Cartoons 4/7-4/14

"A Contagion"

• This title is used to show how Kim Jong Un's threats are contagious like the bird flu.
• Kim John Un is represented by a loud cuckoo clock, and Uncle Sam symbolizes America.
• The cuckoo clock is going off while Uncle Sam compares it to the bird flu.
• The message in this cartoon is to illustrate the obnoxious threats made by Kim Jong Un.
• This cartoon relates directly to the bomb threats made by Kim Jong Un and how they are viewed here int he U.S.
• This is cartoon because Kim Jong Un is being compared to a loud cuckoo clock shouting the attack threats.

"Empty Threats"

• These words are used in the title to show how Kim Jong Un may be threatening to attack the U.S. but they are empty threats, meaning he won't follow through. 
• Kim Jong Un is illustrated as big baby here with his toy missile, crying about the bomb threats.
• Kim is crying loudly, complaining about getting attention before he bombs Los Angeles.
• The message in this cartoon is to display how King Jong Un is a cry baby and he's only threatening to attack us for attention.
• This cartoon relates to Kim Jong Un's bomb threats on America.
• This is satirical because Kim Jong Un is literally represented as a whining baby.

Cartoons 3/31-4/7

"Crazy Kids"

• This title is used to make of Kim Jong Un by comparing his bomb threats to a reckless kid blasting music.
• Kim Jong Un is in the car, while his bomb threats are represented by the blasting music. The artist means that his threats are just "noise."
• Kim Jong Un is driving around blasting his threats for attention. 
• The message of this cartoon is to illustrate how Kim Jong Un is simply threatening to start a war with America for attention, rather than with the actual intentions of attacking us. There is no clear ideological perspective represented here.
• This cartoon relates to the recent bomb threats made by Kim Jong Un. We talked about this a little bit in class.
• This is satirical because Kim Jong Un is represented as "crazy kid" shouting for attention with his threats of starting a war. 

• There was no title given to this cartoon but the text that reads "Don't Push This Button" shows how Kim Jong Un is being characterized as somewhat childish, with all the toys and mess behind him and the the "big red button," representing the alleged bomb threats, taunting him in the corner. 
• Kim Jong Un's office is filled with toys, games and food, representing how he is viewed as immature, and the big red button symbolizes the decision for him to actually attack the U.S. or not.
• Kim Jong Un seems to be eyeing the red button carefully.
• This message shows the how Kim Jong Un is viewed as the cliche of a child being tortured by a button he's not allowed to push, or in this case, a bomb threat he won't follow through with.
• This cartoon relates to the threats of a bomb attack made by Kim Jon Un in North Korea.
• Kim Jong Un is being made fun of, by comparing him to an impulsive child.

Cartoons 3/24-3/31

"Knowing Enough"

• These words are sued to describe this cartoon because the two republicans are skeptical about why people still don't like them even when they get to know them.
• The two elephants in this cartoon represent republicans. The first chart they're holding represents the rise in approval of gay marriage, while the second is the decline of approval of the GOP.
• The two elephants are discussing the rise of approval of gay marriage is because popel are getting to know homosexuals better, bu the same doesn't apply for Republicans. 
• The message of this cartoon is to illustrate how even when people get to know Republicans better they're opinion of them still doesn't change. I would say the ideological perspective is liberal because it seems to be mocking Republicans a bit.
• This cartoon doesn't relate to any specific event, but just the gradual rise of approval of gay marriage. 
• This is ironic because the elephants are wondering why people don't approve them more when they get to know them better, when that's probably the reason they aren't popular in the first place. 

"Stubborn Grandpa"

• This title is used because the cartoon shows an elderly man that doesn't seem to be very happy about his grandchildren's view on gay marriage.
• There are two bumperstickers on the car, the one that says not to ask about the grandkid's opinions represents the traditional GOP's views.
• There aren't any evident actions taking place, but the stubborn grandpa is driving with the two bumper stickers on his car.
• The message shown here is how many of the members of the GOP are older Americans that are too stubborn to branch out from their traditional, conservative views, while the younger population (his grandkids) are beginning to become more liberal. 
• This cartoon relates to the rising approval of gay marriage. It also relates to the discussion we had in class about how young people made a big appearance in the polls in the 2008 election.
• This is satirical because the grandpa, like any grandparent, wants you to ask about his amazing grandchildren, but wants you to disregard their view on gay marriage because it doesn't really vibe with his own.  

