Thank Political Cartoons for the Trace of Sanity We Still Have!

Cartoons of the Week

This particular cartoon caught my attention right away; it is hysterical yet true in so many ways—sadly.  The colors used in this political cartoon are your classic old-school colors, these colors seem to be used in a way trying to exaggerate the dullness of the world around politics in our country today.  The artist makes sure the American flag is plainly visible, and draws each character being overweight.  The man running the poll booth seems have lost his love for such an exhilarating job, that he has most likely been doing for the past ten years in order to do a deed for his country, and also because all other citizens would rather watch paint dry so poll booth attendants are at a shortage.

The funny thing is, this reminds me of several of my friends back home whom when asked if they are going to vote firmly respond, “Why would I vote?  I would just be selecting one dumb (explicative) over another dumb (explicative).”  While I still try my best to vote in the majority of elections, I can see why many people perceive it that way.  It’s not shocking news to us that many politicians may not, or usually rather, keep their word or come off as dishonest.  Even though politicians can take a negative stance on some things when people are relying on them to do the exact opposite, these politicians have a countless number of influences and act a lot based on the stances of the person, or persons, paying them the most.  Thus, making many politicians (with the exception of a few, of course) seem very dishonest; leaving the voter clueless when attempting to vote for the best potential politician possible.

This is definitely a satirical critique that uses plain colors to bring out its point and to make sure the viewer is drawn to the characters instead of what is going on around them.  This cartoon successfully portrays the public’s stance on every going on surrounding the government and politics.  Sometimes, it seems that politics when represented and taken over by the media, is more useful to use it for the butt of many jokes.  This cartoon takes something that is usually boring and serious, to something that we can poke fun at and get a good laugh at; which is more important anyways, right?  Enjoy life!  We can’t politics too seriously or we would be utterly burnt out by now.

Donkeys Love Romney (blog post 2)

Cartoons of the Week

This political cartoon shows the GOP presidential candidate runner, Mitt Romney. The cartoon is divided into two images. On the left shows Romney falling onto a crowd of hands reaching up, ready to catch him. As he dives into his crowd-surf he utters, “Finally! Somebody’s happy about my campaign”. Romney’s pleased expression and thumbs up hand gesture make him look happy, yet oblivious of what is yet to come. On the right side of the cartoon, Romney has landed in the hands of donkeys, representing the Democratic Party as a whole. This time his expression is less than satisfied and somewhat confused. However, as the donkeys hold him on their shoulders, they look quite pleased.

This cartoon makes a powerful statement saying that the Republican front runner may not stand a chance running against president Obama, or at least that the Democratic Party is not worried about losing the election. Bruce Plante used color to contrast Mitt Romney from the donkeys; he wears a dark blue suit while the donkeys where lighter colors. This may symbolize the differences and space between Democrats and Romney. On the left, Romney’s future looks pretty bright with a colorful background. However, the colorless background on the right along with his unhappy expression depict his future as blank, foreshadowing his loss to president Obama in the election. Romney is not happy that these donkeys are pleased to have him as a possible candidate running against Obama.

I have been paying attention to this upcoming election more than any other in the past. After talking about the candidates with a number of people, mostly Obama supporters, it seems that the general consensus is that none of the GOP candidates will stand a chance against Obama despite all of the heat that Obama has taken over his first term. I tend to agree with this because I do not see anything special in any of the Republican candidates and I believe that Obama still has a great deal of support. Also, after watching the recent debates I have come to my own conclusion that Romney tends to “play it safe” by avoiding answering questions, and coming up with answers that seem as least controversial as possible. It might be possible that he is the GOP front-runner only because he plays it safe and therefore accumulates less dirt. These are my personal observations, however, I am not sure that the Obama supporters should be as confident as they are.

Navy Seals did it again!

The colors used outside represents that it is nighttime with the black sky.  The helicopter and Navy Seals hanging from the aircraft are illuminated in the white glow of the moon for our benefit of seeing them.  There appears to be Navy Seals already on the soil but they are black figures as to aid them in being camouflaged in the night.  The artist drew the building with a shack-like resemblance, to show that the Somali kidnappers and pirates do not live a luxurious life.  There are cracks in the wall, and you can see the wooden beams in the roof.  The shack is a bland beige color with nothing on them but an oil lamp hanging from the roof.  The sole kidnapper in the picture appears to be listening to the radio(on a cinder block) in which they are still talking about how President Obama ordered the Navy Seals to take action in finding bin Laden.  The kidnapper is also dressed in a plain torn shirt and torn jeans with sandals for shoes.  There are red empty cans on the floor.  There is also a “cloud pouf”, little stars and squiggles representing a Navy Seal grabbing a kidnapper and beating them a la cartoon style.  His sandals have flown off and his rifle is laying on the ground while his cohort is oblivious to the fact that he’s gone.  There is also a note that says “Navy Seals strike again”, implying that the Navy Seals were once again able to thwart the bad guys before they even realized what has happened.

