4 pages - Lamika

Analyzing Cartoons

Cartoons combine text and images. Often, the argument of the cartoon can be found explicitly in the text. However, sometimes the argument is made by both the text and the image. This is most often done in editorial cartoons on political subjects.

Example: In the cartoon, President Bush is standing on a map of Iraq and explosions are depicted as going off on the surface of the map. Bush is saying "Terrorists are being defeated."

The combination of an image of explosions with Bush’s statement portrays an argument that claims Bush is wrong or not aware of reality. The evidence is offered via the imagery as well as the text. Neither the text nor the image, used alone, could portray this argument. Thus, it is necessary to evaluate both in a critical analysis of the argument being presented.