How Do You Analyze a Political Cartoon?

Before research, I analyzed political cartoons by what they are showing and how it made me feel about the topic portrayed. I never had a guide to go by, but after finding one from the Library of Congress, I learned the key ideas to pay attention to: symbolism, exaggeration, labeling, analogy, and irony. In the future I will look to this guide as I analyze political cartoons. This guide helps to understand the underlying meaning of the cartoon in a way that is appealing to the audiences.

McKinley and the Philippines

This cartoon shows Spain as a deep dark place, McKinley/the US as in control of the Philippines which is shown as a young, dark-skinned, poor-looking boy, and the rest of the world as an over looker of the situation.

Cuba as suffering mother

I view this cartoon as Cuba being the grandmother of an ill or dying son as the country of Cuba with the eagle as the US in the background preying on the nearly "dead" Cuba.

Spain after loss of Philippines

This cartoon is showing the Spanish returning home after losing the Philippines. They appear to be sad or confused looking.

Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau

I think the film was called Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau because the film shows that Eddie Aikau is the definition of a true Hawaiian, not only by his exceptional surfing abilities, but also by his devotion to protecting his family and preserving Hawaiian culture. This film was made by ESPN which led the film to portray the idea that sports, such as surfing, are much more than an activity--a passion, lifestyle, and culture. The filmmakers probably wanted their audiences to be exposed to the deeper background of sports. If a history channel had made this film, the extent of surfing covered would probably be less and more focused on the history of the culture and characters.

Topic: Imperialism
Focus: The reality and goals of Imperialism in America.
Angle: Some Americans accepted imperialism not in support, but in the hopes remaining independent.

Phrenology

Today I was late to class, so I missed the research period, but I was able to listen to the findings of my classmates. The L.N. Fowler Phrenology bust was a replica of the original busts which was shown by the bust being hollow as opposed to solid as the originals were. The phrenology bust that we had available to us today would be a secondary source because it was a replica, not an original, and it is not useful as a primary source to us in this situation. It lacks accuracy because the busts were created in the 19th century and since then, the study of the brain has been further analyzed and studied. The bottom of the replica bust said Oregon which told us it could be no older than 1859 because that's when Oregon became a state. The cracking in the glaze showed that it had not been made recently, but definitely was not an antique. I learned that a source can be primary or secondary based on the context in which it is being used. Although the information the phrenology bust provides is not completely accurate, some aspects are, such as: the idea that different portions of the brain control different functions.

Provenance- (noun) the place of origin or earliest known history of something; a record of ownership of a work of art or an antique, used as a guide to authenticity or quality; the beginning of something's existence; something's origin

Phrenology- (noun) the detailed study of the shape and size of the cranium as a supposed indication of character and mental abilities