Every politician, event and situation has at some point been catapulted into the public sphere through a cartoonist's eye. The juxtaposition of satire, humour and hard-hitting facts give the reader an alternative point of view of the state of affairs.
It is imperative before analysing cartoons to have a look at what a cartoon is, what it does and what the cartoonist is intending to accomplish through publication.
Art historian E.H. Gombrich stated,
'Such is the power of the cartoon. At its highest , the cartoon solidifies the elusive flux of events into manageable or memorable myth.'
While Colin Seymour-Ure writes '[a cartoon]... is generally speaking a complete visual narrative accomplished within a panel (very occasionally divided), which seeks to comment on any number of subject, the most common of which may be said to be social, moral and political but most importantly topical.' Both quotes were taken from Colin Seymour-Ure and Liz Ottaways essay 'Cartoons'. (P.Catterall & H. Jones (eds.), Understanding Documents and Sources (Heinemann, 1994).
While cartoons allow us to visually see the facts they are considerably looser in the constraints of factual reporting. Hard hitting facts leave us with the space to evaluate and formulate our own ideas and views, while cartoons portray far more the view of the cartoonist…we get an insight into their political standpoint and view point. The issue of emotion vs. intellect, is far more problematic than you would at first think. A cartoon instantly appeals to the emotions and then (if at all) it will appeal to the intellect. We therefore have the problem that because the cartoon gives opinions and not reason the readers emotions will distort the underlying facts. This is where the cartoon often succumbs to its downfall; when publishing a cartoon the cartoonist makes assumptions of the reader. Firstly the idea of irony... the cartoonist assumes that the reader will realise that they are supposed to understand the opposite of what the cartoon appears to be intending and secondly that the humour will still be accessible. Due to the fact that almost all political cartoons are topical, the humour may well lose its value over time. it is these two assumptions that increase the potential for misinterpretation. If the reader fails to understand what it is that the cartoonist is actually trying to convey, then the cartoon becomes useless. Therefore the reader has to be extremely thorough, in their evaluation and assessment of the cartoon.
Cartoons allow the artist to explore and reveal opinions that may in the written word be too controversial and unacceptable. Due to the nature of the drawings, there is far more leeway when it comes to political correctness. Cartoonists generally feel more comfortable in belligerent times and when they are vehemently opposed to something than newspaper journalists would. The images below provide evidence for how far a cartoonist can push the boundaries of political correctness. The image on the left is one of the most famous images taken from the case of Abu Ghraib, it portrays the extent to which Iraqi Soldiers were horrendously abused at the hands of American Soldiers, the image alone is horrific and disturbing. However the cartoonist uses this image in order to ridicule the Bush Administration. The use of caricature, humour, irony and ridicule reduces the harshness and disturbing facts of the first image. Exaggeration and distortion is used to leave the reader to ascertain the characteristics and values of that person. The childlike stance of Dick Cheney says far more about the Bush Administration than words ever could. It has been said by one historian that ' in making propositions about a complex situation or even a fairly straightforward event the cartoon offers a sense of boiled down propositions. In order to express these propositions it is necessary to reduce them to a form which communicates almost instantly.'
Cartoons are evidential proof of the extent of the media's ability to manipulate public perception. The publishing of cartoons in newspapers and publications such as Private Eye allows the media to put across their views to the widespread public. All the cartoons below have been published as the media's way of potentially shaping the publics views on War and America. When analysing cartoons you should ask yourself five questions
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What is going on in the cartoon?
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What caricatures are included?
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What symbols are depicted and what do these symbols represent?
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What point is the cartoonist trying to get across?
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What does the cartoon mean to you?
It is also useful to use Laswell's Model of Communication when evaluating and analysing cartoons. Laswell's model looks at
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WHO
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WHAT
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WHOM
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WHAT CHANNELS
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WHAT EFFECT
Laswell's model allows us to understand, who the author is, what it is that they are doing, who they are targeting, how they are targeting them and what effect it has had.
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WHO - The majority of these cartoons have been drawn by the general public, who have felt the need to talk out about what is going on. Many of them have set up their own web sites - I have set up links to the best ones in Related Websites - where they have posted a huge plethora of Political Cartoons, Caricatures, Commentary etc. The fact that they are publish by the general public gives them a much more accessible feel than if they were more official.
