Political Cartoons Research Articles

Controversial Cartoon at Central University

This fictional case study provides a summary of events that took place at Central University after the campus newspaper published a controversial political cartoon mocking media coverage of the killing of an unarmed Black man. The cartoon and lack of administrative response led to the formation of a student activist group. The case highlights the conflict some campus administrators perceive in protecting student expression, which may harm other students’ feelings of safety and belonging. Discussion questions and suggested class activities are included.

The Unsettling of Women Prime Ministers: A Gendered Analysis of Political Cartoons

Women politicians have long experienced gendered and often sexist portrayals within the mainstream media that reproduce and reinforce the heteronormative gender binary. Though the media overwhelmingly support binary notions of gender, the way in which they portray women politicians, intentionally or not, also has the potential to unsettle notions of sex/gender. Political cartoons have been widely and historically used by newspapers to communicate certain messages to the reader, drawing from cultural norms and stereotypes, often in ways that would be regarded as unacceptable if written in the text of the article. However, little research has examined gender stereotypes in political cartoons of women political leaders and those that do largely focus on the “feminine”. This paper will address that gap by analyzing how “masculine” stereotypes are used in political cartoons of four women Prime Ministers from English speaking Westminster Democracies: Julia Gillard (Australia), Margaret Thatcher (UK), Jenny Shipley (NZ) and Helen Clark (NZ). Drawing from Judith Butler’s idea of gender performativity and utilizing a feminist semiotic methodological analysis of selected political cartoons, I explore how masculine stereotypes are used to ridicule these leaders for their supposed gender subversion while also inadvertently unsettling the gender binary.

A Multimodal Metaphorical Representation of Selected Political Cartoons in Nigeria

Complementing studies on the representation of political cartoons which apply metaphorical representation in the portrayal of societal ills, this study explores a multimodal metaphorical representation of selected political cartoons in Nigeria to investigate how cartoonists employed metaphors to represent the current political situation in the country. In the face of the ongoing election petitions and handover of office to the President, among other activities within the political domain in Nigeria, a number of political cartoonists have flooded the online platform with cartoons depicting visual metaphorical representations of happenings within the nation. Such metaphorical representations are semiotically showcased via such cartoons as Go to Court, the Scape Goat, Buhari’s Pet, Corruption, and Original Wahala Received by Me in the portrayal of reality that Nigeria faces today. Given the foregoing, this study combines linguistic and visual modes to form a multimodal representation of the metaphors used in the selected political cartoons. The study adopts a qualitative analysis of 10 political cartoons in Nigeria. It uses Kress and van Leeuwen’s (2006, 2020) approach to multimodality and Forceville’s (1996, 2016) view of visual realisations of conceptual metaphor in constructing meaning to investigate how visual images are constructed to cue conceptual metaphors. The results of the study suggest that Nigerian political cartoons rely mainly on visual metaphors as a means of communicating their messages. In addition, the metaphors used often rely on comic, exaggerated and simplistic depictions to convey their meaning effectively and to stir a strong emotional reaction from the readers. Furthermore, the findings of the study emphasise the importance of metaphorical representation in political cartoons and its implications for public discourse. The results reveal ways to improve the power of the metaphorical messages and the impact of the cartoons on public opinion. The study contributes to the multimodal metaphor research field and reveals the Nigerian public’s underlying beliefs and ideologies.

The Making of Arab Stereotypes: Racist Portrayals in Political Cartoons during the 1970s Oil Crisis

The 1973 oil crisis, a period marked by tensions following the Yom Kippur War and the subsequent Arab oil embargo, was a pivotal, global event with far-reaching economic and political consequences. Political cartoons played a significant role in influencing public opinion and shaping Western perspectives about Arabs and the Muslim world during this time. Many of these depictions resorted to negative stereotyping and vilifying Arabs. This research examines these portrayals by analyzing sixty-eight political cartoons from twenty-nine Western newspapers and magazines. These depictions, conceptualized here, characterized Arabs as violent, arrogant, rich, and indifferent to humanity, contributing to the propagation of long-standing stereotypes. The cartoons also depicted oil as a weapon wielded by Arabs, reinforcing biased perspectives that contrast starkly with the complex reality of Arab societies. This study highlights the influential role of media in shaping public perspectives and underscoring the need for balanced, nuanced portrayals in media representations.

La caricatura política como signo visual durante el primer trimestre del gobierno del presidente Daniel Noboa.

This study analyzes the political cartoons of Xavier Bonilla (Bonil) and Vilma Vargas (Vilmatraca) in Ecuador during the beginning of Daniel Noboa's government (November 23, 2023 - February 25, 2024), focusing on five critical themes: Inauguration of Power, Popular Consultation, Drug Trafficking, VAT Increase, and Diplomatic Crisis with Russia. It explores the visual and textual representations in the intentionally selected works, analyzing drawing techniques, use of colors, facial expressions, and cultural references. This study shows how Bonil and Vilmatraca use signs and symbols to critique and comment on the political and social situation, demonstrating semiotics as an essential tool for understanding visual communication in politics. The study highlights the role of cartoons in provoking reflection on the Ecuadorian reality.