This cartoon made me laugh.  I like that this cartoon gets right to the point.  Many people may not realize that the Navy Seals, once again, came to the rescue on January 26, 2012.  Although it may not have been as highly publicized as the mission in whom they found and killed Osama bin Laden but this mission was just as dangerous.  The Navy Seal Six team (the same team responsible for bin Laden) rescued two kidnapped aid workers (one American female and one Danish male) in the dead of night via parachuting from a plane.  This cartoon shows the importance of the Navy Seals’ job.  They not only carry out missions in the fight against terrorism, but they are also there to rescue the civilians who risk their lives in countries to help the citizens there.  I think it shows the general public’s view of the Navy Seals.  They are like secret ninjas who save the world, one mission at a time.  I think it helps the public understand what risks and dangers the Navy Seals go through in order to help the United States and innocent civilians.

More Hope Less Partisan

I was drawn to this particular cartoon because of its point of view and sense of humor. Like most political cartoons it is simple in design. The colors are muted and the lines are simple. There are only two people drawn with neutral expressions on their faces and the space is kept clean and to the point. The main character wears a shirt with USA on the back and is dressed in red, white, and blue. His clothing portrays a sense of pride. In his hands he holds a common household lamp with an elephant and a donkey in a battle to the death. It’s a caricature about the current political climate. The other figure in the picture is drawn with a stuned if not dumbfounded expression with a sign over head reading ‘returns and exchanges’.
What makes this image symbolic to me is that it is not only commenting on the current political climate between the democrats and the republicans but on president Obama’s election in particular. The bickering between the two parties is exhausting and Obama was elected in large part because of the hope his campaign brought to end the bickering. The Obama “hope” poster was one of if not the most iconic visual representation of his election. Along with that came an overwhelming sense of hope that he would be able to bring about change by joining forces with both sides of the aisle. Three years into his presidency many people are starting to feel like they didn’t get what they “paid” for.
This image draws attention to the current political climate and feelings about Obama’s election while also commenting on feelings about politics in general. Though this piece is simple in design it creates great room for debate about our political system and the man I voted for.

Step away from the phone, and walk away slowly (Blog Entry 2)

For this assignment I chose a cartoon picturing Jesus and his disciples at the Last Supper. In the cartoon all of the disciples have smart phones and are not paying any attention to Jesus. Jesus is captioned saying, “I’m totally over smart phones…” The main focal point of the cartoon is obviously the table where all of the men are seated. The artist uses bright colors to draw the viewer’s eye. The angled walls lead the eyes from the back of the room to the front, giving the cartoon depth. The artist completely filled all spaces of the piece, keeping the viewer’s attention moving from one part to another. The artist attempts to connect with the viewers by using a familiar and widely popular image of The Last Supper.

I chose this cartoon because I feel that it holds an important message in respect to the impact of technology on our society. Technology is becoming a worldwide epidemic; the average smart phone user may receive hundreds of emails, texts, and phone calls daily…many of them being insignificant. Regardless of the content of such information, the growing reliance on technology has become central to our lives. Unfortunately, not all cell phone use is good natured; there has been a profusion of cellphone-related car accidents, the new epidemic of teenage “sexting,” student writing skills are being stunted, and the use of contraband phones in prison. In fact, there was one instance of witness assassination planned by an inmate using a contraband cell phone.

The term “Crackberry” has been coined as the new Blackberry, and I can admit I am guilty of over using my cell phone. If it isn’t my mother telling me to put my phone down and “be in the moment,” it’s my boyfriend barking at me to stop texting and walking, or texting and driving…or texting CONSTANTLY! I definitely fall into the category with the bedside cell phone users, and I check my email and other applications before I even get out of bed in the morning. I won’t make calls in public, but I have zero issues with pulling out my cell and tweeting someone at the supper table. I don’t know when it became necessary that my phone go everywhere with me, or how I let it become such a precious object. (Probably when I got charged an arm and a leg for it!)

I am taking a class called Communication and Technology and I recently finished an assignment where we were challenged to give up a form of technology (of our choice) for 72 hours—texting, email, Facebook, phone calls, ect. I thought about it for a while and then decided there was no way in hell I would be able to go three days without using my phone, so I opted to log off of Facebook. I was ashamed at how many times I got the urge to click the Facebook app on my phone and stalk away. Our phones are capable of so much already, its scary to think about what they will be like 10 years from now!

Debauchery in the Media

http://www.time.com/time/cartoonsoftheweek/0,29489,2059853_2257075,00.html

This cartoon is visually very simple but has a powerful message.  It shows a news broadcast reporting the tsunami in Japan.  The speech bubble of the news anchor reads “For reaction to this tragedy, first let’s go to Charlie Sheen.”  The reporter’s eyes are half closed which make him look tired, disinterested and like he doesn’t care about anything anymore.