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WHOM - The targeted groups are those who are in favour of a more anti-war view, although can to a certain extent be read by most people, i believe it is the well read, well educated and broad minded adults that will get the most out of them.
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WHAT CHANNELS - These cartoons have been published on the internet, publications like Private Eye, Newspapers, Posters, Post Cards and Books.
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WHAT EFFECT - It seeks to change the perceptions of War, Bush, America and Anglo-US Relations. It reduces the disturbing nature of the event, making it easier to digest and cope with.
'I say we start with other parts of their anatomy then work our way up to their hearts and minds'
The cartoon refers to the American soldiers wiring electrodes to the iraqi soldiers genitalia during their imprisonment in Abu Ghraib. It shows how the soldiers were not only physically abused, the reference to 'their hearts and minds' illustrates that these soldiers were emotionally and mentally abused as well. One has to notice the soldier on the right is carrying a camera, this is a direct attack on the Americans' 'photography skills.' The fact that they photographically recorded the abuse in order to further humiliate these prisoners.
The cartoonist has used the art form of caricature in order to portray the Americans in a certain light; they have been created to be short, fat and squat with large noses and small eyes. These characteristics are stereotypical of people that are not that intelligent, and have more brawn than brain! It is the caricature that reduces the effect of what is being said, your eyes are drawn instantly to the American soldiers, rather than to the speech bubble.
The main symbol used in this cartoon is the fact that they are wearing their army fatigues, it speaks volumes of how they believe that this is all part of their fight for victory. Their pride in the American Army uniform shows that what they are doing, they are doing for America and ultimately George Bush. Many of the photos taken from Abu Ghraib, show the American soldiers out of their full uniform, which is why this element of the cartoon is so poignant.
This cartoonist is attempting to portray the emotionless and callous response of the American soldiers towards the Iraqi soldiers. Conveying how little they care about what they are doing, it is as if it is just another job for them. I believe that the cartoonist is particularly attempting to illustrate the sense of the dehumanisation of the Iraqis.
When looking at this cartoon a quote I had heard prior came into my head. It was said by Major General Wodjakowski who was the second most senior US army general in Iraq he was reported to have said 'I don't care if we're holding 15000 innocent civilians. We're winning the war.' It is the callousness and uncaring aspect of the soldiers that spoke volumes to me.
This cartoons focus is on Auschwitz, as we all know Auschwitz was one of the many concentration camps used by Hitler and the Nazis during WW2. The abuse and humiliation that took place at Abu Ghraib could very well be compared to the abuse and humiliation that took place in Auschwitz. The fact that the soldiers have no concept or idea about Auschwitz, is evidential of their total oblivion to a) what is going on outside of America and b) the severity of their actions in Abu Ghraib. The fact that they seem totally relaxed, happily watching a memorial to Auschwitz while residing in their own modern day Auschwitz is on many levels sick and twisted, but this exaggerated by the fact that they have no idea what it is they are watching.
As with the cartoon above the caricature is very similar, again portraying them as short and squat, with small eyes and large noses. Highlighting their ability to fight with their hands and not with their minds. We are once again drawn to the depiction of the Soldiers rather than what is happening around them, these depictions instantly formulate our views and perception of the situation.
There is nothing physically symbolic in this cartoon, it is the reference to Auschwitz that is so poignant in this cartoon. However one thing that really surprised me about this cartoon was the drabness and sparseness of the guards room. I would have thought that the cartoonist would have wanted to fully emphasise the horrendous conditions that the prisoners were kept in, by placing the American soldiers, in 'the lap of luxury.'
This cartoon really emphasises to me the complete lack of awareness that so many Americans appear to have, it is as if life does not exist outside of America!
The cartoon pictures George Bush as a candidate on the popular British TV show 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire'. When questioned over the war in Iraq, we see that famous look of confusion and desperation! The way the question and answers are written, illustrates Bush's poor grip on the English language. The cartoon is illustrating America's inability to confidently and successfully explain why war was waged. The sight of Bush being on a quiz show further illustrates his farcical nature and the ridiculous air around him. The audience could be represented of either two groups. Firstly by the world - if this were the case it would be evoking the idea that Bush has no regard for what anyone else thinks, he is not interested in the greater good of the world but purely the greater good of America. He is out of touch with the people. Secondly by the Bush Administration - if this were the case the cartoonist is attempting to cast the Administration into the farce of a quiz show, they are a group of people that can't be taken seriously and are more politically entertaining than political!
