How do you analyze a political cartoon?

A political cartoon is a satirical way of commenting on events that are occurring currently, or that have already occurred. The best way to analyze a political cartoon is to understand what is going on in the cartoon and find a way to connect the cartoon or situation at hand to a real life event. The cartoons are usually supposed to look at a heavy or sad event in a funny way.

After reading the blog post, I agree with what was said and I feel the same way I did before. I also learned to think about the perspective that the cartoonist is offering based on the cartoon to gain an extra insight. And, to also look for labels and words. Using these criteria:

• What issue is this political cartoon about?
• What is the cartoonist’s opinion on this issue?
• What other opinion can you imagine another person having on this issue?
• Did you find this cartoon persuasive? Why or why not?
• What other techniques could the cartoonist have used to make this cartoon more persuasive?

Website I found the guide from

Political Cartoon #1

This political cartoon is highlighting the open door policy in an agreeable way. 

I can tell that this is about the open door policy because it says it at the bottom. Also, it shows the Philippines being used as the gate for the foreign countries to invade China. Also, it shows Uncle Sam (representing the US) opening the door for the Germans, English, and Russians to enter. 

Political Cartoon #2

This political cartoon is using sarcasm to show what the US is using the Philippine islands for. It also portrays the US in a negative way in that Uncle Sam is shown stepping on the Philippines to go into a country with signs portraying all of these problems.

I came to this conclusion through the words written on the signs, the image of Uncle Sam stepping on the Philippines, and the numerous objects that Uncle Sam is holding while stepping towards China. Also, the author portrays this situation in a negative way by using green as the color of the Philippines and the US, but yellow as the color of the beaches of China. It is known that China is the land on the right side of the picture through the gray wall in the distance that signifies The Great Wall of China. The sarcastic tone is shown through the caption at the bottom. The main words being, "After All" that signify the sarcasm. 

 

Political Cartoon #3

This cartoon depicts the unwillingness of the US territories to cooperate with the US rules and their hesitation to oblige by the US's rules. It also shows that through time, these territories will become states like the others did.

To come to this conclusion, I first looked at the caption at the bottom. It shows a dialogue between Uncle Sam and his students. Uncle Sam says that the territories must learn the rules and adjust to life and after time, it will make life easier for them. I knew that he was talking about the territories needing to adjust to to the US's rules because it kids in front that Uncle Sam is talking to have the countries' names on their shirts (Puerto Rico, Philippines, Cuba, and Hawaii). I knew that he was talking about life improving for them (as did for the current states) because the kids in back have the names "California" "Texas" and "Arizona" on their books.