Interpreting Political Cartoons

Directions for handout:

Use the following questions as a guide when you analyze political cartoons. Answer each question that is pertinent to the political cartoons you are analyzing.
  1. List the historical time period indicated:
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  2. State the issue or historical event that the cartoon addresses:
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  3. Caption:
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  4. Geographic location:
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  5. Label(s) indicated:
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  6. Use of symbolism, irony, caricatures, etc.
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  7. Inferences you can make with reference to the author's opinion (s):
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  8. Identify two or more historical, political, social, geographic and/or economic concepts that relate to the political cartoon and defend your choices:
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Guideline for Using Political Cartons to Teach Social Studies Concepts

The use of pictorial representations can be an effective way to teach social studies concepts. Pictorial representations include cartoons, pictures, and diagrams. Cartoons are the most symbolic of these pictorial representatives because they usually contain satire, exaggeration, and frequently humor. The editorial cartoonist can replicate life with a few strokes of the pen, with stark directness. The reader needs to have familiarity with basic social studies (economics, geography, history, political science, etc.) concepts in order to interpret the cartoons and understand the symbolic representations.

The goal of using cartoon interpretation activities is to provide students with practice in dealing with editorial cartoons in an analytical and critical way. Most social studies standards stress the importance of students developing the skills necessary to analyze documents and images.

The following four-step model is provided as a guide for introducing editorial cartoons to illustrate social studies concepts.

  1. Provide background information for the social studies concept to be portrayed. For example, students will need a basic understanding of imperialism before a cartoon on this topic can be analyzed.

  2. Provide background information on editorial cartoons. Discuss the purpose of editorial cartons. Make the students aware that such cartoons represent a specific viewpoint. Consequently, students should become familiar with the concept of bias. Students should, when possible, research the background of the political cartoonist.

  3. Discuss the nature of editorial cartoons. Stress that such cartoons rely on oversimplification in order to clearly emphasize a particular point. Distortions of individuals and objects are frequently used to add dramatic or provocative qualities. Symbolism is used to represent reality as the cartoonist views it. Students should become familiar with symbols that are typically used in the various areas of social studies i.e. Uncle Sam and the eagle for the U.S., an empty bowl for scarcity, the donkey for the Democrat Party and the elephant for the Republican Party, etc.

  4. Sequential guide for teaching how to analyze political cartoons:

    1. Who is the author of the cartoon? Discuss the author's background.
    2. What is the topic/issue of the cartoon?
    3. What social studies concept is being presented?
    4. What symbols are used?
    5. What exaggerations or distortions exist?
    6. What message is the cartoonist presenting? The teacher may want to introduce a variety of cartoons that deal with different issues as well as social studies disciplines. Students can then compare and contrast the various cartoon examples.
    7. Encourage students to discuss their reactions with their classmates.
    8. Review the social studies concepts stressed in each political cartoon.