire's tax, aid for homebuyers. Here's what experts think.

The US Supreme Court is seen in

Liberal Elites Against Democracy | Opinion

Stormy Daniels reacted to former President Donald Trump's arraignment with an X-rated tweet.

Jurors in Trump's hush money criminal trial to be anonymous

COMMENTS

  1. 50 Political Cartoon Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

    50 Political Cartoon Essay Topic Ideas & Examples Updated: Oct 26th, 2023 3 min Table of Contents 🏆 Best Political Cartoon Topic Ideas & Essay Examples How Children's Cartoons Are Politicized

  2. Analysis of Political Cartoon

    Political cartoons are generally regarded as a hypertrophied imagination of the political or social reality of the particular time epoch. The image that is selected for the analysis is from the pre-1856 epoch of US history, and it represents the imagination of the political and social life as it was imagined by artists.

  3. Thomas Nast: The Rise and Fall of the Father of Political Cartoons

    Known as the father of political cartoons, no other artist wielded more power in influencing public opinion of the American political scene than Thomas Nast during the 19th century. Thomas Nast was born in Germany, and his family moved to New York City around the time he was six. In 1855, Nast landed his first illustration job at Leslie's ...

  4. Analyzing the Political Cartoon "School Begins" Essay

    Conclusion. The political cartoons were a powerful technique of the US political agenda and actions criticism. The cartoon "School begins" depicts the general idea of the white US supremacy over the indigenous people of the colonized territories. An essential point in this cartoon is that the indigenous people of the US and black people are ...

  5. Political Cartoon as the Easy Way to Understand Politics: [Essay

    A political cartoon, a type of editorial cartoons, is a graphic with characters of public figures, expressing the artist's opinion. An artist who writes and draws such images is known as an editorial cartoonist. They typically combine artistic skill, hyperbole and satire in order to question authority and draw attention to corruption, political ...

  6. Political Cartoon Essay

    Political cartoons are an illustrative technique that political cartoonist use to display a message to the viewers about government, world affairs, and politics. In 1754, publishers of the Pennsylvania Gazette published the first political cartoon illustrated by Benjamin Franklin (West, par. 1).

  7. The nation's cartoonists on the week in politics

    Cartoon Carousel . The nation's cartoonists on the week in politics. Every week political cartoonists throughout the country and across the political spectrum apply their ink-stained skills to ...

  8. The Influence Of Political Cartoons

    Political cartoons are an illustrative technique that political cartoonist use to display a message to the viewers about government, world affairs, and politics. In 1754, publishers of the Pennsylvania Gazette published the first political cartoon illustrated by Benjamin Franklin (West, par. 1).

  9. Friday essay: political cartooning

    Mark Knight's 2007 cartoon (with Howard on the right). Back in the 1990s, writing about cartoons involved a budget for buying newspapers, scissors, and a good spatial memory.

  10. Political Cartoons

    Political cartoons are a form of communication with extraordinary rhetorical power. In order to construct meaning, and in hopes of persuading their audience, cartoonists use different rhetorical strategies, such as the use of metaphors and widely known cultural references. Like other rhetorical artifacts, political cartoons are not a ...

  11. Essays on Political Cartoon

    Essays on Political Cartoon Essay examples Essay topics 16 essay samples found 1 Analysis of The Political Cartoons of Lisa Benson 1 page / 660 words Lisa Benson's political cartoons are popular in the USA because they are precision, funny, and ironic.

  12. Political Cartoon Essays: Examples, Topics, & Outlines

    Political Cartoon Essays Political Cartoon Essays (Examples) 159+ documents containing "political cartoon" . Sort By: Most Relevant Keyword (s) Reset Filters Political Cartoon Analysis This Cartoon PAGES 2 WORDS 453

  13. Political Cartoons

    See the best political cartoons lampooning politics, congress, gun rights and US leaders. More. The Week in Cartoons Mar. 4-8. Best Cartoons on the Republican Party.

  14. Controversial Political Cartoons

    Controversial Political Cartoons. Satisfactory Essays. 345 Words. 2 Pages. Open Document. In mid two thousand and eight, a New York magazine had circulated a controversial political cartoon targeting the White House's current residents, the President, and first lady. Within weeks many other news companies like CBS, NBC, and even Huffington ...

  15. Essays About Political Cartoon  Free Examples & Essay Topic Ideas

    Essays on Political Cartoon Free essays on political cartoon provide readers with valuable insights into the meaning and significance of these visual representations of political events and issues.