Cartoons 3/17-3/24

"At-Home Slot Machine"

• These words are used to describe this cartoon because this woman is throwing her money down the toilet, just like she would at a slot machine.
• The toilet in this cartoon is representing an "at-home" slot machine, or just a way to waste money. Th e artist means gambling on a slot machine is just like flushing money down the toilet.
• A woman is throwing all her money down the toilet.
• The message of this cartoon is that if the legislature gets rid of things like gambling, arcades, and internet cafes, we'll still be able to waste our money by throwing it in the toilet. There is no ideological perspective clearly represented, but this artist may be in favor of a less regulated economy.
• This cartoon clearly relates to a new piece of legislature that may ban gambling and the other things described in this cartoon, but not too anything we discussed in class.
• This cartoon is satirical because no one would actually flush their money down the toilet, but some people don't realize they waste it when they play on slot machines or go to arcades.

"What Lurks Beneath"

• These words are used to describe this cartoon to show what really "lurks beneath" the NRA background checks.
• A small man with two guns represents the NRA power. I think the artist means that the background checks given for people buying guns are kind of bogus.
• The NRA is apparently getting a background check that consists of a light being shined on. I'm guessing the shadow is supposed to be a "background check."
• The message of this cartoon is to show that the background checks that the NRA is required to get from the people buying guns aren't very accurate. I'd say the political ideology of this cartoonist is liberal.
• This cartoon relates to the reports about background check laws that must be followed I've seen on tv and the paper.
• This cartoon is satirical because it is comparing a legal background check to an actual check of the shadow or background of someone.

Cartoons 3/10-3/17

"A Little Too Late"

• These words are being used to describe this cartoon to show how it's too late fr Obama and the democrats to repair any damage they've caused in the White House.
• All of the rubble and trash piled in front of the white house with Obama is supposed to represent all the problems he has caused during his terms. The artist means so much has gone wrong that it's too late to try and turn it around.
• Obama is peeking out from the huge piles of trash saying it's finally time to get help from the Republicans.
• The message in this cartoon is that Obama and the Democrats have only caused damage to the White House, and they are in need of assistance from the Republican party. The ideology of the cartoonist is definitely conservative. 
• This cartoon relates to our discussions about ideology and how some people are on completely opposite ends of the political spectrum and this artist clearly has opposite views to Obama's. This cartoon doesn't relate to any current event or issue.
• There is satire in this cartoon because Obama is almost jokingly suggesting he needs help when there is chaos all around him. 

"Crying Wolf"

• These words are used to describe this cartoon because the government took the sequester and blew it up as a huge emergency "to see what happens," as if they're crying wolf. 
• A huge ship with tanks and helicopters is representing the pentagon, while a flying chicken with a 'sequester' sign is symbolizing congress.
• The chicken is falling down and alerting the pentagon of the sequester. A speech bubble from the pentagon ship, which is MUCH larger than the chicken says they are going to call an emergency just see the results, when it really isn't that significant. 
• The message of this cartoon is to show how the government blew up the sequester when really it wasn't a huge issue, and they called it an emergency just to see what would happen.
• This cartoon relates to the sequester that his been taking over the news, but not much to what we talked about in class.
• The satire is that the pople in the pentagon decided to call an emergency on something as insignificant and miniscule as a chicken with a sign.

Cartoons 3/3-3/10

"The Domino Effect"

• This title is used because all the crisis are represented by a Newton's cradle, saying that each new problem is caused by the one before, and the cycle never stops, it's just one "manufactured" crisis after another.
• The crisis are represented by the metal balls of the Newton's cradle. Uncle Sam symbolizes America, stuck in between it all the never-ending conflict.
• America is being clobbered by the consent crisis that the government is said to manufacture.
• This cartoon is ridiculing American government, and claiming that the crisis blown up for the public are just manufactured by the government and are never solved. The cartoon is clearly liberal or conservative but just making fun of the government.
• This cartoon could relate to any crisis in the government. In class we talked about how a lot of issues in the government are just blown up for the media, meaning they were manufactured in a way. 
• This cartoon is satirical because is comparing all the conflicts in America that the government and public are dealing with to a Newton's cradle.

