POLITICAL CA R TO O N S A ND

CARICATURE
POLITICAL CARICATURES
(WHAT ARE THEY?)

• The understanding of Politics and a society in a certain period of time can be known and understood not
only through texts but also through cartoons or caricature.

• Philippine Political cartoons gained full expression during American Period.

• Historian and Cartoonist Alfred McCoy’s extensive research in Philippine and American Archives provide
a comprehensive background not only to the cartoonist but to the turbulent period as well.
WHY USE POLITICAL CARICATURE?
 For propaganda
 To draw attention to an idea or
event
 To present a point of view
 To encourage a course of
action
 To stimulate debate on an
event or idea
 To entertain and inform
 To catch the reader and get
their attention
Subject A Political Race – the Election of 1860

Symbols Running is a symbol for a political campaign

Message The tallest and fastest – the leading candidate

WHY USE POLITICAL CARICATURES?

People with minimal reading abilities could understand and

relate to a format that communicated powerful ideas in a
humorous manner.
 Symbols, caricature, drawings, and exaggerations drawn by the
cartoonist, point out the themes and problems of that historical era.
 Political cartoons play an important part in telling the history of
an era.
Political cartoons serve to make people think about
political and government issues by:

•providing readers with additional viewpoints

assuming the reader has enough background
knowledge about the issues;
•to understand the message;
•emphasizing one side of an issue or concern;
•utilizing humor;
•relying on drawings to make a point
HOW TO ANALYZE A CARTOON
Level 1 –
Visuals - Look at the
objects or people in the
cartoon
Words – Look at the
caption , title , and any
dates or numbers in the
cartoon
Level 2 -
Visuals – What symbols
do you see & what do they
mean for this time period?
Words – What phrases or
words are most significant
& what emotions do they
evoke?
 WHEN LOOKING AT A POLITICAL
CARICATURE
• Think what event or issue inspired the cartoon.
• Are there any real people in the cartoon? Who is portrayed in the
cartoon?

• Are there symbols in the cartoon and what might they mean?
• What is the cartoonist’s opinions about the topic?
• Do you agree or disagree with the cartoonist’s opinion?
 MAKING YOUR OWN CARICATURE
• Begin with a clear idea or event
• A cartoon is not literal, but should make the viewer use their
imagination.
• Avoid cluttering up the white space
• Exaggeration, symbols, stereotypes and characters help the
viewer grasp the concept quickly.
• You don’t have to know how to draw- but it helps.
ANALYZE THIS ONE.
LOOK AT LABELS AND
SYMBOLS