(2012) Analogy: the Overlooked Device in Effective Political Cartoons (13.4 MB)

Analogy: The Overlooked Devicein Effective Political Cartoons

© Charles Hou, NCSS Seattle 2012

A political cartoon is in effect a visual

editorial. Cartoonists deal critically with often

controversial topics, and use various devices to

capture the viewer’s attention and convey a

message more rapidly and more effectively

than words alone can do.

Political cartoons on Canadian – American

relations, found in Canadian and American

newspapers, frequently use visual analogies

or comparisons to other situations as the

“hook” to effectively make a point.

The cartoons which follow provide students

with an opportunity to compare American and

Canadian cartoons on a number of topics, and

to exercise their critical thinking skills in

analyzing the way cartoonists use various

analogies to depict situations and sway the

viewer’s opinion on the topic under

consideration.

ANNEXATION vs INDEPENDENCE

UNCLE SAM KICKED OUT

YOUNG CANADA: ”We don’t want you here.

JOHN BULL: “That’s right, my son. No matter what comes,

an empty house is better than such a tenant as that!”

23 S

ept

1869,

Gri

nch

uck

le,

Toro

nto

ANNEXATION vs INDEPENDENCE

JOHN BULL: “If she accepts the ring, the first thing I know she’ll be accepting him.”

July

19

01,

St.

Paul

Pio

nee

r P

ress

RECIPROCITY

“COME ON SONNY, I’LL CATCH YOU”

12 S

ept

1911,

The

Vanco

uve

r P

rovi

nce

RECIPROCITY

THE CUT DIRECT

Sep

t 1

911,

The

Montr

eal

Her

ald

AMERICAN NEUTRALITY 1916

ANOTHER CASE OF WIPING HANDS

ON THE AMERICAN FLAG

WOE IS ME

Yesterday I was too proud to fight.

Today I am too fat to fight.

19

16

[?],

New

York

Her

ald

12

Dec

19

16

, T

he

Toro

nto

Dail

y N

ews

MULTICULTURALISM

“NOW THEN, ALL TOGETHER”

Dec

1903

, To C

an

ad

a,M

inis

ter

of

the

Inte

rior,

Ott

awa

MELTING POT

OUT WITH IT – ROOT AND BRANCH

1917, E

venin

g M

ail

, N

ew Y

ork

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

AS SENATOR REED PICTURES THE LEAGUE

1920,

St.

Louis

Glo

be

Dem

ocr

at

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

SHALL THESE BE THE ARBITERS OF CANADA’S FUTURE?

18

Feb

. 1

92

0, T

he

Hal

ifax

Her

ald

18 F

eb 1

920,

The

Hali

fax

Her

ald

PROHIBITION

THE TIES THAT BIND

17 A

pri

l 1908,

The

Pio

nee

r, O

shaw

a

Nov 1

923, T

he

Geo

rge

Matt

hew

s A

dam

s Ser

vice

, N

ew Y

ork

THAT LEAKY APARTMENT ABOVE

PROHIBITION

THE ALASKA BOUNDARY DISPUTE

• Have your students read an article on the

Alaska Boundary Dispute between Canada

and the United States, then study the

cartoons which follow and determine the

analogy used in each one (a card game, a

game of chance, a tug of war etc.).


SAYS JONATHAN TO JOHN: IT TAKES TWO TO MAKE A QUARREL

[Canadian prime minister Laurier and opposition leader Tupper look on.]

30 A

ug 1

899

, N

ew Y

ork

Eve

nin

g J

ourn

al


WHAT HE THINKS22 O

ct 1

902

, Toro

nto

Worl

d


THE ALASKAN BOUNDARY COMMISSION

All ready for the Shell Game.

28 F

ebru

ary 1

903,

The

Montr

eal

Dail

y Sta

r


THE BIG QUESTION OF THE DAY

The “tug of war” is under way between Canada and the United States.

One wonders if John Bull is there in order to push or pull.

11 J

uly

19

03

, L

e C

anard

, M

ontr

eal


A LITTLE GAME OF “CONCESSION” POKER NOW GOING

ON IN LONDON – FIND THE WINNER.

9 S

ept

1903,

Montr

eal

Dail

y Sta

r


THE GRAB-ALL

UNCLE SAM: See here young feller. Don’t get excited, I need the money,

and I aint afraid of yer parents!

Sep

t. 1

903,

Le

Canada

, M

ontr

eal


MERELY A SUGGESTION

UNITED STATES: “There, little girl, don’t cry; why bother about any

boundary line at all?”

20 O

ct.

1903,

Min

nea

poli

s Jo

urn

al


UNCLE SAM SEEMS TO HAVE MADE HIS DISTANCE

19 O

ct 1

903,

Chic

ago J

ourn

al


“WHERE WILL THE NEXT BITE BE?”

26

Oct

. 1

90

3, T

he

To

ron

to D

ail

y S

tar


WHAT JACK CANUCK ALWAYS GETS IN THE END

JOHN BULL: Don’t lose your temper, Jack; I gave your Uncle Sam my consent.

24

Oct

19

03

, Satu

rday

Nig

ht,

Toro

nto


CANADA: “Great blizzards! And so I’ve got to make merry with the cork!”

20 O

ct.

1903,

The

Dail

y N

ews,

Chic

ago


JOHN BULL: “Yes, ‘e’s making a lot of noise, Sam, but ‘e’ll get over it.”

Dec

1903,

Nort

h A

mer

ican,

Phil

adel

phia

• Which cartoons are Canadian? American? How can you tell?

• How has the cartoonist depicted the Alaska Boundary Dispute (as a card

game, a tug-of-war, etc.)? Suggest an original analogy on the same topic.

• Comment on how the cartoonist has portrayed Uncle Sam, John Bull,

Johnny Canuck, Miss Canada and Jean-Baptiste.

• Comment on the relationship between John Bull and Uncle Sam, John Bull

and Johnny Canuck, Uncle Sam and Johnny Canuck.

• What feelings do you get from viewing a cartoon? How has the cartoonist

manipulated you?

• If you had to pick one cartoon to use in a book, which one would you

select? Why?

• Divide the class into groups of 4 to 6 students and ask them to discuss the

way Canadian and American cartoonists portrayed the Alaska Boundary

Dispute. Follow this exercise with a class discussion.


ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSIONS

(2012) Analogy: the Overlooked Device in Effective Political Cartoons (13.4 MB)

Education