Transcript WHY IS SOMETHING SO SAD THIS FUNNY:

WHY IS SOMETHING
SO SAD THIS
FUNNY:
USING POLITICAL CARTOONS
WHY USE POLITICAL
CARTOONS?
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Lead-in questions for groups:
What is the purpose of the cartoon?
How does it make you feel?
What methods does the cartoon use to make you
feel that way?
What issue is the cartoon trying to capture?
How does the cartoon try to persuade you?
Is the cartoon relevant to you as citizens?
What is the artists opinion on the issue?
Is there text? How is it used?
Cartoon 1
Cartoon 2
Cartoon 3
Cartoon 4
THE 1ST AMENDMENT
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“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging
the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the
people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government
for a redress of grievances.”
-1st Amendment
Free speech and freedom of the press promotes "The free flow
of ideas essential to political democracy and democratic
institutions" and limits the ability of the state to subvert other
rights and freedoms
It promotes a marketplace of ideas, which includes, but is not
limited to, the search for truth
Political cartoons are an example of free speech and freedom of
the press.
METHODS
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Exaggeration- To represent as greater than actual size.
To make overstatements. The act of making something
more noticeable than usual.
When you study a cartoon, look for any characteristics
that seem overdone or overblown. (Facial characteristics
and clothing are some of the most commonly
exaggerated characteristics.) Then, try to decide what
point the cartoonist was trying to make through
exaggeration.
Irony-A literary expression employing contrasts in order
to produce humorous or rhetorical effects. Irony of a
situation is a discrepancy between the expected result
and actual results when enlivened by perverse
appropriateness.
METHODS CONT…
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Juxtaposition- To place side by side, especially for
comparison and contrast. Also, this method is
sometimes known as analogy. An analogy is a
comparison between two unlike things that share
some characteristics. By comparing a complex issue
or situation with a more familiar one, cartoonists
can help their readers see it in a different light.
Symbolism- Cartoonists use simple objects, or
symbols, to stand for larger concepts or ideas.
WHY USE HUMOR?
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Reductio ad Absurdum- Latin meaning, “reduction to the
absurd.
Used by the ancient Greeks and Romans in logical
arguments.
If a claim gets you an absurd or humorous result, then it
can be assumed that the original claim or proof was
deficient or illogical.
If A=B, and B is absurd (ridiculous), therefore, A must
also be absurd or ridiculous.
Cartoonists use the same logic. By making you laugh at
the ridiculousness of a situation or a person, then we can
assume that there is a problem with that situation or
person to begin with.
Assignment
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Make your own cartoon.
Write:
Find an issue
Explain the issue?
Explain the different sides of the issue and which
one you took?
What methods did you use to create a reductio ad
absurdum argument?
How are you trying to persuade your audience?
What are you trying to make them think?
Draw Cartoon
ONE PAGE-DOUBLE SPACED-12 FONT