Transcript Slide 1

‘How are we feeling today?’ – a
British cartoon of early 1945.
What is the message of this cartoon?
To do this question, you
need first to borrow two
concepts from English:
Denotation
(what you see)
Connotation
(how it affects its audience)
‘How are we feeling today?’ – a
British cartoon of early 1945.
Denotation
The world has a bandage round
his head and a thermometer in
his mouth.
Connotation
The world has been poorly.
Meaning
The world has suffered
fascism and six years of war.
‘How are we feeling today?’ – a
British cartoon of early 1945.
Denotation
The world has a smile on his
face and a glint in his eyes.
Connotation
The world is ‘feeling better’.
Meaning
Hitler and fascism are on the
verge of defeat – the war is
almost won, and the allies
are about to destroy the
‘disease’ of fascism.
‘How are we feeling today?’ – a
British cartoon of early 1945.
Denotation
Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin are
shown as doctors (note Stalin
checking the pulse).
Connotation
Doctors are professional, clever,
assured at caring for patients (so
‘Trust me, I’m a doctor’).
Meaning
This is a propaganda cartoon
assuring the British people that
they can trust the Big Three as
they manage the allied war effort.
‘How are we feeling today?’ – a
British cartoon of early 1945.
Denotation
Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin are
shown as doctors (note Stalin
checking the pulse).
Connotation
The fact that they are smiling
shows that are happy – and
united.
Meaning
The alliance is secure and
united.
‘How are we feeling today?’ – a
British cartoon of early 1945.
Finally, always remember
to look at:
Origin
(who drew it)
Date
(when it was published)
‘How are we feeling today?’ – a
British cartoon of early 1945.
Date
Early 1945.
Details
About the time of the Yalta
Conference – a time when the
alliance was beginning to strain.
Significance
This is not a cartoon showing
what was true, but what the
British people hoped was true.
‘How are we feeling today?’ – a
British cartoon of early 1945.
Origin
A British cartoon.
Details
The British at this time liked ‘Uncle
Joe’, and believed they had a
‘special relationship’ with the USA.
Significance
This cartoon both exhibits
British hopes for the alliance,
and is propaganda to assure
them that all was well.
‘How are we feeling today?’ – a
British cartoon of early 1945.