There has been no use of caricature in this cartoon, for the pure reason that caricature in this case would not assist further in the humour, irony and ridicule. In this case the real face of George Bush is far more cutting than a caricature, because of the setting. The idea of George Bush being ridiculed on a British quiz show is far more poignant than an image such as the following example,
It speaks volumes that the cartoon is based on the American President and a British TV quiz show. It is for America the ultimate in humiliation, the fact that they are being ridiculed firstly by the British and secondly over Bush's failure to understand one of the most important questions at the moment ... Why was War Waged?
This cartoon for me highlights Bush's total lack of knowledge, common sense, a grip of the English language and more importantly an apparent total lack of understanding of Politics!
We see in this cartoon the Americans being portrayed as foxes, by nature foxes are sly, cunning and viscous, this is further represented by the Americans being situated in 'the Abu Ghraib chicken coop,' they are surrounded by remnants of chickens (representing the many Iraqi's subjected to abuse and imminent death - much like a chicken's subjection to a fox). The fact that they have the ability to investigate themselves, illustrates the arrogance and possible corruption of the Bush Administration. It is important also to realise the correlation (that is being depicted) between Saddam Hussein and America... we see in one image Saddam Hussein comparing his 'innocence' with America's 'innocence' and in the second image we see Hussein acting as if he can't believe such horrific torture and death would happen in Iraq (!!). This cartoon is very clever in that it manages to simultaneously ridicule the Americans, Suddam Hussein and the Iraqi regime but it insinuates that they are ridiculing each other rather than the cartoonist.
This cartoon does not so much work on simple caricature but more symbolic caricature as in the 'foxes'. As I said before the fox has always been portrayed as the animal of deception, deceit and cunning, this portrays the vision that America are prepared to beg, borrow and steal in order to get what they want..
It is the comparisons between America and Saddam Hussein that I think is the real story in this cartoon, the fact that America are holding Hussein's life in the balance while he is on trial, yet to a certain extent they have just as much blood on their hands.
This cartoon shows the famous image of Uncle Sam, presented in a far different way than in past examples of propaganda. Where Uncle Sam has been used in the past as a positive depiction of American pride and unity, he now appears as a sorry figure appealing for help. Uncle Sam remains a direct appeal for support. He is shown reaching out, as if for assistance. In the past he has been shown pointing at Americans telling them of their need to sign up for war duty. The result is a far different impact on the public than in the past. The message is clear despite the unusual depiction of Uncle Sam.
Like Uncle Sam, the United States is represented as a sorry country that has lost its glorious history. The use of Uncle Sam is sure to encourage an emotional reaction from the reader most likely one of negativity. This example is perfect when suggesting the media's power of triggering a powerful emotional response from the reader.
When analysing this, one must first look at the publisher, as you can see this cartoon has been published on the front page of the Daily Mirror. The Daily Mirror is well known for taking a stance of anti-war, throughout the Iraqi war the Mirror published many political and satirical cartoons such as this as well as many photos, proving the horrific facts that the Americans desperately tried to censor. The caption 'Make Love Not War' grabs your attention straight away, the origin of this is from the protesters at Haight Ashbury (San Francisco) during the Vietnam war. during the Vietnam war there was huge protest at America getting involved and the numbers of young boys dying at the hands of an unjust war, a scene not unfamiliar during the recent Iraqi war.
The sub heading 'A Valentines Message to Tony Blair and George Bush' insinuates that the Iraqi war was down to Bush and Blair's relationship, as opposed to international conflicts. The Mirror is urging them to make peace rather than seeking out a war to fight.
Many of the cartoons being analysed use caricature in order to evoke ridicule, humour and irony. However here there is no use of caricature but super imposed photos of the two of them, this has a huge impact on the reader. Using 'real' images instead of caricature grabs the readers attention straight away, the image is far more hard hitting than a 'funny' depiction of the two leaders. The image of Blair and Bush kissing symbolises their close political relationship during the Iraqi war.
There have been many headlines stating that Blair kisses Bush's posterior (!!) two such headlines are: 'Cherie Blair tells the truth, despite Tony's Bush Butt Kissing' (source: Radio Left) 'Blair To Kiss Bush's Ass Over Genetically Engineered Foods' (Source: Portland Independent Media Centre) The image is playing on these headlines creating the illusion that Blair is too consumed in his 'relationship' with Bush to realise what is going on around him.
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