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Political cartoons are illustrations that convey a social or political message using simple line drawings and visual symbols. They rely on public culture and humor to send a clear message and are often found in newspapers and magazines. They can be controversial and rely heavily on the use of caricatures and satire. In countries where freedom of the press is protected, political cartoons are seen as a valid mode of self-expression. However, they can cause an uproar, especially when they deal with heated political issues or make fun of a nation’s leader.
A political cartoon is an illustration designed to convey a social or political message. This art form dates back to at least the 1500s in European culture and is considered an important part of visual expression in much of the West. Political cartoons are often found on the editorial pages of newspapers and magazines, and sometimes also appear in the comics section, or as standalone illustrations: British artist Banksy, for example, has produced works that could be considered political cartoons on walls, streets and palaces from all over the world.
Defining a political cartoon is a bit tricky, as a lot of art has a political or social connotation, since artists don’t work in a vacuum. The cartoons themselves are a bit nebulous, as the term “cartoon” can refer to a simple single-panel illustration or a series of strips that narrate an ongoing story. As a general rule, cartoons are simple line drawings, usually with a humorous edge, which may be captioned or left untitled, depending on the artist’s taste. The cartoons are also designed to stand on their own as works of art, needing no interpreter guidance to be understood.
The goal of a political cartoon is to send a clear message, using images that will be familiar to everyone in a company. Political cartooning relies heavily on the use of caricatures and simple visual images that are instantly recognizable to readers, with various visual symbols standing in for complex political concepts. For example, in a political cartoon about pollution, the artist might use a sketch of the Earth crying, trusting readers to understand that the cartoon should reflect the fact that the environmental situation is dire enough to make the planet sad as well.
Irony and satire are used a lot in political cartoons and no public figure or concept is sacred. Sitting presidents, religious officials, monarchs, deities, and even the editor of the same newspaper in which the cartoon is published can be featured in a political cartoon. At times, political cartoons can get very controversial, especially when they deal with heated political issues or when the drawing veers in the direction of the gritty rather than the subtle.
In countries where freedom of the press is protected, this protection extends to political cartoons, which are seen as a valid mode of self-expression. Even in these countries, political cartoons can cause an uproar, as in Denmark in 2005, when a series of political cartoons featuring the Muslim prophet Muhammad caused a global outcry. In regions where those freedoms aren’t extensive, people can have serious problems with a political cartoon, especially one that makes fun of a nation’s leader.
One interesting thing about political cartoons is how heavily they rely on public culture and the common vernacular. Examining political cartoons produced in one’s own society 50 to 75 years ago can sometimes be deeply disconcerting, as the figures and symbols may be totally unrecognizable, making the intent of the cartoon unclear. Looking at editorial cartoons from other countries can sometimes be just as mystifying, as these cartoons reference public figures and events that can only be really well known in their native country. Other political cartoons, such as the classic American cartoon of JP Morgan sitting on stacks of money, are universally understood, even if the identity of the fat man in the top hat is unclear.
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