Expressing satire
For centuries , cartoons have been used as commentary for political and social issues . In the 1500s , the adage that “ a picture is worth a thousand words ” was already being put to use .
According to
Encyclopedia . com , the word “ cartoon ” was first adopted when England ’ s Punch magazine published a drawing parodying sketches of paintings commissioned for the houses of Parliament in 1843 . “ Cartoon No . 1 ” was the name of the illustration and it was the first time the word was used to describe humorous , satirical and witty drawings or caricatures .
A forefather of the political cartoon was Martin Luther ( yes , really ), who used illustrated booklets and posters to reform the Catholic Church in 1521 .
The practice of using satirical images for political commentary then spread to the rest of Europe , and later went global .
Fast-forward to today and cartoons used for social commentary can be found everywhere including newspapers , magazines , political briefs and on social media .
It could be argued that their impact is more essential than ever considering the reams of information out there and how technology has changed the way we consume news . Cartoons manage to constantly lead the portrayal of current social affairs .
Just think of your social media accounts and how often you see a post of a cartoon on your timeline compared to a 2 000-word opinion piece .
While cartoons are often dismissed as a quick laugh , they are an important medium to frame a deep understanding of societal issues of the day .
“ Political cartoons are an integral component in the framework of political journalism . They offer a brightly coloured
alternative to formal news reporting , providing light relief from the ever-increasingly gloomy political discourse . With the ability to distil news and opinion into a caricature , cartoons present accessible and instant commentary and analysis of current affairs ,” says UK-based communications and advocacy recruiter , Ellwood Atfield .
“ Cartoons are a unique form of journalism which contrast with conventional forms of communication . The images can cast a powerful interpretation of the day ’ s news . They explain and explore stories in manners that articles cannot . More effective than writing or video , they capture the imitable human nature of their subjects to humanise the topic they depict .”
While journalists often find themselves on what some
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