Team Member Name: Chase Checketts
Publication:
Date:
Cartoonist: Joe Heller
US/International: US
Title of Cartoon: Government Shutdown
What action is taking place in the cartoon? What is the context?
George Washington was the first President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson; author of the Declaration of Independence, Theodore Roosevelt; famous for his bloody speech, “Ladies and gentlemen, I don’t know whether you fully understand that I have just been shot,” Roosevelt said, “but it takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose,” and Abraham Lincoln, who wrote the Emancipation Proclamation ending slavery. As you can see, these four men are very important in the history of America. (RepublicPresidents.net)
The effects on national parks during the 16 day shutdown were enormous, “The government shutdown last fall resulted in nearly 8 million fewer visitors to national parks, costing the parks and surrounding communities an estimated $414m in lost visitor spending, the interior department said Monday.” (Guardian, US National Parks)
“The National Park System of the United States now comprises more than 400 areas covering more than 84 million acres in 49 States, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Saipan, and the Virgin Islands. These areas are of such national significance as to justify special recognition and protection in accordance with various acts of Congress.” (National Park Service, History)
cartoon your refer to was about the politics of the government shutdown. I am a moderate who leans to the left on some issues. That would be liberal in some circles. I drew the cartoon in response to the pettyness of those in Congress. National Parks were shut down and Mt. Rushmore was one of those parks. As a cartoonist I draw cartoon that comment on the news and the Shutdown was the major news of that week.
Hope that helps. Joe Heller”
As you can read by the email the cartoonist wrote to me, he uses symbolism in drawing the “pettyness” that he feels towards the government shutdown and more so, towards congress.
Which side is supported by the framing of the cartoon?
In the email he wrote back to me, Joe Heller said, “I am a moderate who leans to the left on some issues.” As a moderate, he doesn’t favor either side but takes a stance on his feelings towards congress and what they did to the shamefulness it brings to the founders of our country.
What evidence can you give that shows the cartoonist supports one side or the other?
His email told me that he leans towards the left side on some issues, which is a liberal stance.
What “reality” is constructed/framed about your issue?
The “reality” that is constructed that is very clear is the paper bags that cover the faces of the founding fathers of our country. This is a clear sense of symbolism that he uses to be clear about the issue with the government shutdown and more so towards the national parks.
analysis:
“Chase-
Thanks for your interest in my cartoon. The cartoon your refer to was about the politics of the government shutdown. I am a moderate who leans to the left on some issues. That would be liberal in some circles. I drew the cartoon in response to the pettyness of those in Congress. National Parks were shut down and Mt. Rushmore was one of those parks. As a cartoonist I draw cartoon that comment on the news and the Shutdown was the major news of that week.
Hope that helps. Joe Heller”
As you can read by the email the cartoonist wrote to me, he uses symbolism in drawing the “pettyness” that he feels towards the government shutdown and more so, towards congress.