Thematic Construction in the Nigerian Political Cartoons: Newspaper Examples

This article explores the way insurgency and banditry are represented in Nigerian political cartoons. Using content analysis, the article examines how these security threats are constructed as themes in the cartoons. It analyses the key visual metaphors and symbols used to convey these themes, as well as the political messages they convey. A purposive sampling was employed, whereby ten cartoons depictions were selected and analysed using semiotic analysis as the theoretical framework to explore the emergent themes of the depictions.The findings identified five emergent themes, such as, banditry, insecurity and poor policies among others. The findings suggest that political cartoons play a significant role in raising awareness and shaping public discourse on insurgency and banditry in Nigeria.

Multimodal Discourse Features in Selected Nigerian Political Cartoons

Political cartoons in Nigerian society serve as tools for political commentary and social critique. This research investigates the socio-political impact of visual and linguistic strategies in selected Nigerian political cartoons, addressing a significant gap in the existing literature concerning the role of visual media in political discourse. Despite the prevalent use of political cartoons in Nigerian media, there has been limited scholarly attention to how these cartoons utilise visual and linguistic elements to critique socio-political disputes. This study aims to bridge this gap by employing Kress and van Leeuwen’s Grammar of Visual Design and Roland Barthes’ Semiotic Theory to analyse seven selected political cartoons. The study's primary aim is to explore how these cartoons communicate complex political realities and influence public perception. The objectives include identifying the visual and linguistic strategies used in the cartoons, examining the socio-political issues they address, and evaluating their impact on public discourse. The findings reveal that Nigerian political cartoons employ a sophisticated blend of visual and linguistic strategies to convey powerful socio-political messages. The analysis demonstrates that these cartoons effectively highlight issues such as corruption, economic hardship, political neglect, and the disparity between the ruling elites and the suffering masses. The study also found that these cartoons effectively depict the disparity between the ruling elites and the suffering masses, employing salience, framing, modality, denotation, connotation, and myth to engage and challenge public perception. The research underscores the significance of political cartoons as tools for socio-political engagement and discourse, demonstrating their role in reflecting and shaping public opinion on critical national issues. In conclusion, this study underscores the importance of political cartoons as a medium for socio-political engagement and discourse in Nigeria. It highlights the critical role of visual semiotics in political commentary and the necessity for further research into the impact of visual media on public opinion and political accountability.

Zabaied by Z: portraying democratic backsliding through political cartoons in Tunisia

ABSTRACT This article focuses on the portrayal of democratic backsliding in Tunisia through the lens of political cartoons, focusing on the work of the cartoonist Z. Z’s cartoons, particularly those featuring the satirical character Zabaied, a caricature of President Kais Saied, provide a unique perspective on the democratic backsliding that has occurred since he became president. Through rhetorical thematic discourse analysis of a corpus of 38 cartoons, this study explores how Z’s work portrays the ongoing democratic regression in Tunisia. Besides portraying Saied as an autocrat, the analysis reveals the following themes: mourning the ideals of the Tunisian revolution; the erosion of democratic institutions; attacks on freedom of expression, and the use of divisive, populist rhetoric. The cartoons employ visual symbolism and allegorical characters to depict the stages of autocracy, making abstract political concepts accessible and engaging. Ultimately, political cartoons provide a potent form of political commentary and a valuable tool for understanding democratic backsliding.

Asian Political Cartoons

Asian Political Cartoons

Современная немецкая политическая карикатура (на материале карикатур К. Штуттманна)

The aim of the study is to identify the linguostylistic features of creating a comic effect in modern German political cartoons. The paper examines political cartoons by Klaus Stuttmann. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the linguistic and cultural analysis of the verbal and nonverbal components of political cartoons by one of the most famous contemporary German cartoonists, Klaus Stuttmann, a winner of numerous awards. Based on the analysis of Stuttmann’s cartoons from 2022-2024, it has been found that cartoons are polycode texts in which the combination of verbal and nonverbal components creates a comic effect as a specific reaction of the cartoonist to current political events. The authors propose a division of political cartoons into informational and analytical types. As a result, the characteristic features of informational and analytical types of cartoons have been identified and described. Various ways of representing prototypes and identifying cartoon characters have been revealed, as well as mechanisms for creating a comic effect based on the combination of verbal and nonverbal components.

