Political cartoons are usually the first thing we see when we open the newspapers. They portray different opinions and ideas, and are so significant because of the immediate impact they make. Although they are images of someones bias view, or an idea that is currently being debated in our society, they can sometimes portray something that has more truth to it than we would like to admit. The cartoon above does exactly this.
Here, we see the caption "How to increase voter turnout" followed by an image that communicates the following:
1. Our younger people are uneducated when it comes to politics.
2. Our younger people are distracted and consumed by other things. Here specifically, it concentrates on American Idol which is a reality talent show.
These two points are not things that Americans should be proud of. Our younger generation is completely consumed by a materialistic world in which video games, media, reality TV, and music distract them completely from becoming well-informed citizens or more generally, responsible grown-ups. The cartoon above takes a stab at this issue by suggesting the idea that, if we included something of interest to these young people, like voting for their favorite idol instead of the president, they would actually care enough to show up and vote. The sting here is that, of course, that would be of no use to the government, meaning that our younger generation is useless to our society and the processes that make it better. What kind of future will this country have if this generation becomes the leader?
This cartoon, among many, portrays so many ideas of what our people are like and what is happening currently in our society. Of course, this is just someones opinion, but I find it hard to disagree with it, given the obvious truth. Political cartoons hold a power that no other news form does. It is able to convey many different ideas and definitely lives up to the saying "A picture is worth a thousand words".
I found your editorial cartoon to be quiet funny. I thought to myself, “what a funny idea, and I kind of like it”. This article is applying the stereotype that the younger generation only cares about useless things, like American Idol. And in every stereotype there is a grain of truth, but I do not fully agree with it seeing as how I am a 19 year old female who activity partakes in my community, and politics. Despite this, there are many of my friends that simply do not, and fit this category rather nicely. This reminds me of the discussion of how cartoonists are meant to provoke the reader, or observer. This certainly provoked me seeing as how it contradicts my existence as a teen in the U.S.. However, that is what it is supposed to do. This not only provokes me negatively, but positively. It makes me think about the things we could really do in order to increase the voting outcome for teenagers. I think in order to do this we would have to make politics cool, and even condensed. The younger generation does not like to fixate on something for too long, and especially something that is as mundane as politics. But if the main points in politics could be boiled down, and if could be made cool somehow, then I think there would certainly be a voting increase for the younger demographic.
ReplyDeleteTo: Creative Sting
ReplyDeleteIt never even crossed my mind to use the cliché, “A picture is worth a thousand words”, but that is exactly what a cartoon is all about. The cartoon you chose is pretty funny at a glance, but when you think about it then it turns out to be completely offensive, especially to the younger generation. I hate to say this cartoon is ridiculous because it is, but sadly it’s also true, to a certain extent. There are many kids and young adults that have no idea what is going on in the world and rather worry about things that pertain to their materialistic obsession. There are also some people included in our young generation that are trying to be a part of the adults that are informed about their future, but they are getting sucked into the bunch that care more about what someone’s Facebook status is than who is running for president in the next election.
Your two points are valid and I completely agree with the fact that we should not be proud of it. Even if cartoons are a part of someone’s opinion they still hurt and you’re right about cartoons holding higher power than the news or radio broadcasts because they tell the truth without hesitation and don’t hold much hype, well at least most of the time.
This editorial cartoon is exactly what Gerberg said a cartoon is: instant communication of a funny idea. Only it isn't really that funny when you think about it, now is it? It is true that many youth of today are not concerned about the world outside their own walls. I have to admit I wasn't either when I was 19. Perhaps they do not feel, as I did, that their voice would make a difference in the overall scheme of things. I agree with Katherine when she makes the point that politics needs to be more "user friendly". Aside from the political rhetoric, the language of politics isolates most Americans. Also, it is the older generation that turns out on election day, not necessarily to vote for the better man or woman, but just to say their party won. It is a sad state of affairs.
ReplyDelete