  16. Essay: Analysis Of Political Cartoons In R.K.Laxman's Work

    He is best known for his creation The Common Man, for his daily cartoon strip, "You Said It" in The Times of India, which started in 1951. He is a pioneer of political cartooning in India. He is a legendary cartoonist not because of the paper he is associated with but because of the cartoons he put on it.

  17. Political Cartoon Essay Examples and Topics at Eduzaurus

    878. "Every vote counts!" is a quote that I always think about when it comes to the topic of voting and elections. As an American citizen, it is responsible for me to keep in touch on what is going on in the country, through the good
. 1 Page 519 Words. American History Political Cartoon.

  18. 80 Fascinating Political Cartoon Ideas To Deal With

    A Political Cartoon or Editorial Cartoon is a cartoon that is created to present a point or a statement about a current political issue or event. It will be usually found near the editorial columns of the daily newspapers. Even you can find this type of cartoon on political websites and news magazines.

  19. Political Cartoons

    Davis caught at last : hoop skirts & southern chivalry Cartoon. Above: The only true picture of the capture of Jeff. Above: The only true picture of the capture of Jeff. Davis, from the account furnished by Col. Prichard of the 4th Mich. Cavalry.

  20. Political Cartoons Essay Example

    Free Political Cartoons Essay Sample. According to John (1959) political cartoons are visual aids used to pass across political messages to a targeted population. He specifically points out that cartoons are vital part of visual expression where Politicians try to capture and convince their audience. It acts as a tool to disseminated political ...

  21. Today's political cartoons

    Cartoons; Today's political cartoons - March 8, 2024. Friday's cartoons - ladies' liberty, greedflation, and more. Newsletter sign up Newsletter; By The Week US. published 8 March 2024

  22. Political Cartoons in Different Countries

    Cartoonist: Satish Acharya. Explanation: The cartoon depicts that citizens of India have been through the regimes that tolerate injustices. Corrupt practices have dominated the Indian regimes, which have contributed to systemic impunity in the judiciary. As the current regime wants to free known killers of a political leader, it elicits uproar ...

  23. Today's political cartoons

    Today's political cartoons - March 4, 2024. Monday's cartoons - Dunce part II, high speed fail, and more. Newsletter sign up Newsletter; By The Week US. published 4 March 2024

  24. Today's political cartoons

    Cartoons; Today's political cartoons - March 6, 2024. Wednesday's cartoons - pole surprises, monopoly on delays, and more. Newsletter sign up Newsletter; By The Week US. published 6 March 2024

  25. A Report on Political Cartoons in India

    Satire and politics are the two unarmed weapons that is modifying public's perception. Political cartoons are less developed in open spaces, especially when it come to the digital influence. This space allows questioning the context itself that is crutial for the citizens of the country. This essay was reviewed by.

  26. The best of political and editorial cartoons

    The best political cartoons in recent history. Share this article 60 shares share tweet text email link Rick Suter. follow March 6, 2024 3:40 pm ET. Super Satire (DAVE GRANLUND -USA TODAY NETWORK) The Super Tuesday hoopla calls for a little bit of levity, and there are few better ways to kick the surplus of political jargon than by looking back ...

  27. Political Cartoon Analysis Free Essay Example

    In this political cartoon, "The Security Blanket" sketched by Eugene Payne (speaker), an Army veteran that later became an award-winning cartoonist, gave his thoughts over the Great Debate over gun control (subject) through this cartoon. The occasion surrounding this topic is the gun control in the US.

  28. Political Cartoon Essay (400 Words)

    Political Cartoon Essay Category:, Last Updated: Pages: Download In this cartoon Luckovic shows how President Barrack Obama holds only one piece of candy only for a huge crowd of kids outside of his house. In this case the piece of candy is catalogued as a job opportunity.

  29. The Day's Best Political Cartoons for March 8, 2024

    Here are the best political cartoons for March 8, 2024. @EandPCartoons/X Ready, Set, BLOCK @EandPCartoons @Adamstoon1/X Super Tuesday @Adamstoon1 @EandPCartoons/X Remember When @EandPCartoons

  30. Great Moments in Unintended Consequences: (Vol. 15)

    Great Moments in Unintended Consequences: Road Noise Meters, San Francisco Red State Boycott, and Pennsylvania's Political Cartoon Ban (Vol. 15) Good intentions, bad results.