Visually, there is not much going on in the cartoon but the facial expressions are interesting and important.  The anchor looks like his brain isn’t working and Charlie Sheen looks slimy and slightly sinister.  I particularly like the facial expression of the news anchor because I get the feeling that he just doesn’t care anymore – He is just reading the teleprompter and has no interest in the actual news. I feel like he mirrors the expression of the viewers as well.

Although I don’t think this cartoon’s main goal is to deliver a serious social commentary (the point is to make people laugh), there is a message. I believe this cartoon is commenting on the completely backwards interests of the American public and the exploitation of those interests by the profit seeking media.  Charlie Sheen became a great media story this last year.  His public debauchery and subsequent forced departure from the show Two and a Half Men became a newsworthy event and the media took advantage.  The cartoon is making fun of the media and the american public.  It seems that a lot of people just can’t get enough of celebrity news.  I think the cartoon is commenting on the absurdity of many news stories today.  A lot of what is on the news today is completely mundane and inconsequential.  The depressing truth of the matter is that news companies report what sells.  Even during a time of great human tragedy and loss of life, people still want to hear about celebrity shenanigans and the media exploits that fact.

The Wizard of Oz a Political Statement???

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http://www.time.com/time/cartoonsoftheweek/0,29489,2101349_2326036,00.html Initially, I interpreted this Pat Bagley (a liberal living in Utah among many conservatives) cartoon as Dorothy and her three little friends putting their naïve faith into the all-knowing wizard/Newt Gingrich, until Toto pulls back the curtain, unveiling the … Continue reading →

Blog Post 2

Well, politicians got lipstick on the collar, the whole media started to holler,  but I don’t give a fuck who they screwin’ in private. I wanna know who they screwing in public. Robbin’, cheatin’, stealin’, you deserve a beatin’, Send you home a weepin’, with a fat bill for your Caribeean weekend.

~Michael Franti, “Oh My God”

It’s a Political Jungle Out There!

Cartoons of the Week

Election time is a breeding ground for great cartoons. The political candidates become caricatures of themselves based on media manipulation and their own self-demise. Political cartoon’s highly stylized format brings to life a charging moment in the news, blended with an air of humor. In the January 27th TIMES cartoon, the TIME STAFF chose to highlight the abrasiveness of political television ads. This cartoon effectively conveys the defenselessness of a common viewer against such ads. It takes an average American household and turns it into a political jungle, only to be tamed by the completion of the primaries.
To the right of the image is a woman talking on a landline. She appears to be comfortable in her home, resting on the kitchen counter with her arm crossed, eyes closed and feet bare.  To the left of the woman, in a separated part of the house, is her husband. He is in mid-sprint with his feet off the floor and his arms out in front of him. Trails of sweat fall behind him as he races away from the personified television. The television has bounced away from the wall to chase the innocent men with its snarling fangs. There is a desperate look of panic on the man’s face with his eyes wide and his mouth agape.
The cartoon is compelling because of the contrast between these the two characters. The separation between the woman and her husband exemplifies how political television ads makes television watching ‘vicious’. While the woman casually expresses her woes about the ‘political attack ads’ over the phone, the man has to make a physical effort, as they become too much sitting on the sofa.
This cartoon does a standard job of capturing an overwhelming desire to end political ads.  Its fairly common to gain an annoyance with the ads as they are overplayed during the political season. However, for a more persuasive ad, the artist could have included a specific ad with a candidate represented. The ad otherwise is relatable and direct. There is no confusion with its intent; it even raised an eyebrow and put a smile on my face.

Pathetic Partisanship

http://www.time.com/time/cartoonsoftheweek/0,29489,2103408_2329660,00.html

In my chosen political cartoon we have a man bringing a lamp to the return counter of a  store. The man’s coat has the letters USA, which in political cartoon language means to say that he is representative of America as a single opinion or consensus. The woman at the counter is not important, but the lamp is. The base of the lamp in question is depicting of a donkey and an elephant intertwined in serious conflict, representative of the Democratic and Republican political parties. The elephant could appear to be winning but this fact may or may not be important to the message. Finally, the word bubble coming from the man reads, “I was hoping for something a little less partisan!”

Like any good political cartoon, this one is simple, readable and pointed. Unlike a conceptual work of art, these points are important for the cartoon to be successful. The message of the cartoon is that the man who can be labeled as the average American is returning his supposed “partisan” government because what they are calling partisanship is clearly not what he wants. The power of such readable and loaded symbols as the donkey and elephant is only heightened by the struggle that the cartoonist depicts so suggestively.

The satirical nature of the cartoon is somehow more clear through the absurdity of the fiction. Like much satire (I like to think of Stephen Colbert) the truth is only more obvious when boiled down to a ridiculous but comparable situation. For my part, the sentiment of this cartoon is very real. I think that most Americans, regardless of political orientation, are frustrated and fed up with the inefficiency and inaction of the government and would gladly return or exchange it in for something else if they could. The most pointed idea in the cartoon is the bubble asking for something “less partisan,” as if to realize that if this is what happens with partisanship, this is not what we want.