Weekly Response #5 / Cartoon Option:

DUE NEXT WEEK (March 16th): Find some cartoon or comic strip and in 2-3 pages, discuss how it expounds upon (whether in a subtle, subversive, or direct way) some issue, concern, political, or ethical issue or agenda. Find some cartoon or comic strip (whether the original or a photocopy) and discuss, in no less than 2 full typed pages, how it expounds upon some issue, concern, or agenda. Include copies of your chosen cartoons (and/or print out the cartoons from a website link).

• Describe the action taking place in the cartoon. What issue or agenda does your cartoon address?

• How does it address that issue or agenda? Is the humor/tone subtle? biting? subversive? direct? ironic?

• Is the artwork telling a story? What is the story about?  

• How do all the images within the comic strip or cartoon help to express or to show the main idea?  

• How does it relate to what we've been discussing thus far in class and/or the readings we've done?

• Look at everything in the cartoon and try to figure out what each item/object represents, or what is meant to be symbolic (in other words, are those shoes just shoes or symbolic of something else? and if so, what? are the stack of papers on someone's desk symbolizing something? and what?) 

• Explain how the words clarify the symbols.

• What groups (ethnic, special interest, political, etc.) might agree or disagree with the message? 

• Did you like this comic strip or cartoon? Why or why not?

** Always, always back up your thoughts with some example, quote, or explanation.