Fluent Essays

Comic Strip or Political Cartoon Analysis. Choose a comic strip or political cartoon can be chosen from a newspaper such as The Baltimore Sun, The New York Times, The Washington Post, etc. Indicated which techniques does the creator of the comic strip use? How does the creator make his/her point in the comic strip? What do we learn about the characters and/or ourselves from this comic strip or political cartoon? If colors are available, what do they tell us about this comic or cartoon? What language is used and how can that be interpreted? And importantly, which of the key terms from the topic lesson can you discuss in your analysis? For example, how of elements of imagery, symbolism, metaphor, and/or irony help reveal the cartoons message? Must have an introduction with a thesis statement, body, and conclusion. it must be written in MLA Style source documentation with citation, references, and 500 words, please include Turnitin received. include the physical elements present in the cartoon1 - characters, text, colors, etc., along with figurative elements such as metaphor and symbolism, that help to explain the cartoons message? It can be helpful to focus on a single element in the cartoon in its own body paragraph (including the element in the topic sentence and in the thesis) and describe how it portrays the cartoons message before moving to the next cartoon feature in a new paragraph. Sample Thesis Statement: John Smith uses (add one element from the cartoon), (add a second element from the cartoon), and (add a third element from the cartoon) to show (add the cartoons message)  Be sure to document the cartoon or comic strip on a Works Cited page. Please visit the following source for citing an electronic image: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/ Last Name 4 First Name Last Name Composition II Cartoon Analysis 5 September 2015 A Normal Nightmare Nightmares may be a fairly common occurrence, but never a desired one. Many times they wake a man up with a shock in the night—hot, sweaty, and weary with stress. Then, that moment of truth comes, and he discerns between the illusion of his dream and the reality of his bed, his familiar mattress, and his room. However, sometimes even reality can abandon people into the clutches of a living nightmare. In his thoughtful cartoon “The American Nightmare ,” Kevin KAL Kallaugher of The Baltimore Sun uses symbolism, imagery, and irony to powerfully depict America’s apathy regarding gun violence . Comment by Author: This introduction is attention grabbing, but the reader does not know the essay’s focus. In other words, the essay appears as though it may be about nightmares. Comment by Author: The thesis introduces the cartoon via title, author, and publication. The introduction paragraph would be another acceptable place for these items. Comment by Author: Good format. Use italics for the titles of long works such as books/novels, magazines, websites, television series, and movies. Use quotes around the titles of short works such as individual television episodes, scholarly essays, articles, and songs. Rarely do titles employ both italics and quotes. This would happen if the name of a long work such as a novel is part of an article title. In this case, the novel title would maintain italics and the rest of the article title would be standard font, and all would be encompassed in quotation marks. For cartoons, use italics for the series name, and place quotes around individual cartoon strip titles. For television shows, italicize the show’s title (series’ name), and place quotes around individual episode titles. Comment by Author: Great range of literal and figurative key terms from the lesson. Comment by Author: Clear expression of the cartoon’s single, very specific message. Symbolism in “The American Nightmare” reveals deeper insights into Kallaugher’s view of America and its lack of action against gun violence. In the cartoon, Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty are sleeping in bed together. Uncle Sam dreams that Donald Trump has been elected President and wakes Lady Liberty. They check the news and are relieved to find that instead of Trump’s election, there has only been another shooting. Kallaugher skillfully scatters meaningful symbols throughout the frames. Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty’s coverlet is an American flag. This symbolizes America as a whole, sleeping obliviously in comfort and indifference. The shock of Uncle Sam’s nightmare temporarily brings them out from under the cover to awareness of the current news. But they are uninterested in the reality of an older, more familiar nightmare, and afterward retreat back under the cloak of indifference. Kallaugher’s color choice of black and white gives each frame a stark and cold feel representative of the night hours and eerie dreams. On another level, the artist is portraying a night over America—she is asleep and unable to discern the true problem of internal violence. While these symbols may only be recognized subconsciously by the viewer, they lend invaluable depth to the picture of apathy towards the real nightmare. Comment by Author: Strong topic sentence that introduces the key term and reminds its connection to presenting the cartoon’s specific message. Comment by Author: The basic objective for this essay, as outlined in this paragraph, is to describe the elements present in the cartoon—symbolism, irony, metaphor, etc—and explain how the elements portray the cartoon’s message. Focus on a single element per body paragraph (include the element in the topic sentence and in the thesis) by introducing the element and then explaining how it helps express the cartoon’s overall message. Then, move to the next cartoon feature in a new body paragraph. IMPORTANT: Each paragraph should explain how the element (literal or