"Sacrificing Rand Paul"

• These words are being used to describe this cartoon because even though Rand Paul is republican, the officials represented as elephants are still suggesting to "drone" him because he is supporting due process.
• Obama is sitting at a table with republican officials represented as elephants, while Rand Paul's filibuster is on the tv.
• Obama and some republicans are watching Rand Paul's filibuster.
• This cartoon is conveying how Rand Paul is in favor of some things the republican party doesn't normally support. This cartoon doesn't really seem to make a clear ideological stance, but seems to be ridiculing the Republican party because they're mocking s fellow member.
• This relates to the recent filibuster that Rand Paul ran. We discussed filibusters in class and how they can be last forever in the Senate, but only an hour in the House of Representatives.
• This is satirical because one of the elephants is saying they "wouldn't object" to droning Rand Paul, when in actuality they just don't agree with his stance on due process.

Cartoons for 2/24-3/3

"A Mere Pest" 2/25

• These words are used to describe this cartoon to convey the sequester as a small problem, or "pest," but the government is portraying it as a huge upset.
• The sequester is represented as a bumble be, while the president and Uncle Sam are approaching in a 16-wheeler, representing government spending. I think the artist means that there is a whole of spending going on, and sequester causing spending cuts really isn't that big, no matter how bad the government makes it seem.
• A truck, symbolizing government spending, driving towards a bee, representing sequestration.
• There is no clear ideological stance in this article. It just seems to be about the current government.
• This cartoon relates to the current sequestration that is blowing up the news. We didn't talk much about the sequester but, we talked about government spending and how there's a gender gap regarding what that spending should be on.
• This cartoon is satirical because this sequester has been the only thing in the news and on television, making it seem like a crisis, but here the budget cuts are portrayed as a "mere" bumble bee compared to the spending.

"Political Weaponry" 3/1

• This title is used for the cartoon to compare the continuous blame of the sequester to actual weapons.This conveys the danger of the "blame game" in politics.
• The sequester is represented as a Swiss army knife, and all the blame, along with other weapons are its attachments. This shows how the sequester is being blamed on so many different people/things.
• The message is to portray how different people are blaming the sequester on different things for their own reasons.
• This cartoon relates to the current government sequester. Our class didn't talk much about the sequester, but we did talk about how different political groups may think there is too much spending on things they don't necessarily favor, causing all the blame.
• This cartoon is satirical because all the blame is being portrayed as real political "weapons."

Cartoons 2/17-2/24

"The Kids' Campaign Trail"

• I honestly don't understand why this caption was used. 
• Newt Gingrich is with a poster of Mitt Romney.
• Newt is drawing two vampire teeth on the Romney poster, while saying he wants to make "two points" about him, the points actually being the vampire fangs.
• The message in this cartoon is to show Newt Gingrich's feeling towards Romney in a childish way (by drawing fangs on his poster), which may be why the title says the "kids'" campaign trail.
• This cartoon doesn't relate to any specific political event, but just Newt's general feelings towards Mitt Romney.
• It is satirical because in reality I don't think you'd ever catch Newt Gingrich, or any politician for that matter, drawing on another's poster. 

"The Beneficiaries of Tea"

• This title is used to show the real people who benefit from the tea party, but with actual tea.
• Paul Ryan's budget is represented by a tea bag, while the tea spreading in one area are the benefits for the 1%, and the other is the small 99%.
• The action taking place inthis cartoon is a tea bag spreading the majority of it's "benefits" to the the 1%.
• The message of this cartoon is to reveal who really receives benefits from Paul Ryan's budget.
• This cartoon relates to Paul Ryan's proposed budget plans, but not to much we discussed in class.
• This is satirical because the beneficiaries of Ryan and the tea party are represented by real tea.