Editorial Cartoon: Censorship

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Activities will help students understand how images can come together to make a statement in an editorial cartoon

This is the third lesson in the series "Using Editorial Cartoons to Teach Social Justice."

Introduction

When interpreting an editorial cartoon, it is important to look at the images carefully. Some cartoons use images or symbols you may recognize from other places. A symbol is “something that stands for something else.”

 

Here are some common symbols and their meanings.

 

 

Male

 

Female

 

Recycle

 

Editorial Cartoon

Examine the cartoon below.

   

Artist: Hajo de Reijger, Netherlands. Reprinted with Permission. Teachers may purchase individual cartoons for other lesson plans at PoliticalCartoons.com

 

Juxtaposition is when two things are put beside each other. Sometimes, images are juxtaposed to make a statement. Look at the editorial cartoon above.

This cartoon juxtaposes two images: a hand and a black bar. Where else have you seen a black bar covering something?

What does the black bar usually mean?

In this cartoon, the black bar is covering the pen as someone is writing. What statement is the artist trying to make? 

 

Activities

1. Form small groups. Brainstorm a list of common symbols that you see every day. Record your ideas in your notebook.

2. Choose one symbol and combine it with another image to create a cartoon. Make sure that your cartoon makes a strong statement.

 
 

For example, the circle with the slash through it is a fairly universal symbol for “no.” When it is combined with another image, it serves to make a statement. This sign means “no smoking”:

 

If the no symbol were juxtaposed with any of the symbols below, what would it mean?

                               


3. On a large sheet of paper, draw your cartoon on one side and record the statement your cartoon is making on the other side. Hang up your poster somewhere in the room.

4. Present your poster to the rest of the class.

5. Hold a contest to see which other group can best interpret your cartoon.

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