How do you Analyze a Political Cartoon?

According to a political cartoon analysis guide, political cartoons tend to have some type of irony and exaggeration so that it is easier for the audience to grasp what the message of the cartoon is. Some items are labeled in the cartoon so that it gives the reader some basic guidelines and the topic for the cartoon. I found out that cartoonists like to use analogies to help readers understand complex ideas by showing them a simple and more familiar one. Cartoonists also use simple objects, or symbols, to represent more complex ideas.

The best way to understand political cartoons if to first look at the picture and read and words that are in the cartoon. Once you have an understanding of the topic and the guidelines of the cartoon you can start to look for the irony in the cartoon. This can be done by looking at the symbols used and some of the objects that help show the irony or exaggerate some parts of the image. Most importantly keep in mind that the cartoon isn't meant to require a lot of thinking if you are looking at the whole picture and see the things that are funny most of the time you understand the message.

US and Caribbean Political Cartoon

In the cartoon to the right the man with the gold club represents the United States of America. This cartoon resembles the period of time when the United States began colonizing the Caribbean islands like Cuba and Puerto Rico. The artist drew the man walking in the Caribbean because the US was practically in control of any island that it colonized. The US had set Cuba up for American economic domination and the sugar economy in Puerto Rico quickly became under the control of the United States. The line of navy ships behind the gentleman represents the ties that each of those countries had to the US.

Philippine War Cartoon

                                                                             In the cartoon to the left Uncle Sam is standing in front of Puerto Rico and Cuba. Both countries are depicted as to be happy and praising Uncle Sam who represents the United States. The Philippines who is looking at Uncle Sam is scared for what is about to happen but Cuba and Puerto Rico is portrayed as everything will be fine and that the Philippines will be happy once they are colonized.

Emilio Aguinaldo Elimination

The cartoon to the right depicts the United States of America, shown as Uncle Sam, trying to capture Emilio Aguinaldo from the Philippines. The US felt that Emilio the legitimate leader of the Philippines was a "thorn in their side", which is why he is shown as the bee. There is an irony of the sign at the bottom of the cartoon. The US was trying to strip Spain form its colonies so they took the Philippines and then remained on the island being hypocritical of the sign.