THE GOV'T SHUTDOWN
"BUSINESS AS USUAL"
Team Member Name: Autumn Seeholzer
Publication: The Cagle Post: Cartoons and Commentary
Date: October 10, 2013
Cartoonist: Steve Kelley
U.S./International: U.S
Title of cartoon: “Frustrating and Inefficient”
Cartoon: # 3
What action is taking place in the cartoon? What is the context?
In this cartoon President Obama is seen sitting at a desk telling another man, “During the government shutdown, I want things to be as frustrating and inefficient for people as possible. The context is during the shutdown many things were made very frustrating and concerning to the American people. “Many Americans view this epic political clash with frustration, anger and a stoic, here-we-go-again acceptance: They don't like what they see, don't agree on whose to blame and aren't sure what would be the best solution. But they hope that someone — anyone — comes up with a way out of the mess” (Cohen/TheHuffingtonPost.com, S., 2013).
Which side is supported by the framing of the cartoon?
The cartoon is framed in a bad light towards President Obama. The side supported is one against President Obama and pointing fingers at him for making things worse.
What evidence can you give that shows the cartoonist supports one side or the other?
The evidence of the cartoonist supporting blame against President Obama for making things more frustrating during the government shutdown shows in his use of labeling. The labeling is by using the comments from the characters in which President Obama’s words are clearly being used negatively in which no one wants to hear. As for the other man’s words, they are sarcastic and degrading towards President Obama in a way that says he is always being the difficult one who wants to make things worse for the rest of us.
What “reality” is constructed/framed about your issue?
The reality framed here is that President Obama wants to make things more difficult during the government shutdown. The other man in the cartoon represents the views that this is a normal thing for President Obama to do.