Grammatical demetaphorization in the title translation of Chinese political cartoons: a multimodal discourse analysis

ABSTRACT Political cartoons are employed by the major Chinese news organisations to present critical viewpoints on global sociopolitical matters. This study draws on the theory of grammatical metaphor to investigate the grammatical demetaphorization observed in the translation of titles accompanying these cartoons. Both ideational and interpersonal demetaphorization are identified. Through a multimodal discourse analysis, it is found that these two types of demetaphorization interact with the cartoons’ verbal-visual elements and thereafter affect the semantic focus, political meaning construction and information arguability of the cartoons. This phenomenon of grammatical demetaphorization in translation reflects translators’ active role in political dissemination. Considering the sociopolitical context in China, we argue that translators’ activism is influenced by their institutional affiliations with the news organisations.

Dreamers and caminantes

Migration remains a recurring yet controversial subject in today’s society. Previous research on press discourse has predominantly focused on migration metaphors from their verbal construction (Santa Ana, 1999; O’Brien, 2003) and the interplay with the visual mode in articles (Catalano & Waugh, 2013; Catalano & Mitchell-McCollough, 2019) or political cartoons (El Refaie, 2003). This genre frequently reflects an unfavorable and discriminatory representation of migrants through the lens of the host country. However, children’s picture books addressing this sensitive issue have received little attention despite their pedagogical value for promoting intercultural, positive attitudes at an early age in an increasingly multicultural and multilingual world. Our study aims to examine the metaphorical construction of migration in Yuyi Morales’ picture book Dreamers, combining the cognitive and social semiotic approaches (Forceville, 2016; Kress & Van Leeuwen, 2006; Painter et al., 2013) to shed light on how both frameworks can complement each other in Critical Discourse Analysis and to demonstrate how children’s picture books can constructively contribute to social change by providing a counterbalancing voice to the dominant narrative on migration.

“Silence is the best answer for a bully”: an exploration of humour techniques in selected Nigerian newspaper political cartoons

Abstract Newspaper political cartoons, known for their satirical nature, employ semiotic and linguistic techniques to comment on or criticise political leaders and events humorously. While previous studies on Nigerian newspaper political cartoons have focused on ideological issues and discourse frames, little attention has been given to the linguistic investigation of semiotic humour techniques in these cartoons. This study, therefore, investigates these humour techniques, utilising Salvatore Attardo and Victor Raskin’s General Theory of Verbal Humour (GTVH) as the framework within a descriptive design. Three newspapers – Punch, The Guardian, and Daily Trust – were purposively selected for their regular publication of cartoons, criticising Nigeria’s politics. Eleven political cartoons were purposively selected for their semiotic and humorous depictions of Nigeria’s politics, and subjected to linguistic analysis. Six semiotic humour techniques were identified in the cartoons: exaggeration, humorous metaphor, distortion of formulaic expressions, neologism, innovative collocation, and sarcasm. These techniques were employed to satirise three governance issues in Nigeria – misgovernance, corruption and insecurity.

The Depiction of Native Hawaiians in American Media

This paper examines the ways in which colonial ideologies influenced the presentation of Native Hawaiians in American media throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Since the acquisition of the Hawaiian Islands as a U.S. territory in 1898, American cartoonists, advertisers, authors, filmmakers, and others have promoted racist, sexist, and oversexualized versions of Native Hawaiians to the American public because of their deeply ingrained, sometimes unconscious, colonial ways of thinking. Although Indigenous Studies is a growing area of interest in the academy, research on Native Hawaiian media representation and the impact of stereotypes on both Native Hawaiian identity and public views of Native Hawaiians is scarce. This paper uses political cartoons, travel ephemera, film footage, and various forms of print media to bring to light the most prominent stereotypes of Native Hawaiians and explore how the origins of these stereotypes can be traced back to American colonialism. Unlike pre-existing works, this paper scrutinizes various examples of Native Hawaiian media representations from an intersectional perspective, considering racial-, gender-, and sexuality-based approaches. It also critically examines the role of exoticization, instead of focusing on only one of the aforementioned approaches. By outlining the fallacious stereotypes of the Native Hawaiian community and explaining their origins, this paper can help arm the media industry with the necessary tools to create more culturally competent media content.

PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING TASKS FOR INTERPRETING A MULTIMODAL TEXT WHEN DELIVERING UNIVERSITY FL EDUCATION DEGREE PROGRAMMES

We discuss theoretical issues connected with methodological construction of problem-solving tasks for development of polycode competence in the system of language tertiary education. As one of the salient genres of polycode texts we take British and American political cartoon and the process of its interpretation. Yet another object of discussion is formed by particular difficulties when we try to include this format into text analysis. It gives us grounds to single out key features of polycode texts, which make them different from traditional text format. Here we include lack of precise genre typology, combination of various semiotic codes, lacunas presence, clip character, specific nature of intertextual chains. We single out several stages in the process of polycode competence formation and development. In particular, problem-solving tasks aimed at identification and primary decoding of certain elements typical for any polycode text; problem-solving tasks aimed at interpretation of verbal and visual components; carrying out group project/group projects of scientific educational or scientific research, of cultural and discourse character; participation in culturally-oriented discussions; assessment of the level of student’s polycode competence formation when interpreting a certain genre of polycode text. In this article, we focus upon possible problem-solving tasks of the first two stages. As one of possible solutions, we suggest conceptual cognitive metaphor modelling and oppositions. The oppositions in this case are built on basic sociocultural values while metaphor modelling includes structural, orientational and ontological concepts, which can be further found out in various types of polycode texts. As possible advantages of this approach, we consider it giving ground for interdisciplinary connections in the course of professional foreign language training. It also enables to widen the scope of questions and topics discussed with students as well as introduce certain linguocultural and sociocultural phenomena. All this assists in building professional competence of a would-be specialist as far as foreign media and multimodal environment is concerned, including its destructive practices. We also describe results of the experimental work. As part of the experiment, we assessed student’s ability to recognise images, symbols, archetypes, linguocultural subjects and meanings, precedent phenomena, continuity of forms and structures, conceptual metaphors and models, conceptual oppositions, basic and transferred meanings, connotations.

Using world news to humour audiences in Mauritius: POV’s political cartoons through the lens of postcolonial translation theory

The humour of political cartoons is studied in multiple disciplines, and African political cartoons are no exception to academic scrutiny. Their satire, however, is prone to Western models of analysis. One subsequent gap is the dismissal of important postcolonial realities, such as African political cartoonists’ caricature of world news and not just domestic matters. To contribute theoretically to the study of humour in African political cartoons, I apply postcolonial translation theory to explore a selection of POV’s political cartoons, which address both domestic and world news. I argue that the political cartoonist is a translator, not of languages, but of ideas about foreign affairs, transposed through translation strategies to convey meanings for local audiences. African humour in political cartoons, therefore, is not restricted to domestic matters. African cartoonists’ engagement with foreign news invites the question about whether the humour is framed for Western audiences. I conclude that the occasional engagement with foreign ideas does not render an African political cartoon’s satire inauthentic or less African. Instead, it is possible to reconcile the translation strategies of foreignisation and domestication, ensuring the humour of these political cartoons – visually translated for African contexts – is inclusive for local audiences and welcoming of foreign ideas.

Ruptures in Depiction—Recognition and Political Cartoons of Putin: From a Strategic Mastermind to the Object of Contempt and Mockery

Abstract This article contributes to discussions over the role of recognition in international relations by focusing on an aspect of popular culture, specifically political cartoons. It argues that studying political cartoons may contribute to capturing aspects of recognition that go beyond those rooted in formal interactions between states and thereby enhance our understanding of what Ringmar called the recognition game. The article focuses on political cartoons about Russia/Putin in two periods. The first is after the annexation of Crimea, while the second is after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. The tones of caricatures in these two periods differ radically. Images in the first depict a transgressive Putin to be feared. While not necessarily a flattering image, the article argues that this set of images can be interpreted as a form of recognition of Russia being a great power to be reckoned with and could encourage Russia’s reckless moves later. Once we get to the second period, however, there is a rupture. The tone of depiction changes, showing a pathetic, deplorable Putin. These images do not simply convey misrecognition, but convey humiliation, a difference somewhat overlooked by the discipline.

On Seeing the Price of Keats’s Bread: or John Bull Buying the Elgin Marbles in a Time of Climate Crisis, 1816

This article situates John Keats’s 1817 sonnet ‘On Seeing the Elgin Marbles’ within the context of 1816–1819’s climate catastrophe and subsistence crisis. Countering received readings of Keats’s sonnet as about artistic vocation; I argue that it is more about the opportunity cost of expending public funds on ancient art during a climate-exacerbated economic crisis. This reading emerges by placing the poem in dialogue with a political cartoon by George Cruikshank, ‘ The Elgin Marbles! or John Bull buying stones at the time his numerous family want bread!!’ that critiques the British Government’s purchase of the Parthenon sculptures in these terms. I contend that both sonnet and cartoon stage the purchase of the sculptures not in terms of their artistic merits, but instead in terms of the opportunity cost of public relief and the potential ‘waste’ status of art in the face of a depressed labour market and skyrocketing grain prices.

The Power of Political Cartoons in Shaping Discourse on the Gaza War

The Power of Political Cartoons in Shaping Discourse on the Gaza War

Book Review: Comics and Conquest: Political Cartoons and a Radical Retelling of the Navajo-Hopi Land Dispute

Book Review: Comics and Conquest: Political Cartoons and a Radical Retelling of the Navajo-Hopi Land Dispute