Cartooning: The 2013 Government Shutdown 1 | Seite 24

THE GOVERNMENT:

STUCK TOGETHER FOR BETTER OR WORSE

Team Member Name: Autumn Seeholzer

Publication: The Cagle Post: Cartoons and Commentary

Date: October 14, 2013

Cartoonist: Markus Szyszkowitz

U.S./International: International

Title of cartoon: “Free Fall”

Cartoon: # 2

What action is taking place in the cartoon? What is the context?

In this cartoon we see President Obama and the Republican elephant strapped together and free falling through the air and debating when to pull the parachute out.

pull the parachute out. The context is that during this moment the government shutdown of 2013 is still ongoing, which did not stop until October 17, 2013 (USA Today, 2013). At this point in time, the American population became more frustrated and “fully 80% say that a government shutdown during the budget debates is not an acceptable way to negotiate” (Tyson/Pew Research Center, A., 2013).

Which side is supported by the framing of the cartoon?

The side supported by the cartoonist is one of support for the Democratic view.