Editorial Cartoon - Modern Political Cartoons

Modern Political Cartoons

Political cartoons can usually be found on the editorial page of most newspapers, although a few (such as Garry Trudeau's Doonesbury) are sometimes found on the regular comic strip page. A good collection of modern editorial cartoons can be found in each issue of magazines like the Humor Times and Funny Times. Recently, many radical or minority issue editorial cartoonists, who would previously have been obscure, have found large audiences on the Internet (a medium which also makes it possible to publish animated political cartoons). Cartoons can be very diverse, but there is a certain established style among most of them. Most use visual metaphors and caricatures to address complicated political situations, and thus sum up a current event with a humorous or emotional picture. Often, their content includes stereotypical, biased and/or demonizing portrayals of people and events.

In modern political cartooning, two styles have begun to emerge. The traditional style, involving visual metaphors and symbols like Uncle Sam, the Democratic donkey and the Republican elephant, and labels is described as the "nast-y" style (named after Thomas Nast), and the more text-heavy "altie" style that tells a linear story, usually in comic strip format. Although their style, technique or viewpoints may differ, editorial cartoonists draw attention to important social and political issues. Political cartoons are an effective way for artists to express their thoughts about the events in a certain period in a comical manner.