figurative key term) presents the specific, whole cartoon’s message as it is noted in the thesis. Do not explain how an element contributes to the message’s underlying theme. Instead, each element should represent the entire cartoon’s message as you have it written in the thesis. In other words, if the message of a cartoon is world peace is unattainable and I write a paragraph solely dedicated to explaining how the color blue in the cartoon represents peace, I havent quite reached the cartoons main message that world peace is unattainable. I touched upon an element, but discussing the color use simply may not be a component that relays the whole message, so be sure to choose literal or figurative elements that express the entire message (some just don’t work). See example below. First, reference the second cartoon from the top here: http://www.mcgregorfirm.com/immigration-political-cartoons. Then, see the sample thesis and supporting points below: The cartoonist employs a metaphor, symbolism, and imagery to explain how the strict immigration and deportation laws have the potential to tear families apart. First body paragraph: The axe is a metaphor representing the immigration bill, which will cut—or literally separate—family members according to those who immigrated and those who were born in the US. Second body paragraph: The expressions on the family’s faces symbolize their fear about the destruction the severity of these laws will impose. Third body paragraph: The imagery of characters’ tensed and slouched poses allows the viewers to understand the emotions of families who will be torn apart if the regulations are enforced to the strictest degree. In addition, Kallaugher uses imagery scattered throughout the cartoon’s frames to offer the viewer sensations of sight, sound, and touch. This gives the viewer a heightened understanding of Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty’s emotional response to their interrupted night. Exaggerated facial expressions reflect the feelings of horror, curiosity, sadness, and repose experienced by the characters. The sounds uttered, “AHHHH” and “PHEW!” help the viewer personally sympathize with the emotions of shock and relief. Kallaugher chooses to include the “CLICK!” word balloon in the fourth and fifth frames to add an audial dimension to his cartoon. Upon closer reflection, each “CLICK!” might represent the turning on and off of Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty’s attention. Their focus and concern turns on in the fourth frame, but quickly turns off again in the last frame upon the realization that their specific concern is not a reality. Uncle Sam sweats profusely in frames one and three, imparting an increased sense of the sweaty agitation often experienced during a nightmare. He grips his pillow in fright and then throws it in horror. The verbal exclamations, sweating, and physical movements are small expressions pointing a bigger picture. The sensational news attracted the attention and emotional trauma of Uncle Sam, standing in stark contrast to the apathetic depression he experiences when hearing of another shooting. Sometimes one problem in life may elicit our emotional reactions more readily. This does not mean that it is the most important problem, and one must be on his guard that he is not distracted from the true need. Comment by Author: Strong transition. Comment by Author: Even though citations are not required, citations should be used for any text taken from the image. Comment by Author: Literary present works well in this essay. Overarching his use of symbolism and imagery, Kallaugher utilizes subtle irony: Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty’s reaction to an unrealized problem versus a real problem. They are jolted from their slumber by the possibility of a sensational news story. Yet, once they realize it is only imagined, they immediately lose interest even when a real tragedy is announced. While this irony lends a comical aspect to the cartoon, the truth of its nature hits home. It is easy for Americans to ignore old, seemingly unsolvable problems in favor of entertaining and fantastical news. All too often the problem in life is not what one imagines, but something quite the opposite. The American Nightmare artfully employs symbolism, imagery, and irony to awaken its readers to the real nightmare of American gun violence and the unjustified disregard given to finding a solution. It is easy to be distracted from the true problems in life, looking instead at those which are more fascinating. However, the importance of identifying and addressing the current evils at hand cannot be overstated. Oftentimes hypothesizing about a future problem when there is a current one in need of remedy is unhelpful and adds unnecessary stress, not to mention a sleepless night. Addressing each new problem as it arises provides the firm foundation needed to progress forward into the morning light. Comment by Author: As you revise your work, try very hard to edit out most uses of the following phrases: there are, there is, it is, it would be, there has been, etc.—especially when these phrases come at the beginning of a sentence. These phrases usually add bulk to your writing without adding clarity or meaning, and they can make your point more difficult to understand. Sometimes you can simply omit the phrase, and in other cases you should try to begin the sentence with the sentence’s subject. See below. Here is a resource: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/572/04/ Comment by Author: The conclusion summarizes the key terms, reiterates the cartoon’s message, and provides a final thought. Works Cited Kallaugher, Kevin “KAL.” “The American Nightmare.” Cartoon. Baltimore Sun. Baltimore Sun. 20 Apr. 2015. Web. 1 Sept. 2015. Comment by Author: Acceptable format for this particular cartoon.